How many fathoms is 1 rod?

One rod equals exactly 2.75 fathoms (16.5 feet / 6 feet per fathom).

How many rods is 1 fathom?

One fathom equals approximately 0.3636 rods (about 4/11 of a rod).

When is this conversion used?

In coastal surveys where land boundaries (rods) meet underwater features (fathoms).

Rods to Fathoms (rd to ftm) Converter

1 rd = 2.75 ftm

1 Rod equals 2.75 Fathoms (1 rd = 2.75 ftm). Convert Rods to Fathoms with formula, table, and examples.

One rod equals approximately 2.75 fathoms. Since 1 rod = 16.5 feet and 1 fathom = 6 feet, divide 16.5 by 6. The rod measures land; the fathom measures sea depth. Both are English units derived from the foot, serving perpendicular directions.

How to Convert Rods to Fathoms

ftm = rd × 2.75

Multiply the value in Rods by 2.75

Take your value in Rods
Multiply by 2.75
Read the result in Fathoms

Common Rods to Fathoms Conversions

Rods (rd)	Fathoms (ftm)	Status
0.25 rd	0.6875 ftm
0.5 rd	1.375 ftm
1 rd	2.75 ftm
2 rd	5.5 ftm
4 rd	11 ftm
5 rd	13.75 ftm
10 rd	27.5 ftm
20 rd	55 ftm
40 rd	110 ftm
100 rd	275 ftm
160 rd	440 ftm
320 rd	880 ftm
500 rd	1,375 ftm
1,000 rd	2,750 ftm

Good to Know About Rods to Fathoms Conversion

The rod and fathom are English measurement's land-sea pair. Both derive from the foot: the rod is 16.5 feet (horizontal land); the fathom is 6 feet (vertical depth). At the coast, one becomes the other. The rod walks the beach; the fathom wades into the water.

Rods to Fathoms: What You Need to Know

A rod is 2.75 fathoms. 4 rods (1 chain) = 11 fathoms. A 40-rod furlong = 110 fathoms. The rod and fathom are both foot-based but serve different environments: horizontal land and vertical sea.

What is a Rod? rd

Exactly 16.5 feet or 5.5 yards (5.0292 m). Also called a perch or pole. Historically used in land surveying.

Imperial land surveying historical

Learn more about Rod →

What is a Fathom? ftm

Exactly 6 feet (1.8288 m). Traditionally used to measure water depth in nautical contexts. Originally based on the span of outstretched arms.

Imperial water depth nautical marine charts

Learn more about Fathom →

Going the other way? Use our Fathoms to Rods converter.

Rods to Fathoms FAQ

One rod equals exactly 2.75 fathoms (16.5 feet / 6 feet per fathom).
One fathom equals approximately 0.3636 rods (about 4/11 of a rod).
In coastal surveys where land boundaries (rods) meet underwater features (fathoms).

Non-Frequently Asked Questions About Rods to Fathoms

Questions nobody should ask - but someone did.

Traditionally yes. Rods measured along the ground; fathoms measured down into the water. But both are just lengths. A rod could measure depth and a fathom could measure land. The convention is environmental, not mathematical. Units do not know which direction they point.
A rod laid vertically into the ground = 2.75 fathoms = 5.03 m. That is deeper than most building foundations (1-3 m) but shallower than most wells (5-20 m). A rod of depth reaches the water table in many areas. The rod accidentally measures groundwater access depth.
2.75 fathoms = about 5 m. Average ocean depth is about 2,024 fathoms (3,700 m). Your rod reaches 0.14% of average ocean depth. A rod in the ocean is a toothpick in a swimming pool. The ocean is deeper than the rod imagines.