Convert rod to chain Online | Free Length Converter

Rod

A rod is a traditional unit of length used in land measurement and surveying. It is equal to 16.5 feet, 5.5 yards, or exactly 5.0292 meters.

Also known as a pole or perch, the rod dates back to medieval England and was commonly used for measuring land and agricultural plots. It is closely related to other units such as the chain (which is 4 rods) and the furlong (which is 40 rods).

Key conversions:

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  1 rod = 16.5 feet

  
  
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  1 rod = 5.5 yards

  
  
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  1 rod = 5.0292 meters

  
  
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  4 rods = 1 chain

  
  
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  40 rods = 1 furlong

  
  

Though largely replaced by metric units today, the rod is still occasionally used in surveying and legal descriptions of land, especially in the United States and the UK.

Chain

A chain is a unit of length traditionally used in land surveying. The most common version is the Gunter’s chain, which equals 66 feet or 22 yards, approximately 20.1168 meters.

The chain was introduced by English clergyman Edmund Gunter in the 17th century to simplify land measurement. One chain consists of 100 links, each 0.66 feet long. It became a standard unit in British and American land surveying and was instrumental in defining land areas, especially in the U.S. Public Land Survey System.

Key Conversions:

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  1 chain = 66 feet

  
  
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  1 chain = 22 yards

  
  
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  1 chain ≈ 20.1168 meters

  
  
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  10 chains = 1 furlong

  
  
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  80 chains = 1 mile

  
  

Though now largely replaced by metric units and modern surveying tools, the chain still appears in older land deeds, maps, and rural property descriptions.