Convert Rod to Perch
Convert rods to perches instantly. 1 rod = 1 perch — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Perch 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.
Perch
A perch is an Imperial unit of length identical to the rod — 16.5 feet (about 5.03 m). The names 'rod', 'perch', and 'pole' all refer to the same surveying unit and differ only by regional preference.
Like the rod, the perch derives from medieval English land-surveying. The name 'perch' was particularly common in legal land descriptions in Ireland and parts of the UK.
Perches appear in legacy land descriptions in Ireland, the UK, and historical US documents. Modern usage is rare.
Medieval English surveying origin; identical to the rod since 1620; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Rod to Perch conversion formula
The relationship between rods and perches:
To convert rods to perches, multiply the value in rods by 1. To reverse, multiply perches by 1.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in perches updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Perch to Rod converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert rods to perches
- Write down the value in rods (rd).
- Multiply that value by the factor 1.
- The product is the equivalent value in perches (perch).
- To reverse, multiply the perch value by 1.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 rd to perch:
1 × 1 = 1 perch
Example 2 — Convert 100 rd to perch:
100 × 1 = 100 perch
Real-world example — Fabric purchase length
Two rods of fabric equals a value in perches essential for tailors and textile buyers sourcing material from international suppliers that quote in different units.
2 rd × 1 = 2 perch
Real-world example — Maritime depth conversion
A 10-rod sounding depth converts cleanly into perches. Recreational divers and sailors translate between the two units whenever they read legacy charts against modern depth-sounder displays.
10 rd × 1 = 10 perch
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 rd × 1 = 1 perch
Rod to Perch conversion table
Standard reference values for converting rods to perches:
| Rod [rd] | Perch [perch] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.01 |
| 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 10 | 10 |
| 20 | 20 |
| 30 | 30 |
| 40 | 40 |
| 50 | 50 |
| 100 | 100 |
| 500 | 500 |
| 1000 | 1000 |
Frequently asked questions
How many perches is 1 rod?
How do I convert rods to perches?
How do I convert perches back to rods?
How many perches is 100 rods?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Rod to other length units
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 rd = 1 perch) 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.