Convert League to Chain
Convert leagues to chains instantly. 1 league = 240 chain — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Chain to League converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
League
A league is an Imperial unit of length equal to 3 miles (about 4.83 km). It is one of the oldest distance units in English usage, historically representing the distance a person could walk in one hour.
The English league derives from the ancient Roman leuga via medieval English customary practice. Standardised at 3 statute miles in English law.
Leagues appear in historical English literature ('seven-league boots'), maritime navigation (a nautical league is 3 nautical miles), and traditional distance descriptions. Modern usage is largely literary.
Medieval English customary origin; standardised at 3 miles; 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.
League to Chain conversion formula
The relationship between leagues and chains:
To convert leagues to chains, multiply the value in leagues by 240. To reverse, multiply chains by 0.0041666667.
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 League converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert leagues to chains
- Write down the value in leagues (lea).
- Multiply that value by the factor 240.
- The product is the equivalent value in chains (ch).
- To reverse, multiply the chain value by 0.0041666667.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 lea to ch:
1 × 240 = 240 ch
Example 2 — Convert 100 lea to ch:
100 × 240 = 24000 ch
Real-world example — Maritime exclusion zone
A 200-league exclusion zone (a common maritime boundary) converts to a different value in chains that's useful when describing the same zone in everyday land-distance units.
200 lea × 240 = 48000 ch
Real-world example — Coastal cruise distances
A 10-league 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 lea × 240 = 2400 ch
Real-world example — Road-sign distances across systems
A 100-league 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 lea × 240 = 24000 ch
League to Chain conversion table
Standard reference values for converting leagues to chains:
| League [lea] | Chain [ch] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 2.4 |
| 0.1 | 24 |
| 1 | 240 |
| 2 | 480 |
| 3 | 720 |
| 4 | 960 |
| 5 | 1200 |
| 10 | 2400 |
| 20 | 4800 |
| 30 | 7200 |
| 40 | 9600 |
| 50 | 12000 |
| 100 | 24000 |
| 500 | 120000 |
| 1000 | 240000 |
Frequently asked questions
How many chains is 1 league?
How do I convert leagues to chains?
How do I convert chains back to leagues?
How many chains is 100 leagues?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert League to other length units
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 lea = 240 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.