Convert hand to link Online | Free Length Converter

Hand

A hand is a traditional unit of length primarily used to measure the height of horses. It is equal to 4 inches or 10.16 centimeters.

The origin of the hand as a measurement comes from using the width of a human hand, and it has been standardized at 4 inches for consistency in horse measurement. Horse height is expressed in "hands," measured from the ground to the highest point of the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades).

Key points:

• 
  

  1 hand = 4 inches

  
  
• 
  

  1 hand = 10.16 centimeters

  
  
• 
  

  Used mainly for measuring horse height

  
  
• 
  

  Horse height is often given in hands and inches, e.g., 15.2 hands means 15 hands plus 2 inches

  
  

The hand remains the standard unit for horse height in many English-speaking countries.

Link

A link is a traditional unit of length used primarily in land surveying. It is defined as exactly 7.92 inches or approximately 20.1168 centimeters.

The link originated from Gunter's chain, a 66-foot measuring device introduced in 1620 by English mathematician Edmund Gunter. This chain was divided into 100 equal parts, each measuring one link. The link became a standard unit in English-speaking countries for surveying and land measurement.

Key Facts:

• 
  

  1 link = 7.92 inches

  
  
• 
  

  1 link ≈ 20.1168 cm

  
  
• 
  

  25 links = 1 rod (16.5 feet)

  
  
• 
  

  100 links = 1 chain (66 feet)

  
  
• 
  

  1,000 links = 1 furlong (660 feet)

  
  

While the link has largely fallen out of general use, it remains a part of historical surveying practices and is still referenced in some legal and cadastral documents.