Convert Inch to Chain
Convert inches to chains instantly. 1 inch = 0.0012626263 chain — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Chain to Inch converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Inch
An inch is an Imperial and US customary unit of length defined since 1959 as exactly 25.4 millimeters (0.0254 meters). It is still the standard small unit of length in the United States, the United Kingdom (informally), and a few other countries.
The inch derives from the Roman uncia (one-twelfth of a foot) and survived through Anglo-Saxon and medieval English measurement systems. Various definitions persisted regionally until the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement standardized the inch globally as exactly 25.4 mm.
Inches are used in the US and UK for body height, screen sizes (TVs, monitors, phones), tire sizes, plumbing, lumber, paper sizes (US Letter is 8.5 × 11 in), and most consumer product specifications in the United States.
Anglo-Saxon origin (predating 1066); standardized to 25.4 mm exactly by the International Yard and Pound Agreement of 1959, signed by the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
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.
Inch to Chain conversion formula
The relationship between inches and chains:
To convert inches to chains, multiply the value in inches by 0.0012626263. To reverse, multiply chains by 792.
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 Inch converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert inches to chains
- Write down the value in inches (in).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0012626263.
- The product is the equivalent value in chains (ch).
- To reverse, multiply the chain value by 792.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 in to ch:
1 × 0.0012626263 = 0.0012626263 ch
Example 2 — Convert 100 in to ch:
100 × 0.0012626263 = 0.1262626263 ch
Real-world example — Ruler-scale measurements
A 30-inch school ruler converts cleanly to chains — useful when buying a desk accessory from a retailer whose product specs use a different unit.
30 in × 0.0012626263 = 0.0378787879 ch
Real-world example — Hardware-scale dimensions
A 10-inch fastener or component is about as long as a thumbnail. Mechanics and DIY enthusiasts convert between inches and chains daily when mixing metric and imperial tools.
10 in × 0.0012626263 = 0.0126262626 ch
Real-world example — Postcard and small-object dimensions
A postcard is about 5 inches wide. Converting to chains is essential for international postal addressing forms that ask for dimensions in different units across countries.
5 in × 0.0012626263 = 0.0063131313 ch
Inch to Chain conversion table
Standard reference values for converting inches to chains:
| Inch [in] | Chain [ch] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 1.262626e-5 |
| 0.1 | 0.0001262626 |
| 1 | 0.0012626263 |
| 2 | 0.0025252525 |
| 3 | 0.0037878788 |
| 4 | 0.0050505051 |
| 5 | 0.0063131313 |
| 10 | 0.0126262626 |
| 20 | 0.0252525253 |
| 30 | 0.0378787879 |
| 40 | 0.0505050505 |
| 50 | 0.0631313131 |
| 100 | 0.1262626263 |
| 500 | 0.6313131313 |
| 1000 | 1.2626262626 |
Frequently asked questions
How many chains is 1 inch?
How do I convert inches to chains?
How do I convert chains back to inches?
How many chains is 100 inches?
Popular length unit conversions
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Metric / SI (18 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Nautical (1 units)
Astronomical (9 units)
Atomic / Physics (6 units)
Typographic (3 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 in = 0.0012626263 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.