Convert Nail to Link
Convert nails to links instantly. 1 nail = 0.2840909091 link — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Link 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.
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.
Nail to Link conversion formula
The relationship between nails and links:
To convert nails to links, multiply the value in nails by 0.2840909091. To reverse, multiply links by 3.52.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in links updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Link to Nail converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert nails to links
- Write down the value in nails (nail).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.2840909091.
- The product is the equivalent value in links (lk).
- To reverse, multiply the link value by 3.52.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 nail to lk:
1 × 0.2840909091 = 0.2840909091 lk
Example 2 — Convert 100 nail to lk:
100 × 0.2840909091 = 28.4090909091 lk
Real-world example — Children's height milestones
A 150-nail-tall child measures a value in links that's commonly used for theme-park ride height requirements when travelling between countries that use different measurement units.
150 nail × 0.2840909091 = 42.6136363636 lk
Real-world example — Body height conversion
You enter your height as 180 nails into an international job or visa application. The form then asks for the same value in links — converting between these adjacent units is one of the most-used length conversions globally.
180 nail × 0.2840909091 = 51.1363636364 lk
Real-world example — Furniture and large objects
A 72-nail piece of furniture converts to a value in links that's easier to mentally compare with room dimensions. This is the typical workflow when shopping internationally and product specs use a different unit than your room measurements.
72 nail × 0.2840909091 = 20.4545454545 lk
Nail to Link conversion table
Standard reference values for converting nails to links:
| Nail [nail] | Link [lk] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0028409091 |
| 0.1 | 0.0284090909 |
| 1 | 0.2840909091 |
| 2 | 0.5681818182 |
| 3 | 0.8522727273 |
| 4 | 1.1363636364 |
| 5 | 1.4204545455 |
| 10 | 2.8409090909 |
| 20 | 5.6818181818 |
| 30 | 8.5227272727 |
| 40 | 11.3636363636 |
| 50 | 14.2045454545 |
| 100 | 28.4090909091 |
| 500 | 142.0454545455 |
| 1000 | 284.0909090909 |
Frequently asked questions
How many links is 1 nail?
How do I convert nails to links?
How do I convert links back to nails?
How many links is 100 nails?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Nail to other length units
Show all Nail conversions
Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 nail = 0.2840909091 lk) 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.