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Convert Barleycorn to Chain (bc to ch) instantly with accurate, readable results.
Use our Length Unit Converter to quickly convert between meters, kilometers, feet, inches, miles, and more. This powerful unit conversion tool supports both metric and imperial systems, making it ideal for travel, engineering, education, and everyday use. Whether you're calculating distances or comparing measurements, our length unit conversion calculator ensures fast and accurate results every time.
Barleycorn - traditional English length unit
Barleycorn is a historical unit of length in the Imperial/US systems, originally based on a grain of barley. Used today mainly as the step size in UK/Irish shoe sizing
- Symbol: none standardized (sometimes "bc")
- System: Imperial/US customary (historic)
- Exact relations: 1 barleycorn = 1/3 in (exact); 3 barleycorns = 1 in; 36 barleycorns = 1 ft
- Metric equivalents: 1 barleycorn = 25.4/3 mm ≈ 8.466666… mm ≈ 0.846666… cm
- Typical examples: consecutive UK shoe sizes differ by one barleycorn (≈ 1/3 in) in last length
Chain - traditional surveying length unit
Chain is a historical unit used in land surveying, specifically Gunter’s chain. Used on cadastral maps and by railways and surveyors across the English-speaking world.
- Symbols: ch (common)
- System: Imperial/US customary (historic surveying)
- Exact relations: 1 chain = 66 ft = 22 yd = 4 rods = 100 links = 1/80 mile; 10 chains = 1 furlong
- Metric equivalents: 1 chain = 20.1168 m (exact)
- Typical examples: UK railway distances recorded in miles and chains; a cricket pitch length is 1 chain (22 yd)