Convert Inch (in) to Rod (US Survey) (rd (US)) instantly.
About these units
Inch (in)
An inch is defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters, a precise metric-based definition that preserves its usefulness within imperial systems. Historically, the inch was based on the width of three barleycorns placed end-to-end, a charming relic of medieval measurement practices. Today, the inch is vital in manufacturing, woodworking, consumer electronics (e.g., screen sizes), and tooling standards across the US and partially in the UK. Its size is small enough to offer usable precision yet large enough to avoid unwieldy fractions for many everyday objects. Even in predominantly metric industries, certain products—such as plumbing parts, bicycle rims, and camera mounts—retain inch-based standards for compatibility. This persistence shows how technological ecosystems can outlive their measurement origins.
Rod (US Survey) (rd (US))
The US Survey Rod equals 16.5 US Survey Feet (~5.0292 meters). Like the chain and furlong, it serves as a subdivision of larger units, maintaining consistency with historic Gunter-based measurements. Surveyors historically used rods to measure short distances, delineate boundaries, and calculate acreages. Its simple relationship to chains and furlongs made it practical for field measurements without complex arithmetic. Today, the US survey rod primarily appears in historical records, legal surveys, and when referencing pre-metric property data, providing continuity between older and modern surveying conventions.