Convert Fingerbreadth (fingerbreadth) to Chain (ch) instantly.
About these units
Fingerbreadth (fingerbreadth)
The fingerbreadth, approximately 1.9–2 cm, is the width of an average adult finger and represents one of the smallest practical body-based units. It was historically used for fine measurement in weaving, tailoring, and small-scale construction, complementing units like cubits and handbreadths. Its human-scale precision made it intuitive, particularly in societies without standardized rulers or measuring rods. Fingerbreadths continue to be referenced in scholarly studies of ancient measurements, providing insight into the practical and anthropometric foundations of early 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.