Convert Nail to Chain
Convert nails to chains instantly. 1 nail = 0.0028409091 chain — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Chain 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.
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.
Nail to Chain conversion formula
The relationship between nails and chains:
To convert nails to chains, multiply the value in nails by 0.0028409091. To reverse, multiply chains by 352.
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 Nail converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert nails to chains
- Write down the value in nails (nail).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0028409091.
- The product is the equivalent value in chains (ch).
- To reverse, multiply the chain value by 352.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 nail to ch:
1 × 0.0028409091 = 0.0028409091 ch
Example 2 — Convert 100 nail to ch:
100 × 0.0028409091 = 0.2840909091 ch
Real-world example — Postcard and small-object dimensions
A postcard is about 5 nails wide. Converting to chains is essential for international postal addressing forms that ask for dimensions in different units across countries.
5 nail × 0.0028409091 = 0.0142045455 ch
Real-world example — Ruler-scale measurements
A 30-nail school ruler converts cleanly to chains — useful when buying a desk accessory from a retailer whose product specs use a different unit.
30 nail × 0.0028409091 = 0.0852272727 ch
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 chains daily when mixing metric and imperial tools.
10 nail × 0.0028409091 = 0.0284090909 ch
Nail to Chain conversion table
Standard reference values for converting nails to chains:
| Nail [nail] | Chain [ch] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 2.840909e-5 |
| 0.1 | 0.0002840909 |
| 1 | 0.0028409091 |
| 2 | 0.0056818182 |
| 3 | 0.0085227273 |
| 4 | 0.0113636364 |
| 5 | 0.0142045455 |
| 10 | 0.0284090909 |
| 20 | 0.0568181818 |
| 30 | 0.0852272727 |
| 40 | 0.1136363636 |
| 50 | 0.1420454545 |
| 100 | 0.2840909091 |
| 500 | 1.4204545455 |
| 1000 | 2.8409090909 |
Frequently asked questions
How many chains is 1 nail?
How do I convert nails to chains?
How do I convert chains back to nails?
How many chains 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 = 0.0028409091 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.