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Length and Distance Conversions (Subscribe) Conversion factors and examples for units of length and distance associated with land and natural resource measurement.

Land Terms

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Kilometer (km)

A unit of length used in the metric system of measurement. One (1) kilometer is equal to 1,000 meters, or 0.6214 miles. For conversion factors and examples, see Kilometer (km) equivalents and conversions and the various Converting kilometers to... examples.

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Kilometer (km) equivalents and conversions

A kilometer is a unit of length used in the metric system of measurement.
One (1) kilometer (km) is equal to 1,000 meters (m).
One (1) kilometer is equal to 100,000 centimeters (cm).
One (1) kilometer is equal to 0.62137 miles.
One (1) kilometer is equal to 39,370.079 inches (in).
One (1) kilometer is equal to 3,280.84 feet (ft).
One (1) kilometer is equal to 1,093.613 yards.
One (1) kilometer is equal to 4,970.959 links.
One (1) kilometer is equal to 198.8388 rods, poles, or perches.
One (1) kilometer is equal to 49.71 chains.
One (1) kilometer is equal to 4.971 furlongs.
See the various Converting kilometers to... entries for specific conversion examples.

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Link

A unit of length used in land surveys, named for the links of the chain formerly used by surveyors. There are 100 links in one (1) chain. One (1) link is equal to 0.66 feet, 0.04 rods, 0.01 chains, or 0.20 meters.
For equivalents, conversion factors, and examples, see Link equivalents and conversions and the various Converting links to... entries.

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Link equivalents and conversions

A link is a unit of length used in land surveys.
One (1) link is equal to 0.66 feet.
One (1) link is equal to 0.01 chains.
One (1) link is equal to 0.001 furlongs.
One (1) link is equal to 0.04 rods, poles, or perches.
One (1) link is equal to 7.92 inches.
One (1) link is equal to 0.22 yards.
One (1) link is equal to 0.0001 miles.
One (1) link is equal to 20.1168 centimeters (cm).
One (1) link is equal to 0.2012 meters (m).
One (1) link is equal to 0.0002 kilometers (km).
See the various Converting links to... entries for conversion examples.

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Meter (m)

Unit of length on which the metric system of length measurement is based. One meter is equal to 1,650,763.73 wavelengths of radiation from an isotope of the element krypton. One (1) meter is equal to 3.281 feet. See also Meter (m) equivalents and conversions and the various Converting meters (m) to... entries.

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Meter (m) equivalents and conversions

One (1) meter (m) is equal to 100 centimeters (cm).
One (1) meter is equal to 0.001 kilometers (km).
One (1) meter is equal to 3.2808 feet (ft).
One (1) meter is equal to 1.0936 yards.
One (1) meter is equal to 0.00497 furlongs.
One (1) meter is equal to 0.0497 chains.
One (1) meter is equal to 39.3701 inches (in).
One (1) meter is equal to 4.97096 links.
One (1) meter is equal to 0.0006 miles.
One (1) meter is equal to 0.1988 rods, poles, or perches.
See the various Converting meters (m) to... entries for conversion examples.

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Mile

Unit of length used primarily in the United States, but still used as an international unit as well. Formally known as a statute mile, a mile is equal to 5,280 feet or 1.6093 kilometers (km). For additional information and conversion examples, see Mile equivalents and conversions or the various Converting miles to... entries.

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Mile equivalents and conversions

One (1) mile is equal to 5,280 feet.
One (1) mile is equal to 80 chains.
One (1) mile is equal to 8,000 links.
One (1) mile is equal to eight (8) furlongs.
One (1) mile is equal to 320 rods, poles, or perches.
One (1) mile is equal to 1,760 yards.
One (1) mile is equal to 63,360 inches.
One (1) mile is equal to 160,934.4 centimeters.
One (1) mile is equal to 1,609.344 meters.
One (1) mile is equal to 1.6093 kilometers.
See the various Converting miles to... entries for conversion examples.

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Perch

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A unit of length used in land surveys. The terms rod, pole, and perch are equivalent and may be used interchangeably, although "rod" is the most common. One (1) perch is equal to 25 links, 16.5 feet, or 1/4 (0.25) chain. For conversions and examples, see Rod, pole, or perch equivalents and conversions and the various Converting rods, poles, or perches to... entries.

