# Chains to Kilometers (ch to km)

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

**1 ch = 0.0201168 km**

One chain equals exactly 0.0201168 kilometers, or about 20.12 meters. This conversion is the most practical chain-to-metric conversion, useful when translating historical English and American land surveys into modern metric distances for GIS systems, property records, and geographic analysis.

## Formula

Convert Chains to Kilometers

## Conversion Table

| Chains (ch) | Kilometers (km) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 ch | 0.0100584 km |
| 1 ch | 0.0201168 km |
| 2 ch | 0.0402336 km |
| 5 ch | 0.100584 km |
| 10 ch | 0.201168 km |
| 20 ch | 0.402336 km |
| 40 ch | 0.804672 km |
| 80 ch | 1.609344 km |
| 100 ch | 2.01168 km |
| 200 ch | 4.02336 km |
| 500 ch | 10.0584 km |
| 1000 ch | 20.1168 km |
| 5000 ch | 100.584 km |
| 10000 ch | 201.168 km |

## 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.

### Kilometer (km)

A metric unit of length equal to 1000 meters. The standard unit for measuring road distances and geographic distances in most countries.

## Background

A mile of 80 chains equals 1.60934 km. A furlong of 10 chains equals 0.201168 km. When digitizing old British Ordnance Survey maps or American township surveys into metric GIS databases, this conversion is essential. Modern cadastral systems in former British colonies often contain legacy chain measurements needing kilometer conversion.

## Good to Know

Countries like Australia, Canada, and India transitioned from chain-based land surveys to metric systems during metrication. Millions of property boundaries originally measured in chains had to be converted to meters and kilometers for modern land registries.

## FAQ

### How many kilometers is 1 chain?

One chain equals exactly 0.0201168 kilometers (20.1168 meters). Eighty chains equal 1.60934 km (1 mile).

### How do I convert chains to kilometers?

Multiply the number of chains by 0.0201168. For example, 100 chains = 100 x 0.0201168 = 2.01168 km (about 1.25 miles).

### When is this conversion needed?

When converting old property surveys from chains to metric for modern land registries, GIS databases, or legal boundary determinations. This is a real-world conversion used by surveyors in countries that transitioned from imperial to metric measurement.

## Non-Frequently Asked Questions

### How many chains is a marathon?

A marathon (42.195 km) is about 2,097 chains. Old English road distances were measured in chains before miles became standard. Running a marathon in chains sounds medieval, which is fitting.

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## See Also

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