A surveyor's chain is 66 feet.
Chains to Feet Converter — ch to ft
Convert Chain (ch) to Foot (ft) using the exact conversion factor (1 chain = 66 foot). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Chains to Feet converter
Converter
Length Converter
Convert SI, imperial, US customary, astronomical, scientific, and historical length units.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
A foot is exactly 0.3048 meters.
Result = input x 20.1168 / 0.3048.
Length uses the meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Chains to Feet
Chain and Foot both measure length. Specifically: A surveyor's chain is 66 feet, and a foot is exactly 0.3048 meters.
Formula
feet = chains × 66
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 chain equals 20.1168 base units, and 1 foot equals 0.3048 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct chain-to-foot factor of 66.
Simple example
1 ch × 66 = 66 ft
1 chain = 66 feet.
Real-world example
10 ch × 66 = 660 ft
10 chains = 660 feet.
Conversion table
| Chain (ch) | Foot (ft) |
|---|---|
| 1 ch | 66 ft |
| 5 ch | 330 ft |
| 10 ch | 660 ft |
| 21.0975 ch | 1,392.435 ft |
| 42.195 ch | 2,784.87 ft |
| 100 ch | 6,600 ft |
Reverse conversion: Foot to Chain
66 ft × 0.01515151515 = 1 ch
66 feet = 1 chain.
chains = feet × 0.0151515151515
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Foot to Chain.
Understanding the Chain (ch)
A surveyor's chain is 66 feet.
Understanding the Foot
Foot (ft) measures distance. The international foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. It is classified as a US/imperial customary unit.
Where it's used: United States (height, construction, aviation altitude) United Kingdom (height, some construction contexts)
Uses of the Foot today
- Height measurement in the US and UK
- US construction and real estate (square footage)
- Aviation altitude worldwide (feet remain standard even in metric countries)
History of the Foot
The foot has ancient roots (Roman 'pes', various regional English feet), standardized into the modern English foot over centuries. The international foot (exactly 0.3048 m) was fixed by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement, resolving small historical differences between US and UK measurements.
Historical origin. Foot was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Foot — sources
- NIST — International yard and pound (1959) — Fixes the modern foot at exactly 0.3048 meters.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many feet are in 1 chain?
1 chain equals 66 feet, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert chain to foot?
Multiply the chain value by 66. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert foot back to chain?
Use the reverse factor: 1 foot equals 0.0151515152 chains. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a chain?
Chain (ch) is a unit of length.
What is a foot?
Foot (ft) measures distance. The international foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. It is classified as a US/imperial customary unit.
Is the chain to foot conversion exact?
Yes. The international foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. That fixed definition is what the converter above uses, so any rounding you see is a display choice, not a limitation of the math.