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Pole

1. A unit of length or area equal to one linear rod or one square rod, commonly used in land surveys. The terms, rod, pole, and perch are equivalent and may be used interchangeably, although "rod" is the most common. One (1) pole is equal to 25 links, 16.5 feet, or 1/4 (0.25) chain. For conversions and examples, see Rod, pole, or perch equivalents and conversions and the various Converting rods, poles, or perches to... entries.
2. A roundwood product used primarily for structural support. Tree species used for poles are selected for resistance to weather, wear, and mechanical stress and include lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and a variety of southern pines.
3. Term applied to trees that have too small a diameter to be considered sawlogs, but are useful as structural supports, flagpoles, etc.
4. The end of an axis, as in poles of the earth or of cellular mitotic spindles in plants and animals.
5. Either of two opposing parts, forces, or situations, as in magnets, batteries, or opinions.

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Ramsden's chain

A usually metal chain used to measure length and distance. Less commonly used in land surveys than a Gunter's or surveyor's chain, the Ramsden's or engineer's chain is 100 feet in length, with 100 1-foot links. The terms "engineer's chain" and "Ramsden's chain" apply primarily to the measuring utensil itself and not to any particular unit of length.

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Rod

A unit of length used in land surveys. The terms, rods, poles, and perches are equivalent and may be used interchangeably, although "rod" is the most common. One (1) rod is equal to 25 links, 16.5 feet, or 1/4 (0.25) chain. For conversions and examples, see Rod, pole, or perch equivalents and conversions and the various Converting rods, poles, or perches to... entries.

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Rod, pole, or perch equivalents and conversions

A rod is a unit of length used in land surveys.
One (1) rod is equal to one (1) pole or perch.
One (1) rod is equal to 16.5 feet.
One (1) rod is equal to 0.25 chains.
One (1) rod is equal to 25 links.
One (1) rod is equal to 0.025 furlongs.
One (1) rod is equal to 198 inches.
One (1) rod is equal to 5.5 yards.
One (1) rod is equal to 0.0031 miles.
One (1) rod is equal to 502.92 centimeters.
One (1) rod is equal to 5.0292 meters.
One (1) rod is equal to 0.00503 kilometers.

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Statute mile

Complete and formal name of the mile, a U.S. and international unit of length equal to 5,280 feet (ft) or 1.6093 kilometers (km). For conversion factors and examples, see Mile equivalents and conversions or the various Converting miles to... entries.

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Surveyor's chain

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A common forestry and land survey term that is equivalent to 66 linear feet. Often referred to as simply "chain", this term is more formally known as the surveyor's or Gunter's chain. A chain is broken into 100 equal parts, or links. One (1) mile is equal to 80 chains. A one (1) mile square piece of land (one section or 640 acres) is 80 chains on each side. Although an engineer's or Ramsden's chain is also used to measure length in surveys, the generic term "chain" when used in reference to land measurements refers to the unit of length (66 feet) represented by the Gunter's or surveyor's chain. For more chain conversions, equivalents, and examples, see Chain equivalents and conversions or the various Converting chains to... examples.

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Yard

A unit of length used in the English system of measurement; one (1) yard is equal to three (3) feet, 36 inches, or 0.9144 meters (m). For more yard conversions, equivalents, and examples, see Yard conversions and equivalents and the various Converting yards to... examples.

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Yard equivalents and conversions

A yard is a unit of length used in the English system of measurement.
One (1) yard is equal to three (3) feet.
One (1) yard is equal to 0.9144 meters (m).
One (1) yard is equal to 36 inches.
One (1) yard is equal to 4.5455 links.
One (1) yard is equal to 0.1818 rods, poles, or perches.
One (1) yard is equal to 0.0455 chains.
One (1) yard is equal to 0.0046 furlongs.
One (1) yard is equal to 0.0006 miles.
One (1) yard is equal to 91.44 centimeters (cm).
One (1) yard is equal to 0.0009 kilometers.
For conversion examples, see the various Converting yards to... entries.

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