Convert Kilometer to Chain
Convert kilometers to chains instantly. 1 kilometer = 49.709695379 chain — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Chain to Kilometer converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Kilometer
A kilometer is a metric unit of length equal to one thousand meters. It is the standard unit for measuring road distances, geographic distances, and other large-scale measurements in metric countries.
The kilometer was defined alongside the meter in 1795 using the standard SI prefix kilo- (from Greek chilioi, "thousand"), denoting one thousand units.
Kilometers are used worldwide (except the United States and a few others) for road signage, geographic distance, athletic events, and scientific distances at planetary scale. Speed limits in most countries are given in km/h.
Adopted 1795 in France as part of the original metric system; the kilometer became the global standard for road and geographic distance through the 19th and 20th century metric adoption.
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.
Kilometer to Chain conversion formula
The relationship between kilometers and chains:
To convert kilometers to chains, multiply the value in kilometers by 49.709695379. To reverse, multiply chains by 0.0201168.
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 Kilometer converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert kilometers to chains
- Write down the value in kilometers (km).
- Multiply that value by the factor 49.709695379.
- The product is the equivalent value in chains (ch).
- To reverse, multiply the chain value by 0.0201168.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 km to ch:
1 × 49.709695379 = 49.709695379 ch
Example 2 — Convert 100 km to ch:
100 × 49.709695379 = 4970.9695378987 ch
Real-world example — Coastal cruise distances
A 10-kilometer coastal sailing route converts to a different value in chains — useful for cruise operators who switch between maritime, aviation, and road-distance units depending on the leg of the trip.
10 km × 49.709695379 = 497.0969537899 ch
Real-world example — Road-sign distances across systems
A 100-kilometer road sign converts cleanly into chains — exactly the conversion drivers planning trips abroad rely on when reading road signs in a different measurement system.
100 km × 49.709695379 = 4970.9695378987 ch
Real-world example — Endurance race distances
A 50-kilometer cycling or running race converts to a recognizable distance in chains. Endurance athletes coming from a different measurement system use this conversion to compare training plans across regions.
50 km × 49.709695379 = 2485.4847689493 ch
Kilometer to Chain conversion table
Standard reference values for converting kilometers to chains:
| Kilometer [km] | Chain [ch] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.4970969538 |
| 0.1 | 4.9709695379 |
| 1 | 49.709695379 |
| 2 | 99.419390758 |
| 3 | 149.129086137 |
| 4 | 198.8387815159 |
| 5 | 248.5484768949 |
| 10 | 497.0969537899 |
| 20 | 994.1939075797 |
| 30 | 1491.2908613696 |
| 40 | 1988.3878151595 |
| 50 | 2485.4847689493 |
| 100 | 4970.9695378987 |
| 500 | 24854.8476894934 |
| 1000 | 49709.6953789867 |
Frequently asked questions
How many chains is 1 kilometer?
How do I convert kilometers to chains?
How do I convert chains back to kilometers?
How many chains is 100 kilometers?
Popular length unit conversions
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Metric / SI (17 units)
Imperial / US Customary (27 units)
Nautical (1 units)
Astronomical (9 units)
Atomic / Physics (6 units)
Typographic (3 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 km = 49.709695379 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.