Convert Rod to Cable
Convert rods to cables instantly. 1 rod = 0.0271555076 cable — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Cable 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.
Cable
A cable is a nautical unit of length equal to one tenth of a nautical mile (exactly 185.2 m). It is used in maritime navigation for short-distance descriptions.
The cable derives from the historical length of a ship's anchor cable. Standardised at one tenth of an international nautical mile in 1929.
Cables are used in modern maritime navigation when describing short distances between vessels, anchoring depths, and harbor manoeuvres. Common in naval and yachting contexts.
Standardised at 1/10 nautical mile by the International Hydrographic Organization in 1929.
Rod to Cable conversion formula
The relationship between rods and cables:
To convert rods to cables, multiply the value in rods by 0.0271555076. To reverse, multiply cables by 36.8249423368.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in cables updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Cable to Rod converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert rods to cables
- Write down the value in rods (rd).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0271555076.
- The product is the equivalent value in cables (cable).
- To reverse, multiply the cable value by 36.8249423368.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 rd to cable:
1 × 0.0271555076 = 0.0271555076 cable
Example 2 — Convert 100 rd to cable:
100 × 0.0271555076 = 2.7155507559 cable
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 × 0.0271555076 = 0.0271555076 cable
Real-world example — Adult height conversion
A 1.8-rod-tall person measures a value in cables that converts the height to the unit favoured by American forms, schools, or driver's licences. This is daily routine for anyone living between metric and imperial systems.
1.8 rd × 0.0271555076 = 0.0488799136 cable
Real-world example — Fabric purchase length
Two rods of fabric equals a value in cables essential for tailors and textile buyers sourcing material from international suppliers that quote in different units.
2 rd × 0.0271555076 = 0.0543110151 cable
Rod to Cable conversion table
Standard reference values for converting rods to cables:
| Rod [rd] | Cable [cable] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0002715551 |
| 0.1 | 0.0027155508 |
| 1 | 0.0271555076 |
| 2 | 0.0543110151 |
| 3 | 0.0814665227 |
| 4 | 0.1086220302 |
| 5 | 0.1357775378 |
| 10 | 0.2715550756 |
| 20 | 0.5431101512 |
| 30 | 0.8146652268 |
| 40 | 1.0862203024 |
| 50 | 1.357775378 |
| 100 | 2.7155507559 |
| 500 | 13.5777537797 |
| 1000 | 27.1555075594 |
Frequently asked questions
How many cables is 1 rod?
How do I convert rods to cables?
How do I convert cables back to rods?
How many cables is 100 rods?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Rod to other length units
Show all Rod conversions
Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 rd = 0.0271555076 cable) 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.