Convert Link to Chain
Convert links to chains instantly. 1 link = 0.01 chain — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Chain to Link converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Link
A link is an Imperial unit of length equal to 7.92 inches (201.168 mm) — exactly 1/100 of a surveyor's chain. It is the smallest unit in the chain-based survey measurement system.
The link was defined by Edmund Gunter in 1620 as part of his 22-yard surveying chain. He divided the chain into 100 links specifically to enable easy decimal arithmetic when computing parcel areas.
Links appear in historical US and UK land survey documents (especially pre-1900). Modern surveyors generally use feet or meters but legacy deed records and government land surveys still cite acreage in chains and links.
Defined by Edmund Gunter in 1620; standardised as 7.92 inches via the chain definition; 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.
Link to Chain conversion formula
The relationship between links and chains:
To convert links to chains, multiply the value in links by 0.01. To reverse, multiply chains by 100.
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 Link converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert links to chains
- Write down the value in links (lk).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.01.
- The product is the equivalent value in chains (ch).
- To reverse, multiply the chain value by 100.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 lk to ch:
1 × 0.01 = 0.01 ch
Example 2 — Convert 100 lk to ch:
100 × 0.01 = 1 ch
Real-world example — Maritime depth conversion
A 10-link sounding depth converts cleanly into chains. Recreational divers and sailors translate between the two units whenever they read legacy charts against modern depth-sounder displays.
10 lk × 0.01 = 0.1 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 lk × 0.01 = 0.01 ch
Real-world example — Adult height conversion
A 1.8-link-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 lk × 0.01 = 0.018 ch
Link to Chain conversion table
Standard reference values for converting links to chains:
| Link [lk] | Chain [ch] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0001 |
| 0.1 | 0.001 |
| 1 | 0.01 |
| 2 | 0.02 |
| 3 | 0.03 |
| 4 | 0.04 |
| 5 | 0.05 |
| 10 | 0.1 |
| 20 | 0.2 |
| 30 | 0.3 |
| 40 | 0.4 |
| 50 | 0.5 |
| 100 | 1 |
| 500 | 5 |
| 1000 | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
How many chains is 1 link?
How do I convert links to chains?
How do I convert chains back to links?
How many chains is 100 links?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Link to other length units
Show all Link conversions
Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 lk = 0.01 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.