Convert Nail to Barleycorn
Convert nails to barleycorns instantly. 1 nail = 6.7499999734 barleycorn — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Barleycorn to Nail converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Nail
A nail is an Imperial unit of length equal to 2.25 inches (about 57.15 mm). It was historically used in the English cloth trade.
The nail derives from an English cloth-measure tradition dating to medieval times. Standardised at 2.25 inches (or 1/16 of a yard) through English customary practice and ratified by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Nails were historically used to measure cloth, particularly small pieces and ribbons. Rare in modern commerce but appears in historical textile literature and reproduction crafts.
Medieval English cloth-trade origin; standardised at 1/16 yard; fixed exactly at 0.05715 m via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Barleycorn
A barleycorn is an Imperial unit of length equal to one third of an inch (about 8.47 mm). It is the basis of UK shoe sizing and is one of the oldest English length units still in use.
The barleycorn derives from the average length of a grain of barley as a natural reference. Standardised at exactly 1/3 inch by the Statute of Edward II in 1324, which used three barleycorns to define an inch.
Barleycorns are the foundation of UK and US children's shoe sizing — each whole size differs by one barleycorn. Also occasionally referenced in horse-handling and historical English literature.
Standardised in 1324 by the Statute of Edward II at 1/3 inch; the value became exact in 1959 when the inch was fixed at 25.4 mm.
Nail to Barleycorn conversion formula
The relationship between nails and barleycorns:
To convert nails to barleycorns, multiply the value in nails by 6.7499999734. To reverse, multiply barleycorns by 0.1481481487.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in barleycorns updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Barleycorn to Nail converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert nails to barleycorns
- Write down the value in nails (nail).
- Multiply that value by the factor 6.7499999734.
- The product is the equivalent value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- To reverse, multiply the barleycorn value by 0.1481481487.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 nail to barleycorn:
1 × 6.7499999734 = 6.7499999734 barleycorn
Example 2 — Convert 100 nail to barleycorn:
100 × 6.7499999734 = 674.9999973425 barleycorn
Real-world example — Ruler-scale measurements
A 30-nail school ruler converts cleanly to barleycorns — useful when buying a desk accessory from a retailer whose product specs use a different unit.
30 nail × 6.7499999734 = 202.4999992028 barleycorn
Real-world example — Hardware-scale dimensions
A 10-nail fastener or component is about as long as a thumbnail. Mechanics and DIY enthusiasts convert between nails and barleycorns daily when mixing metric and imperial tools.
10 nail × 6.7499999734 = 67.4999997343 barleycorn
Real-world example — Postcard and small-object dimensions
A postcard is about 5 nails wide. Converting to barleycorns is essential for international postal addressing forms that ask for dimensions in different units across countries.
5 nail × 6.7499999734 = 33.7499998671 barleycorn
Nail to Barleycorn conversion table
Standard reference values for converting nails to barleycorns:
| Nail [nail] | Barleycorn [barleycorn] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0674999997 |
| 0.1 | 0.6749999973 |
| 1 | 6.7499999734 |
| 2 | 13.4999999469 |
| 3 | 20.2499999203 |
| 4 | 26.9999998937 |
| 5 | 33.7499998671 |
| 10 | 67.4999997343 |
| 20 | 134.9999994685 |
| 30 | 202.4999992028 |
| 40 | 269.999998937 |
| 50 | 337.4999986713 |
| 100 | 674.9999973425 |
| 500 | 3374.9999867126 |
| 1000 | 6749.9999734252 |
Frequently asked questions
How many barleycorns is 1 nail?
How do I convert nails to barleycorns?
How do I convert barleycorns back to nails?
How many barleycorns is 100 nails?
Popular length unit conversions
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 nail = 6.7499999734 barleycorn) 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.