Convert Ell to Chain
Convert ells to chains instantly. 1 ell = 0.0568181818 chain — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Chain to Ell converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Ell
An ell is an Imperial unit of length equal to 45 inches (1.143 m), historically used as the standard measure of cloth in English commerce.
The ell derives from old English elna (forearm) and was standardised in medieval English trade as the cloth-measuring yard equivalent. The English ell is 45 inches; other regional ells differed.
Ells appear in historical English commerce records (especially cloth and tapestry trade). Used in legal documents through the 19th century; rare in modern commerce but referenced in literary and historical contexts.
Medieval English cloth-trade origin; standardised at 45 inches; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Chain
A chain is an Imperial unit of length equal to 66 feet (20.1168 m), or exactly 4 rods or 100 links. It is the central unit in the Gunter chain-based land-survey system.
Defined by Edmund Gunter in 1620 specifically to make land-area arithmetic easy: 10 square chains = 1 acre exactly. The 66-foot length and 100-link subdivision were chosen so chain measurements could be added decimally.
Chains are the fundamental unit of legacy US public land surveys (the entire US township-and-range system uses chains). Modern survey work generally uses meters or feet, but legacy deeds remain in chains.
Invented by Edmund Gunter in 1620; standardised throughout English and American land survey; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Ell to Chain conversion formula
The relationship between ells and chains:
To convert ells to chains, multiply the value in ells by 0.0568181818. To reverse, multiply chains by 17.6.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in chains updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Chain to Ell converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert ells to chains
- Write down the value in ells (ell).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0568181818.
- The product is the equivalent value in chains (ch).
- To reverse, multiply the chain value by 17.6.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ell to ch:
1 × 0.0568181818 = 0.0568181818 ch
Example 2 — Convert 100 ell to ch:
100 × 0.0568181818 = 5.6818181818 ch
Real-world example — Maritime depth conversion
A 10-ell sounding depth converts cleanly into chains. Recreational divers and sailors translate between the two units whenever they read legacy charts against modern depth-sounder displays.
10 ell × 0.0568181818 = 0.5681818182 ch
Real-world example — Reference scenario in case of fallback
Conversion between human-scale length units is the everyday workflow of architecture, athletics, and apparel design — three of the most common contexts that span metric and imperial systems.
1 ell × 0.0568181818 = 0.0568181818 ch
Real-world example — Adult height conversion
A 1.8-ell-tall person measures a value in chains that converts the height to the unit favoured by American forms, schools, or driver's licences. This is daily routine for anyone living between metric and imperial systems.
1.8 ell × 0.0568181818 = 0.1022727273 ch
Ell to Chain conversion table
Standard reference values for converting ells to chains:
| Ell [ell] | Chain [ch] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0005681818 |
| 0.1 | 0.0056818182 |
| 1 | 0.0568181818 |
| 2 | 0.1136363636 |
| 3 | 0.1704545455 |
| 4 | 0.2272727273 |
| 5 | 0.2840909091 |
| 10 | 0.5681818182 |
| 20 | 1.1363636364 |
| 30 | 1.7045454545 |
| 40 | 2.2727272727 |
| 50 | 2.8409090909 |
| 100 | 5.6818181818 |
| 500 | 28.4090909091 |
| 1000 | 56.8181818182 |
Frequently asked questions
How many chains is 1 ell?
How do I convert ells to chains?
How do I convert chains back to ells?
How many chains is 100 ells?
Popular length unit conversions
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 ell = 0.0568181818 ch) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Hydrographic Organization — Resolution on the Nautical Mile
International authority that standardised the nautical mile at exactly 1852 m in 1929 — the value adopted worldwide for sea and air navigation.