How many kilometers is 1 chain?

One chain equals exactly 0.0201168 kilometers (20.1168 meters). Eighty chains equal 1.60934 km (1 mile).

How do I convert chains to kilometers?

Multiply the number of chains by 0.0201168. For example, 100 chains = 100 x 0.0201168 = 2.01168 km (about 1.25 miles).

When is this conversion needed?

When converting old property surveys from chains to metric for modern land registries, GIS databases, or legal boundary determinations. This is a real-world conversion used by surveyors in countries that transitioned from imperial to metric measurement.

Chains to Kilometers (ch to km) Converter

1 ch = 0.0201 km

1 Chain equals 0.0201 Kilometers (1 ch = 0.0201 km). Convert Chains to Kilometers with formula, table, and examples.

One chain equals exactly 0.0201168 kilometers, or about 20.12 meters. This conversion is the most practical chain-to-metric conversion, useful when translating historical English and American land surveys into modern metric distances for GIS systems, property records, and geographic analysis.

How to Convert Chains to Kilometers

km = ch × 0.0201168

Multiply the value in Chains by 0.0201168

Take your value in Chains
Multiply by 0.0201168
Read the result in Kilometers

Common Chains to Kilometers Conversions

Chains (ch)	Kilometers (km)	Status
0.5 ch	0.0101 km
1 ch	0.0201 km
2 ch	0.0402 km
5 ch	0.1006 km
10 ch	0.2012 km
20 ch	0.4023 km
40 ch	0.8047 km
80 ch	1.6093 km
100 ch	2.0117 km
200 ch	4.0234 km
500 ch	10.0584 km
1,000 ch	20.1168 km
5,000 ch	100.584 km
10,000 ch	201.168 km

Good to Know About Chains to Kilometers Conversion

Countries like Australia, Canada, and India transitioned from chain-based land surveys to metric systems during metrication. Millions of property boundaries originally measured in chains had to be converted to meters and kilometers for modern land registries.

Chains to Kilometers: What You Need to Know

A mile of 80 chains equals 1.60934 km. A furlong of 10 chains equals 0.201168 km. When digitizing old British Ordnance Survey maps or American township surveys into metric GIS databases, this conversion is essential. Modern cadastral systems in former British colonies often contain legacy chain measurements needing kilometer conversion.

What is a Chain? ch

Exactly 66 feet or 4 rods (20.1168 m). Invented by Edmund Gunter for land surveying. 80 chains make one mile. Still used in US public land surveys.

Imperial land surveying US public land

Learn more about Chain →

What is a Kilometer? km

A metric unit of length equal to 1000 meters. The standard unit for measuring road distances and geographic distances in most countries.

Metric road distances geography running

Learn more about Kilometer →

Going the other way? Use our Kilometers to Chains converter.

Chains to Kilometers FAQ

One chain equals exactly 0.0201168 kilometers (20.1168 meters). Eighty chains equal 1.60934 km (1 mile).
Multiply the number of chains by 0.0201168. For example, 100 chains = 100 x 0.0201168 = 2.01168 km (about 1.25 miles).
When converting old property surveys from chains to metric for modern land registries, GIS databases, or legal boundary determinations. This is a real-world conversion used by surveyors in countries that transitioned from imperial to metric measurement.

Non-Frequently Asked Questions About Chains to Kilometers

Questions nobody should ask - but someone did.

A marathon (42.195 km) is about 2,097 chains. Old English road distances were measured in chains before miles became standard. Running a marathon in chains sounds medieval, which is fitting.