# Hands to Fathoms (hh to ftm)

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

**1 hh = 0.055555555555556 ftm**

One hand equals exactly 1/18 of a fathom, or approximately 0.05556 fathoms. Since 1 fathom = 6 feet = 72 inches and 1 hand = 4 inches, divide 4 by 72. Both units derive from the human body: the hand from palm width, the fathom from arm span.

## Formula

Convert Hands to Fathoms

## Conversion Table

| Hands (hh) | Fathoms (ftm) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 hh | 0.027777777777778 ftm |
| 1 hh | 0.055555555555556 ftm |
| 2 hh | 0.11111111111111 ftm |
| 5 hh | 0.27777777777778 ftm |
| 10 hh | 0.55555555555556 ftm |
| 14 hh | 0.77777777777778 ftm |
| 15 hh | 0.83333333333333 ftm |
| 16 hh | 0.88888888888889 ftm |
| 17 hh | 0.94444444444444 ftm |
| 18 hh | 1 ftm |
| 20 hh | 1.1111111111111 ftm |
| 50 hh | 2.7777777777778 ftm |
| 100 hh | 5.5555555555556 ftm |
| 500 hh | 27.777777777778 ftm |

## Units

### Hand (hh)

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

### Fathom (ftm)

Exactly 6 feet (1.8288 m). Traditionally used to measure water depth in nautical contexts. Originally based on the span of outstretched arms.

## Background

Eighteen hands make one fathom. A 16-hand horse is about 0.889 fathoms tall. A fathom of water depth could submerge a horse standing about 18 hands tall. Both units are body-based measurements from the English tradition, one for measuring animals and the other for measuring water.

## Good to Know

The hand and fathom represent the same measurement philosophy: use your body as a ruler. Horse traders used their palms. Sailors used their arm span. Both methods are thousands of years old and both are still used professionally today.

## FAQ

### How many fathoms is 1 hand?

One hand equals exactly 1/18 of a fathom (approximately 0.05556 fathoms). Since 1 fathom = 72 inches and 1 hand = 4 inches.

### How many hands are in 1 fathom?

One fathom contains exactly 18 hands. Since 1 fathom = 6 feet = 72 inches and 1 hand = 4 inches, divide 72 by 4.

### Are hands and fathoms both body-based?

Yes. The hand comes from palm width (about 4 inches). The fathom comes from arm span (about 6 feet). Both are ancient body-derived units still in professional use.

## Non-Frequently Asked Questions

### Can a horse wade 1 fathom deep?

A fathom is 6 feet (18 hands). A 16-hand horse has its back at about 5.33 feet and its head at about 7-8 feet. So at 1 fathom (6 feet) of water, the horse's back is submerged but its head is above water. Horses can wade at 1 fathom. They probably would prefer not to.

### How many horse-heights deep is the Mariana Trench?

The Mariana Trench is about 6,011 fathoms = 108,198 hands deep. At 16 hands per horse, that is about 6,762 horses stacked. The deepest ocean is about 6,762 horses deep. This fact has never appeared in a marine biology textbook, and probably should not.

### Is the hand or the fathom the more ancient body-based unit?

Both are ancient. The hand (palm width, 4 inches) has Egyptian origins dating back 5,000+ years. The fathom (arm span, 6 feet) has Norse origins of similar age. Both were defined by the human body before rulers existed. They are siblings in measurement history.

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## See Also

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