# Chains to Furlongs (ch to fur)

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

**1 ch = 0.1 fur**

One chain equals exactly 0.1 furlongs, or one-tenth of a furlong. Conversely, one furlong contains exactly 10 chains. This is the most fundamental relationship in the English land measurement system: chain, furlong, and acre were all designed to work together as a coherent surveying system.

## Formula

Convert Chains to Furlongs

## Conversion Table

| Chains (ch) | Furlongs (fur) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 ch | 0.05 fur |
| 1 ch | 0.1 fur |
| 2 ch | 0.2 fur |
| 5 ch | 0.5 fur |
| 10 ch | 1 fur |
| 20 ch | 2 fur |
| 40 ch | 4 fur |
| 80 ch | 8 fur |
| 100 ch | 10 fur |
| 200 ch | 20 fur |
| 500 ch | 50 fur |
| 1000 ch | 100 fur |

## 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.

### Furlong (fur)

Exactly 660 feet or one-eighth of a mile (201.168 m). Originally the length of a plowed furrow. Still used in horse racing.

## Background

Ten chains make one furlong. Eight furlongs make one mile. So 80 chains make one mile. One chain times one furlong (10 chains x 1 chain) equals exactly one acre. This elegant decimal relationship within the otherwise non-decimal imperial system is why Gunter chose 66 feet for his chain.

## Good to Know

The 10:1 chain-to-furlong ratio was one of the earliest decimal subdivisions in the English measurement system, predating metrication by nearly two centuries. Gunter was ahead of his time in recognizing the convenience of base-10 relationships.

## FAQ

### How many furlongs is 1 chain?

One chain equals exactly 0.1 furlongs (one-tenth). There are exactly 10 chains in a furlong. This is a defining relationship in the English measurement system.

### How do I convert chains to furlongs?

Divide the number of chains by 10. For example, 35 chains = 3.5 furlongs. This is one of the simplest conversions in the imperial system.

### Why are there exactly 10 chains in a furlong?

Gunter designed the chain (66 feet) so that exactly 10 chains make one furlong (660 feet) and 10 square chains make one acre. This decimal-like subdivision was remarkably modern for the 1620s.

## Non-Frequently Asked Questions

### Did Gunter know his chain would measure horse races?

Unlikely. Gunter designed his chain for farm surveying in the 1620s. That horse racing adopted the furlong (10 chains) as its distance unit was a happy accident of English measurement tradition, not intentional sports planning.

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## See Also

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