Convert Furlong to Span
Convert furlongs to spans instantly. 1 furlong = 880 span — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Span to Furlong converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Furlong
A furlong is an Imperial unit of length equal to 660 feet, or exactly one eighth of a mile (about 201.17 m). It is the longest unit in the traditional English farm-and-survey system.
The furlong derives from Old English furh (furrow) + lang (long) — originally the length of a furrow in a typical medieval English open field. Standardised at 660 feet (= 10 chains = 220 yards = 1/8 mile) in medieval times.
Furlongs are the standard distance unit in horse racing (e.g., 'The race is 8 furlongs'), historical English farming and surveying, and occasional poetic or rhetorical usage. Modern racing courses worldwide list distances in furlongs.
Medieval English farming origin; standardised at 660 feet; remains the official distance unit in flat-racing thoroughbred horse races worldwide.
Span
A span is an Imperial unit of length equal to 9 inches (228.6 mm). Historically, it represented the distance from the tip of an extended thumb to the tip of an extended little finger.
The span derives from this natural body-measurement and was standardised at 9 inches in English customary practice.
Spans are rare in modern commerce but appear in historical English literature, biblical translation studies, and reproduction crafts. Some construction and gardening still use 'span' informally.
Ancient body-measure origin; standardised in English customary practice at 9 inches; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Furlong to Span conversion formula
The relationship between furlongs and spans:
To convert furlongs to spans, multiply the value in furlongs by 880. To reverse, multiply spans by 0.0011363636.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in spans updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Span to Furlong converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert furlongs to spans
- Write down the value in furlongs (fur).
- Multiply that value by the factor 880.
- The product is the equivalent value in spans (span).
- To reverse, multiply the span value by 0.0011363636.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 fur to span:
1 × 880 = 880 span
Example 2 — Convert 100 fur to span:
100 × 880 = 88000 span
Furlong to Span conversion table
Standard reference values for converting furlongs to spans:
| Furlong [fur] | Span [span] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 8.8 |
| 0.1 | 88 |
| 1 | 880 |
| 2 | 1760 |
| 3 | 2640 |
| 4 | 3520 |
| 5 | 4400 |
| 10 | 8800 |
| 20 | 17600 |
| 30 | 26400 |
| 40 | 35200 |
| 50 | 44000 |
| 100 | 88000 |
| 500 | 440000 |
| 1000 | 880000 |
Frequently asked questions
How many spans is 1 furlong?
How do I convert furlongs to spans?
How do I convert spans back to furlongs?
How many spans is 100 furlongs?
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 fur = 880 span) 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.