Convert Link to Mil
Convert links to mils instantly. 1 link = 7920 mil — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Mil 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.
Mil
A mil (also called a thou) is an Imperial unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch (1/1000 in = 0.0254 mm = 25.4 μm exactly). It is used in engineering, manufacturing, and materials specifications.
The mil is derived from the Latin mille, "thousand," denoting one-thousandth of an inch. Standardized in industrial use during the 19th-century rise of precision engineering.
Mils are used to specify thicknesses of plastic films, foils, paper, copper traces on printed circuit boards (PCBs), wire insulation, and paint coatings. A standard sheet of paper is about 4 mils thick.
Adopted in 19th-century engineering practice; the value (1/1000 in) became exact in 1959 when the inch was fixed at 25.4 mm via the International Yard and Pound Agreement. The British term is "thou"; American term is "mil".
Link to Mil conversion formula
The relationship between links and mils:
To convert links to mils, multiply the value in links by 7920. To reverse, multiply mils by 0.0001262626.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in mils updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Mil to Link converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert links to mils
- Write down the value in links (lk).
- Multiply that value by the factor 7920.
- The product is the equivalent value in mils (mil).
- To reverse, multiply the mil value by 0.0001262626.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 lk to mil:
1 × 7920 = 7920 mil
Example 2 — Convert 100 lk to mil:
100 × 7920 = 792000 mil
Real-world example — Macroscopic to microscopic
One link equals a million mils. Optical engineers calculating coherence length compare macro-scale path lengths with micro-scale wavelength differences using exactly this conversion.
1 lk × 7920 = 7920 mil
Real-world example — Sub-meter precision
A 0.001-link (1 mm) tolerance equals 1,000 mils — useful for surface-finish specs, where macro-scale dimensions are given in the larger unit but feature roughness in the smaller.
0.001 lk × 7920 = 7.92 mil
Real-world example — Macro-to-micro scale comparison
2 links of measurement converts to a very large number in mils — useful in materials science when comparing bulk-sample dimensions to feature-level surface specs.
2 lk × 7920 = 15840 mil
Link to Mil conversion table
Standard reference values for converting links to mils:
| Link [lk] | Mil [mil] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 79.2 |
| 0.1 | 792 |
| 1 | 7920 |
| 2 | 15840 |
| 3 | 23760 |
| 4 | 31680 |
| 5 | 39600 |
| 10 | 79200 |
| 20 | 158400 |
| 30 | 237600 |
| 40 | 316800 |
| 50 | 396000 |
| 100 | 792000 |
| 500 | 3960000 |
| 1000 | 7920000 |
Frequently asked questions
How many mils is 1 link?
How do I convert links to mils?
How do I convert mils back to links?
How many mils 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 = 7920 mil) 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.