Convert Link to Ell
Convert links to ells instantly. 1 link = 0.176 ell — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Ell 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.
Ell
An ell is an Imperial unit of length equal to 45 inches (1.143 m), historically used as the standard measure of cloth in English commerce.
The ell derives from old English elna (forearm) and was standardised in medieval English trade as the cloth-measuring yard equivalent. The English ell is 45 inches; other regional ells differed.
Ells appear in historical English commerce records (especially cloth and tapestry trade). Used in legal documents through the 19th century; rare in modern commerce but referenced in literary and historical contexts.
Medieval English cloth-trade origin; standardised at 45 inches; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Link to Ell conversion formula
The relationship between links and ells:
To convert links to ells, multiply the value in links by 0.176. To reverse, multiply ells by 5.6818181818.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in ells updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Ell to Link converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert links to ells
- Write down the value in links (lk).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.176.
- The product is the equivalent value in ells (ell).
- To reverse, multiply the ell value by 5.6818181818.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 lk to ell:
1 × 0.176 = 0.176 ell
Example 2 — Convert 100 lk to ell:
100 × 0.176 = 17.6 ell
Real-world example — Fabric purchase length
Two links of fabric equals a value in ells essential for tailors and textile buyers sourcing material from international suppliers that quote in different units.
2 lk × 0.176 = 0.352 ell
Real-world example — Maritime depth conversion
A 10-link sounding depth converts cleanly into ells. Recreational divers and sailors translate between the two units whenever they read legacy charts against modern depth-sounder displays.
10 lk × 0.176 = 1.76 ell
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 × 0.176 = 0.176 ell
Link to Ell conversion table
Standard reference values for converting links to ells:
| Link [lk] | Ell [ell] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.00176 |
| 0.1 | 0.0176 |
| 1 | 0.176 |
| 2 | 0.352 |
| 3 | 0.528 |
| 4 | 0.704 |
| 5 | 0.88 |
| 10 | 1.76 |
| 20 | 3.52 |
| 30 | 5.28 |
| 40 | 7.04 |
| 50 | 8.8 |
| 100 | 17.6 |
| 500 | 88 |
| 1000 | 176 |
Frequently asked questions
How many ells is 1 link?
How do I convert links to ells?
How do I convert ells back to links?
How many ells 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 = 0.176 ell) 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.