Convert Link to Span
Convert links to spans instantly. 1 link = 0.88 span — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Span 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.
Span
A span is an Imperial unit of length equal to 9 inches (228.6 mm). Historically, it represented the distance from the tip of an extended thumb to the tip of an extended little finger.
The span derives from this natural body-measurement and was standardised at 9 inches in English customary practice.
Spans are rare in modern commerce but appear in historical English literature, biblical translation studies, and reproduction crafts. Some construction and gardening still use 'span' informally.
Ancient body-measure origin; standardised in English customary practice at 9 inches; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Link to Span conversion formula
The relationship between links and spans:
To convert links to spans, multiply the value in links by 0.88. To reverse, multiply spans by 1.1363636364.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in spans updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Span to Link converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert links to spans
- Write down the value in links (lk).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.88.
- The product is the equivalent value in spans (span).
- To reverse, multiply the span value by 1.1363636364.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 lk to span:
1 × 0.88 = 0.88 span
Example 2 — Convert 100 lk to span:
100 × 0.88 = 88 span
Real-world example — Fabric purchase length
Two links of fabric equals a value in spans essential for tailors and textile buyers sourcing material from international suppliers that quote in different units.
2 lk × 0.88 = 1.76 span
Real-world example — Maritime depth conversion
A 10-link sounding depth converts cleanly into spans. Recreational divers and sailors translate between the two units whenever they read legacy charts against modern depth-sounder displays.
10 lk × 0.88 = 8.8 span
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 × 0.88 = 0.88 span
Link to Span conversion table
Standard reference values for converting links to spans:
| Link [lk] | Span [span] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0088 |
| 0.1 | 0.088 |
| 1 | 0.88 |
| 2 | 1.76 |
| 3 | 2.64 |
| 4 | 3.52 |
| 5 | 4.4 |
| 10 | 8.8 |
| 20 | 17.6 |
| 30 | 26.4 |
| 40 | 35.2 |
| 50 | 44 |
| 100 | 88 |
| 500 | 440 |
| 1000 | 880 |
Frequently asked questions
How many spans is 1 link?
How do I convert links to spans?
How do I convert spans back to links?
How many spans 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 = 0.88 span) 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.