Chain to Meter Converter
Convert chain meter between units instantly. Includes conversion tables, common equivalents, and calculation formulas.
Reviewed by Manoj Kumar, Mathematics Educator
Formula
Meters = Chains x 20.1168
One chain (Gunter chain) equals exactly 66 feet or 20.1168 meters. A chain contains 100 links, 4 rods, and 1/10 of a furlong. The conversion factor 20.1168 is derived from 66 feet x 0.3048 meters/foot.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Survey Plot Conversion
Problem:A historical land deed describes a property boundary as 15 chains. Convert this to meters.
Solution:1 chain = 20.1168 meters\n15 chains = 15 x 20.1168 = 301.7520 meters\n\nAdditional conversions:\n15 chains = 990 feet\n15 chains = 330 yards\n15 chains = 0.1875 miles\n15 chains = 1,500 links
Result:15 chains = 301.7520 meters = 990 feet = 330 yards
Example 2: Meters to Chains
Problem:A modern survey measures a property line as 500 meters. Convert to chains for comparison with historical records.
Solution:1 meter = 1/20.1168 chains = 0.04971 chains\n500 meters = 500 / 20.1168 = 24.8549 chains\n\n24.8549 chains = 2,485 links\n24.8549 chains = 99.4194 rods\n24.8549 chains = 2.4855 furlongs
Result:500 meters = 24.8549 chains = 2,485 links
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a chain as a unit of measurement?
A chain is a traditional unit of length used primarily in surveying and land measurement. One chain equals exactly 66 feet, 22 yards, or 20.1168 meters. The unit was invented by English mathematician Edmund Gunter in 1620 and became the standard surveying measurement throughout the British Empire. A chain consists of 100 links, each link being 7.92 inches. The chain was designed so that land areas could be easily computed: an area of 10 square chains equals one acre. This relationship made the chain extremely practical for surveying agricultural land, and many historical property descriptions still use chains and links as their primary unit of measurement.
How many meters are in one chain?
One chain is exactly 20.1168 meters. This precise conversion comes from the definition of a chain as 66 feet, combined with the international foot being exactly 0.3048 meters (66 x 0.3048 = 20.1168). In everyday approximation, one chain is roughly 20.12 meters. The metric equivalent is important when converting historical land surveys to modern measurements. In countries that have fully adopted the metric system, surveyors now use meters exclusively, but older property records, legal descriptions, and land titles may still reference chains. Understanding this conversion is essential for real estate professionals, surveyors, and historians working with legacy land records and boundary descriptions.
What is the difference between a Gunter chain and an engineer chain?
There are two types of chains used in surveying with different lengths. The Gunter chain (also called the surveyor chain) is 66 feet long, divided into 100 links of 7.92 inches each. This is the standard chain used in land surveying and the one Chain to Meter Converter converts. The engineer chain is 100 feet long, divided into 100 links of 1 foot each. The engineer chain was used primarily in civil engineering projects like road and railway construction where decimal calculations in feet were more convenient. When encountering historical measurements in chains, it is important to determine which type of chain was used, as the difference is significant: 100 Gunter chains equal 6,600 feet while 100 engineer chains equal 10,000 feet.
References
Reviewed by Manoj Kumar, Mathematics Educator · Editorial policy