A surveyor's chain is 66 feet.
Chains to Light-years Converter — ch to ly
Convert Chain (ch) to Light-year (ly) using the exact conversion factor (1 chain = 2.126347e-15 light-year). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Chains to Light-years 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 light-year is the distance light travels in a Julian year.
Result = input x 20.1168 / 9.46073047e+15.
Length uses the meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Chains to Light-years
Chain and Light-year both measure length. Specifically: A surveyor's chain is 66 feet, and a light-year is the distance light travels in a Julian year.
Formula
light-years = chains × 2.126347e-15
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 chain equals 20.1168 base units, and 1 light-year equals 9.46073e+15 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct chain-to-light-year factor of 2.126347e-15.
Simple example
1 ch × 2.126347e-15 = 2.126347e-15 ly
1 chain = 2.126347e-15 light-years.
Real-world example
10 ch × 2.126347e-15 = 2.126347e-14 ly
10 chains = 2.126347e-14 light-years.
Conversion table
| Chain (ch) | Light-year (ly) |
|---|---|
| 1 ch | 2.126347e-15 ly |
| 5 ch | 1.063174e-14 ly |
| 10 ch | 2.126347e-14 ly |
| 21.0975 ch | 4.486062e-14 ly |
| 42.195 ch | 8.972123e-14 ly |
| 100 ch | 2.126347e-13 ly |
Reverse conversion: Light-year to Chain
2.126347e-15 ly × 4.7029e+14 = 0.9999997941 ch
2.126347e-15 light-years = 0.9999997941 chains.
chains = light-years × 4.7029e+14
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Light-year to Chain.
Understanding the Chain (ch)
A surveyor's chain is 66 feet.
Understanding the Light-year
Light-year (ly) measures distance. A light-year is the distance light travels in one Julian year (365.25 days) in vacuum: exactly 9,460,730,472,580,800 meters. It is classified as a Non-SI unit (astronomical).
Where it's used: Used internationally in astronomy and popular science for interstellar distances.
Uses of the Light-year today
- Measuring distances to stars and galaxies
- Popular science communication about the scale of the universe
- Astrophysics research
History of the Light-year
The light-year emerged in 19th-century astronomy as scientists began measuring stellar distances via parallax (Friedrich Bessel's 1838 measurement of 61 Cygni is often cited as the first reliable stellar distance). Expressing these vast distances in light-travel-time became a practical convention, and the unit's value follows directly from the defined speed of light and the length of a Julian year.
Historical origin. Light-year was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Light-year — sources
- IAU — Light year definition — Defines the light-year via the Julian year and the speed of light.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many light-years are in 1 chain?
1 chain equals 2.126347e-15 light-years, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert chain to light-year?
Multiply the chain value by 2.126347e-15. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert light-year back to chain?
Use the reverse factor: 1 light-year equals 4.7029e+14 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 light-year?
Light-year (ly) measures distance. A light-year is the distance light travels in one Julian year (365.25 days) in vacuum: exactly 9,460,730,472,580,800 meters. It is classified as a Non-SI unit (astronomical).
Is the chain to light-year conversion exact?
Yes. A light-year is the distance light travels in one Julian year (365.25 days) in vacuum: exactly 9,460,730,472,580,800 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.