Convert span (cloth) to micron 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

Micron

A micron is another name for a micrometer, a very small unit of length in the metric system. One micron equals one-millionth of a meter (1 micron = 1 µm = 0.000001 meters). Microns are used to measure extremely small things like bacteria, cells, dust particles, or the thickness of hair and fibers. For example, a human hair is about 70 microns thick. The symbol for micron is "µm". Though “micron” is an older term, it is still commonly used in fields like biology, electronics, and materials science to describe microscopic measurements.