# Centimeters to Chains (cm to ch)

Source: https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/length/centimeters-to-chains/

**1 cm = 0.00049709695378987 ch**

One centimeter equals approximately 0.000497 chains, or about 1/2,012 of a chain. A chain (66 feet / 2,011.68 cm) contains about 2,012 centimeters. This conversion connects the universal metric unit with the historical English land surveying unit.

## Formula

Convert Centimeters to Chains

## Conversion Table

| Centimeters (cm) | Chains (ch) |
|---|---|
| 1 cm | 0.00049709695378987 ch |
| 5 cm | 0.0024854847689493 ch |
| 10 cm | 0.0049709695378987 ch |
| 50 cm | 0.024854847689493 ch |
| 100 cm | 0.049709695378987 ch |
| 500 cm | 0.24854847689493 ch |
| 1000 cm | 0.49709695378987 ch |
| 2012 cm | 1.0001590710252 ch |
| 5000 cm | 2.4854847689493 ch |
| 10000 cm | 4.9709695378987 ch |
| 50000 cm | 24.854847689493 ch |
| 100000 cm | 49.709695378987 ch |

## Units

### Centimeter (cm)

A metric unit of length equal to one hundredth of a meter. Commonly used for body height, clothing sizes, and everyday measurements.

### 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.

## Background

A cricket pitch (1 chain) is 2,011.68 cm. A standard 30 cm ruler is about 0.0149 chains. When digitizing old English property records into metric databases, converting chain-based measurements to centimeters (or more commonly meters) is a routine task for GIS professionals.

## Good to Know

The centimeter conquered the world. The chain ruled England for 300 years but is now retired. When these two units meet in a GIS database, the centimeter always wins: chains get converted to metric, never the reverse.

## FAQ

### How many chains is 1 centimeter?

One centimeter equals approximately 0.000497 chains (about 1/2,012 of a chain).

### How many centimeters are in 1 chain?

One chain contains approximately 2,011.68 cm (66 feet x 30.48 cm/foot).

### When would I convert cm to chains?

When reconciling metric survey data with historical English property records that describe boundaries in chains.

## Non-Frequently Asked Questions

### If a chain is 2,012 cm, how many chains is a chainsaw?

A typical chainsaw bar is about 40-60 cm, or roughly 0.02-0.03 chains. The chainsaw is named for its cutting chain, not the surveying chain. Different chains, different purposes, same confusing English language.

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## See Also

- [Chains to Centimeters](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/length/chains-to-centimeters/)