# Chains to Decimeters (ch to dm) Source: https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/length/chains-to-decimeters/ **1 ch = 201.168 dm** One chain equals exactly 201.168 decimeters. The chain (66 feet / 20.1168 m) converts to a clean decimal in decimeters. While decimeters are rarely used for distance measurement, this conversion demonstrates how the chain relates to metric sub-units of the meter. ## Formula Convert Chains to Decimeters ## Conversion Table | Chains (ch) | Decimeters (dm) | |---|---| | 0.01 ch | 2.01168 dm | | 0.05 ch | 10.0584 dm | | 0.1 ch | 20.1168 dm | | 0.25 ch | 50.292 dm | | 0.5 ch | 100.584 dm | | 1 ch | 201.168 dm | | 2 ch | 402.336 dm | | 5 ch | 1005.84 dm | | 10 ch | 2011.68 dm | | 20 ch | 4023.36 dm | | 40 ch | 8046.72 dm | | 80 ch | 16093.44 dm | | 100 ch | 20116.8 dm | | 500 ch | 100584 dm | ## Units ### 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. ### Decimeter (dm) One tenth of a meter, or 10 centimeters. Used in some European countries for everyday measurements and in education. ## Background A cricket pitch (1 chain) is 201.168 decimeters. A furlong (10 chains) is 2,011.68 decimeters. The decimeter (10 cm) is mainly used in volume calculations (1 dm^3 = 1 liter), so expressing chains in decimeters has limited practical value. Meters or feet are more natural for land distances. ## Good to Know The decimeter is the overlooked metric unit, rarely used for distances but essential through its cube (the liter). The chain is the overlooked imperial unit, once essential for land surveying but now largely historical. Two forgotten units meeting in one conversion. ## FAQ ### How many decimeters are in 1 chain? One chain equals exactly 201.168 decimeters (20.1168 meters). Since 1 meter = 10 decimeters, multiply 20.1168 by 10. ### How do I convert chains to decimeters? Multiply the number of chains by 201.168. For example, 4 chains = 4 x 201.168 = 804.672 decimeters (80.47 meters). ### When would I use decimeters for chains? Almost never. Decimeters are mainly used for volume (1 dm^3 = 1 liter). For land surveying conversions, meters or feet are more practical than decimeters. ## Non-Frequently Asked Questions ### Why is a chain 66 feet and not a nice round number? 66 feet IS the nice number. 10 chains = 1 furlong, 80 chains = 1 mile, 10 square chains = 1 acre. The chain was designed for decimal land calculation within the otherwise non-decimal imperial system. Gunter was ahead of his time. ## Related Articles - [Why We Measure: The Deepest Urge in Human Civilisation](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/blog/why-we-measure) - [The Map Is Not the Territory: Why Every Measurement Is Wrong](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/blog/the-map-is-not-the-territory) - [Zero: The Most Dangerous Number in Measurement](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/blog/zero-the-most-dangerous-number-in-measurement) - [The Body as a Ruler: Every Measurement Unit That Came From Us](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/blog/the-body-as-a-ruler) - [The Speed of Everything: How We Measure From Glaciers to Light](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/blog/the-speed-of-everything) - [15 Obscure Measurement Units You've Never Heard Of (But Still Need)](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/blog/obscure-measurement-units-guide) - [When Measurements Go Wrong - Disasters, Blunders and Happy Accidents](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/blog/when-measurements-go-wrong) - [The Surprising Stories Behind Everyday Units of Measurement](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/blog/stories-behind-measurement-units) - [Metric vs. Imperial - The Complete Guide to the World's Two Measurement Systems](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/blog/metric-vs-imperial-complete-guide) - [Length & Distance Conversion Guide - Meters, Feet, Miles & Kilometers](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/blog/length-and-distance-guide) ## See Also - [Decimeters to Chains](https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/length/decimeters-to-chains/)