Convert Rod to Barleycorn
Convert rods to barleycorns instantly. 1 rod = 593.9999976614 barleycorn — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Barleycorn to Rod converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Rod
A rod is an Imperial unit of length equal to 16.5 feet (about 5.03 m). It is also called a perch or pole. Used historically in English and American land surveying.
The rod derives from medieval English land-surveying practice. Standardised at 16.5 feet (= 25 links of a surveyor's chain = 1/4 chain) by Edmund Gunter in 1620.
Rods are the standard unit in legacy US public-land-survey records, where lot dimensions are typically expressed in rods and chains. Modern surveyors generally use feet or meters but legacy deeds remain in rods.
Defined by Edmund Gunter in 1620 as 16.5 feet via the chain-based survey system; became exact 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.
Rod to Barleycorn conversion formula
The relationship between rods and barleycorns:
To convert rods to barleycorns, multiply the value in rods by 593.9999976614. To reverse, multiply barleycorns by 0.0016835017.
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 Rod converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert rods to barleycorns
- Write down the value in rods (rd).
- Multiply that value by the factor 593.9999976614.
- The product is the equivalent value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- To reverse, multiply the barleycorn value by 0.0016835017.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 rd to barleycorn:
1 × 593.9999976614 = 593.9999976614 barleycorn
Example 2 — Convert 100 rd to barleycorn:
100 × 593.9999976614 = 59399.9997661417 barleycorn
Real-world example — Body height conversion (reverse direction)
You measure 1.75 rods tall and need to fill in a gym membership form or medical record that asks for height in barleycorns. This is the most-used everyday length conversion in metric-using countries.
1.75 rd × 593.9999976614 = 1039.4999959075 barleycorn
Real-world example — Pet and accessory dimensions
A 3-rod dog leash equals a tidy round value in barleycorns. Pet-supply shopping frequently mixes the two units across product specifications.
3 rd × 593.9999976614 = 1781.9999929843 barleycorn
Real-world example — Fabric and tailoring
One rod of fabric converts to a value in barleycorns commonly used for seam allowances. Garment patterns frequently switch between the two units on a single instruction sheet.
1 rd × 593.9999976614 = 593.9999976614 barleycorn
Rod to Barleycorn conversion table
Standard reference values for converting rods to barleycorns:
| Rod [rd] | Barleycorn [barleycorn] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 5.9399999766 |
| 0.1 | 59.3999997661 |
| 1 | 593.9999976614 |
| 2 | 1187.9999953228 |
| 3 | 1781.9999929843 |
| 4 | 2375.9999906457 |
| 5 | 2969.9999883071 |
| 10 | 5939.9999766142 |
| 20 | 11879.9999532283 |
| 30 | 17819.9999298425 |
| 40 | 23759.9999064567 |
| 50 | 29699.9998830709 |
| 100 | 59399.9997661417 |
| 500 | 296999.9988307087 |
| 1000 | 593999.9976614175 |
Frequently asked questions
How many barleycorns is 1 rod?
How do I convert rods to barleycorns?
How do I convert barleycorns back to rods?
How many barleycorns is 100 rods?
Popular length unit conversions
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 rd = 593.9999976614 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 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.