Convert Cubit (UK) (cubit (uk)) to Chain (ch) instantly.
About these units
Cubit (UK) (cubit (uk))
The UK cubit is a traditional English unit derived from the length of the forearm, roughly 0.4572 meters (18 inches). It was historically used in construction, land measurement, and woodworking, providing a human-scale reference for practical tasks before standardized units were widely adopted. In England, the cubit also played a role in surveying and architectural planning, often subdivided into smaller units such as hands or fingers for precision. Builders and craftsmen relied on the cubit because it allowed approximate measurement without instruments, a feature especially valuable in early medieval and pre-industrial periods. Although replaced by the foot and yard over time, the cubit remains an important historical reference for studying British architecture, surveying records, and early measurement systems.
Chain (ch)
A chain is equal to 66 feet or 4 rods, and it was standardized by surveyor Edmund Gunter in the 17th century. "Gunter's chain," consisting of 100 metal links, became the backbone of land surveying in the English-speaking world for centuries. Its convenience stems from simple arithmetic: 10 square chains make an acre, making land area calculations straightforward. Railroads, farmland, and city parcels across the United States and the Commonwealth nations were once laid out using chains, so the unit appears in countless historical records. Even today, some legal property descriptions still reference chain-based measurements, making the unit relevant for modern surveyors who interpret old maps. Although high-precision digital equipment has replaced physical chains, the unit's structural role in land division ensures its lasting importance.