# Furlongs to Chains (fur to ch)

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

**1 fur = 10 ch**

One furlong equals exactly 10 chains. This is the defining relationship between furlongs and chains in the English land measurement system. Edmund Gunter deliberately designed his chain so that 10 chains would make one furlong, creating a rare decimal relationship within the imperial system.

## Formula

Convert Furlongs to Chains

## Conversion Table

| Furlongs (fur) | Chains (ch) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 fur | 1 ch |
| 0.25 fur | 2.5 ch |
| 0.5 fur | 5 ch |
| 1 fur | 10 ch |
| 2 fur | 20 ch |
| 4 fur | 40 ch |
| 5 fur | 50 ch |
| 8 fur | 80 ch |
| 10 fur | 100 ch |
| 20 fur | 200 ch |
| 50 fur | 500 ch |
| 100 fur | 1000 ch |
| 500 fur | 5000 ch |

## Units

### 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.

### 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

Ten chains make one furlong. Eight furlongs make one mile. So one mile is 80 chains. The 10:1 ratio was designed so that 1 chain x 1 furlong = 1 acre (43,560 sq ft). This elegant decimal subdivision within the otherwise non-decimal imperial system was remarkably forward-thinking for the 1620s.

## Good to Know

The 10:1 furlong-to-chain ratio was one of the earliest base-10 relationships in English measurement. Gunter's decimal insight in the 1620s predated the French metric system by nearly 170 years.

## FAQ

### How many chains are in 1 furlong?

One furlong contains exactly 10 chains. This is the defining relationship in the English land measurement system.

### How do I convert furlongs to chains?

Multiply the furlong value by 10. For example, 3.5 furlongs = 35 chains. The conversion is exact.

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

Gunter chose the chain length (66 feet) so that exactly 10 chains equal one furlong (660 feet). This created a decimal-like system within the imperial framework and made acre calculations simple: 1 chain x 1 furlong = 1 acre.

## Non-Frequently Asked Questions

### Why is the furlong exactly 10 chains?

Edmund Gunter designed it that way in 1620. Ten chains (660 feet) = 1 furlong. One chain x one furlong = 1 acre. The furlong-chain-acre system is remarkably elegant decimal math hiding inside the imperial system. Gunter was a secret metrician.

### Is a furlong just 10 cricket pitches?

Yes, exactly. One chain = one cricket pitch (22 yards). One furlong = 10 chains = 10 cricket pitches. If you lined up 10 cricket matches end-to-end, you would have one furlong. The English invented a sport that is literally measured in chain units.

### Did cricket pitches inspire the furlong or vice versa?

The furlong (from Old English 'furrow-long') predates organized cricket by centuries. Cricket adopted the chain as its pitch length, and the furlong existed as 10 chains. So the furlong came first, the chain came second, and cricket adopted the chain third.

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## See Also

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