# Chains to Hands (ch to hh)

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

**1 ch = 198 hh**

One chain equals exactly 198 hands. Since 1 chain = 66 feet, 1 foot = 3 hands (12 inches / 4 inches per hand), we get 66 x 3 = 198 hands. This conversion connects the land surveying chain with the equestrian hand, two of the most domain-specific units in the imperial system.

## Formula

Convert Chains to Hands

## Conversion Table

| Chains (ch) | Hands (hh) |
|---|---|
| 0.01 ch | 1.98 hh |
| 0.05 ch | 9.9 hh |
| 0.1 ch | 19.8 hh |
| 0.25 ch | 49.5 hh |
| 0.5 ch | 99 hh |
| 1 ch | 198 hh |
| 2 ch | 396 hh |
| 5 ch | 990 hh |
| 10 ch | 1980 hh |
| 20 ch | 3960 hh |
| 40 ch | 7920 hh |
| 80 ch | 15840 hh |
| 100 ch | 19800 hh |
| 500 ch | 99000 hh |

## 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.

### Hand (hh)

Exactly 4 inches (10.16 cm). The standard unit for measuring the height of horses, measured from the ground to the withers.

## Background

A cricket pitch (1 chain = 198 hands) would accommodate a row of about 12 horses standing nose-to-tail (each about 16 hands / 5.3 feet long). While neither surveyors nor equestrians have ever needed this conversion, it demonstrates how imperial units relate through their shared base in feet and inches.

## Good to Know

The chain and the hand are both extremely domain-specific imperial units: one for land, one for horses. Their coexistence in the imperial system shows how specialized measurement units can become when each trade develops its own conventions.

## FAQ

### How many hands are in 1 chain?

One chain equals exactly 198 hands. Since 1 chain = 66 feet = 792 inches, and 1 hand = 4 inches, divide 792 by 4 to get 198.

### How do I convert chains to hands?

Multiply the number of chains by 198. For example, 5 chains = 990 hands. Alternatively, convert chains to inches (x 792) and divide by 4.

### Is this conversion ever used?

No. Chains measure land; hands measure horses. These are two of the most niche-specific units in the imperial system and have never needed to interact.

## Non-Frequently Asked Questions

### How many horses standing nose-to-tail fit in 1 chain?

A horse is roughly 2.4 m (about 8 feet) nose-to-tail. A chain is 20.12 m. So about 8.4 horses fit in one chain. A cricket pitch (1 chain) could host a small horse queue.

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## See Also

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