Convert Long Cubit (long cubit) to Hand (hand) instantly.
About these units
Long Cubit (long cubit)
The long cubit is an extended form of the traditional cubit, often adding an extra palm or handbreadth, resulting in a measurement of approximately 0.525 meters. It was used in ancient Egypt, Israel, and surrounding regions for larger construction projects. This unit allowed architects to scale up structures while maintaining proportionality, particularly in monumental architecture like temples, palaces, and pyramids. Its standardized use enabled consistency across multiple teams of builders working simultaneously on expansive projects. The long cubit also appears in historical and religious texts, giving scholars a reference for interpreting ancient measurements and architectural descriptions.
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.