Convert Finger (Cloth) (finger) to Hand (hand) instantly.
About these units
Finger (Cloth) (finger)
The cloth finger is a small measurement used in tailoring and weaving, typically about 2.1 cm (0.83 inches). It allowed precise adjustments when cutting and aligning fabric patterns. Merchants and craftsmen relied on the finger as a convenient subdivision of larger units like spans and ells. Its use highlights the practical application of body-based measurements in the textile industry. While no longer standard, the cloth finger provides a window into historical garment production and the role of human-scale units in everyday work.
Hand (hand)
The hand is a traditional unit of length equal to 4 inches, historically used to measure the height of horses. Its origins go back thousands of years, when people commonly relied on body-based measurements. While early hands varied from culture to culture, the modern standardized hand—set at exactly 4 inches—was adopted to bring uniformity to equine measurement worldwide. When measuring a horse, the height is taken at the withers, the ridge between the shoulder blades, because this location provides a stable and consistent point unaffected by head movement. Horse heights are often written in a mixed-unit style: for example, "15.3 hands" means 15 hands plus 3 inches, not 15.3 × 4 inches. Though rarely used outside the world of horsemanship, the hand has become deeply embedded in equestrian culture. It provides a system that is intuitive, easy to visualize, and respectful of longstanding tradition. In modern times, even highly scientific equine breeding and veterinary studies continue to quote measurements in hands.