Convert span (cloth) to dekameter 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:

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  1 span ≈ 9 inches (22.86 cm)

  
  
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  Based on the hand’s spread

  
  
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  Used historically in cloth measurement and tailoring

  
  
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  Now mostly of historical and cultural interest

Dekameter

A dekameter (dam) is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to 10 meters. It sits between a meter and a hectometer in size. Although it is an official part of the metric system, the dekameter is rarely used in everyday life, education, or even science. For example, a small swimming pool might be around 2 dekameters long. The symbol for dekameter is "dam". Since most people prefer using meters or kilometers, the dekameter is more of a theoretical unit used mainly for teaching the structure of the metric system.