Kilometer is 1000 meter units.
Kilometers to Chains Converter — km to ch
Convert Kilometer (km) to Chain (ch) using the exact conversion factor (1 kilometer = 49.70969538 chain). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Kilometers to Chains 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 surveyor's chain is 66 feet.
Result = input x 1000 / 20.1168.
Length uses the meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Kilometers to Chains
Kilometer and Chain both measure length. Kilometer is most often used for road signage, speed limits, and vehicle odometers outside the us.
Formula
chains = kilometers × 49.709695379
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 kilometer equals 1000 base units, and 1 chain equals 20.1168 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct kilometer-to-chain factor of 49.709695379.
Simple example
1 km × 49.70969538 = 49.70969538 ch
1 kilometer = 49.70969538 chains.
Real-world example
10 km × 49.70969538 = 497.0969538 ch
10 kilometers = 497.0969538 chains.
Conversion table
| Kilometer (km) | Chain (ch) |
|---|---|
| 1 km | 49.70969538 ch |
| 5 km | 248.5484769 ch |
| 10 km | 497.0969538 ch |
| 21.0975 km | 1,048.750298 ch |
| 42.195 km | 2,097.500597 ch |
| 100 km | 4,970.969538 ch |
Reverse conversion: Chain to Kilometer
49.70969538 ch × 0.0201168 = 1 km
49.70969538 chains = 1 kilometers.
kilometers = chains × 0.0201168
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Chain to Kilometer.
Understanding the Kilometer
Kilometer (km) measures distance. A kilometer is 1,000 meters — the meter is the SI base unit of length. It is classified as a SI derived (metric prefix) unit.
Where it's used: Standard road, distance, and mapping unit in nearly every country except the United States
Uses of the Kilometer today
- Road signage, speed limits, and vehicle odometers outside the US
- Geographic and mapping distances
- Endurance sports (marathons are measured in kilometers internationally, though the marathon distance itself is a fixed value in both systems)
History of the Kilometer
The meter was defined during the French Revolutionary metric reforms as one ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the Equator along a meridian through Paris. 'Kilo-' is simply the SI prefix for 1,000, making the kilometer a direct decimal multiple.
The meter itself has been redefined several times as measurement precision improved — from a physical platinum-iridium bar (1889) to a krypton-86 wavelength (1960) to its current definition (1983) as the distance light travels in a fixed fraction of a second.
Historical origin. Kilometer was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Understanding the Chain (ch)
A surveyor's chain is 66 feet.
Kilometer — sources
- BIPM — The metre (SI base unit) — Current definition and history of the meter.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many chains are in 1 kilometer?
1 kilometer equals 49.70969538 chains, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert kilometer to chain?
Multiply the kilometer value by 49.70969538. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert chain back to kilometer?
Use the reverse factor: 1 chain equals 0.0201168 kilometers. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a kilometer?
Kilometer (km) measures distance. A kilometer is 1,000 meters — the meter is the SI base unit of length. It is classified as a SI derived (metric prefix) unit.
What is a chain?
Chain (ch) is a unit of length.
Is the kilometer to chain conversion exact?
Yes. Both kilometer and chain are defined by fixed standards rather than physical artifacts, so the factor of 49.70969538 used above is exact to as many digits as you choose to display.
Where is the kilometer still used today?
Standard road, distance, and mapping unit in nearly every country except the United States