How many chains are in 1 nautical mile?

One nautical mile contains approximately 92.06 chains.

How many nautical miles is 1 chain?

One chain equals approximately 0.01086 NM.

When is this conversion used?

In coastal property surveys where land boundaries (chains) meet maritime charts (NM).

Nautical Miles to Chains (nmi to ch) Converter

1 nmi = 92.0624 ch

1 Nautical Mile equals 92.0624 Chains (1 nmi = 92.0624 ch). Convert Nautical Miles to Chains with formula, table, and examples.

One nautical mile equals approximately 92.06 chains. A chain (20.1168 m) is about 1/92 of a nautical mile. The NM measures sea distances; the chain measures land parcels. Both serve navigation, but in different environments.

How to Convert Nautical Miles to Chains

ch = nmi × 92.0623558419

Multiply the value in Nautical Miles by 92.0623558419

Take your value in Nautical Miles
Multiply by 92.0623558419
Read the result in Chains

Common Nautical Miles to Chains Conversions

Nautical Miles (nmi)	Chains (ch)	Status
0.1 nmi	9.2062 ch
0.5 nmi	46.0312 ch
1 nmi	92.0624 ch
5 nmi	460.3118 ch
10 nmi	920.6236 ch
50 nmi	4,603.1178 ch
100 nmi	9,206.2356 ch
500 nmi	46,031.1779 ch
1,000 nmi	92,062.3558 ch
3,000 nmi	276,187.0675 ch
10,000 nmi	920,623.5584 ch

Good to Know About Nautical Miles to Chains Conversion

The chain and nautical mile meet at the coast: land surveys in chains end where nautical charts in NM begin. The mean high water line is the measurement border. Every coastal property exists at the boundary between two measurement systems, two legal frameworks, and two worlds.

Nautical Miles to Chains: What You Need to Know

A nautical mile is about 92 chains. Coastal property measured in chains meets the sea measured in nautical miles at the shoreline. The boundary between land and sea is also the boundary between chains and NM.

What is a Nautical Mile? nmi

Exactly 1852 meters by international agreement. Based on one minute of arc of latitude at the Earth's surface. The standard unit for maritime and air navigation.

Nautical maritime navigation aviation international shipping

Learn more about Nautical Mile →

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 →

Going the other way? Use our Chains to Nautical Miles converter.

Nautical Miles to Chains FAQ

One nautical mile contains approximately 92.06 chains.
One chain equals approximately 0.01086 NM.
In coastal property surveys where land boundaries (chains) meet maritime charts (NM).

Non-Frequently Asked Questions About Nautical Miles to Chains

Questions nobody should ask - but someone did.

A cricket pitch is 1 chain. 1 NM = about 92 chains = 92 cricket pitches. If cricket were played on the ocean, a nautical mile would be 92 pitches. Maritime cricket would be impractical but scenic.
Theoretically, but you would need waterproof chain. A transatlantic survey (3,000 NM = about 276,000 chains) would require 276,000 measurements. At 1 measurement per minute, that is 192 days of non-stop chain-laying at sea. Surveying the ocean is not recommended.
At the mean high water line. Below it: nautical charts in NM. Above it: land surveys in chains (or meters). This legal boundary determines which measurement system governs your property. If your land extends below the tide line, you own both chains and nautical miles.