Convert span (cloth) to chain (US survey) Online | Free Length Converter
Span (Cloth)
A span is an old unit of length based on the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger of a fully extended hand. Traditionally, it measures about 9 inches or 22.86 centimeters.
In the context of cloth and textiles, the span was used as a convenient, informal measure to estimate small lengths of fabric before standardized rulers became widespread. It was helpful for tailors and traders to quickly gauge lengths during measuring and cutting.
While the span is largely obsolete as a formal unit today, it reflects historical measurement practices tied closely to the human body, similar to the cubit or hand.
Summary:
1 span ≈ 9 inches (22.86 cm)
Based on the hand’s spread
Used historically in cloth measurement and tailoring
Now mostly of historical and cultural interest
Chain (US Survey)
The US survey chain is a unit of length used historically in land surveying in the United States. It is defined as exactly 66 US survey feet, which is slightly longer than the international foot. Since one US survey foot equals about 0.3048006096 meters, the US survey chain is approximately 20.11684 meters long.
Like the standard chain, it is divided into 100 links, each measuring 0.66 US survey feet. The US survey chain was widely used in the Public Land Survey System to measure land parcels and boundaries.
Key facts:
1 US survey chain = 66 US survey feet
1 US survey chain ≈ 20.11684 meters
10 US survey chains = 1 furlong
80 US survey chains = 1 US survey mile
Though the US survey foot and chain are being phased out in favor of international units, the US survey chain still appears in historical land records and some legal contexts.
No conversions available for length.