Convert Finger to Chain
Convert fingers to chains instantly. 1 finger = 0.0056818182 chain — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Chain to Finger converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Finger
A finger is an Imperial unit of length equal to 4.5 inches (114.3 mm). It is one of the historical English cloth-measure units.
The finger derives from English cloth-trade tradition, where it was used as a small measure for ribbons and small fabric pieces. Standardised at 4.5 inches through English customary practice.
Fingers are rare in modern use; they appear primarily in historical English textile records and bartending (where 'a finger of whisky' is an informal usage roughly 1 inch, not 4.5).
Medieval English cloth-trade origin; standardised at 4.5 inches; the value 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.
Finger to Chain conversion formula
The relationship between fingers and chains:
To convert fingers to chains, multiply the value in fingers by 0.0056818182. To reverse, multiply chains by 176.
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 Finger converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert fingers to chains
- Write down the value in fingers (finger).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0056818182.
- The product is the equivalent value in chains (ch).
- To reverse, multiply the chain value by 176.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 finger to ch:
1 × 0.0056818182 = 0.0056818182 ch
Example 2 — Convert 100 finger to ch:
100 × 0.0056818182 = 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 finger × 0.0056818182 = 0.0056818182 ch
Real-world example — Adult height conversion
A 1.8-finger-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 finger × 0.0056818182 = 0.0102272727 ch
Real-world example — Fabric purchase length
Two fingers of fabric equals a value in chains essential for tailors and textile buyers sourcing material from international suppliers that quote in different units.
2 finger × 0.0056818182 = 0.0113636364 ch
Finger to Chain conversion table
Standard reference values for converting fingers to chains:
| Finger [finger] | Chain [ch] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 5.681818e-5 |
| 0.1 | 0.0005681818 |
| 1 | 0.0056818182 |
| 2 | 0.0113636364 |
| 3 | 0.0170454545 |
| 4 | 0.0227272727 |
| 5 | 0.0284090909 |
| 10 | 0.0568181818 |
| 20 | 0.1136363636 |
| 30 | 0.1704545455 |
| 40 | 0.2272727273 |
| 50 | 0.2840909091 |
| 100 | 0.5681818182 |
| 500 | 2.8409090909 |
| 1000 | 5.6818181818 |
Frequently asked questions
How many chains is 1 finger?
How do I convert fingers to chains?
How do I convert chains back to fingers?
How many chains is 100 fingers?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Finger to other length units
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 finger = 0.0056818182 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 Astronomical Union — System of Astronomical Constants
The IAU defines astronomical units including the AU (149597870700 m exactly) light-year and parsec used in astronomy and astrophysics.