A surveyor's link is 1/100 of a chain.
Links to Kilometers Converter — li to km
Convert Link (li) to Kilometer (km) using the exact conversion factor (1 link = 0.000201168 kilometer). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Links to Kilometers 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.
Kilometer is 1000 meter units.
Result = input x 0.201168 / 1000.
Length uses the meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Links to Kilometers
Link and Kilometer both measure length. Specifically: A surveyor's link is 1/100 of a chain, and kilometer is 1000 meter units.
Formula
kilometers = links × 0.000201168
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 link equals 0.201168 base units, and 1 kilometer equals 1000 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct link-to-kilometer factor of 0.000201168.
Simple example
1 li × 0.000201168 = 0.000201168 km
1 link = 0.000201168 kilometers.
Real-world example
10 li × 0.000201168 = 0.00201168 km
10 links = 0.00201168 kilometers.
Conversion table
| Link (li) | Kilometer (km) |
|---|---|
| 1 li | 0.000201168 km |
| 5 li | 0.00100584 km |
| 10 li | 0.00201168 km |
| 21.0975 li | 0.0042441419 km |
| 42.195 li | 0.0084882838 km |
| 100 li | 0.0201168 km |
Reverse conversion: Kilometer to Link
0.000201168 km × 4970.969538 = 1 li
0.000201168 kilometers = 1 links.
links = kilometers × 4970.9695379
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Kilometer to Link.
Understanding the Link (li)
A surveyor's link is 1/100 of a chain.
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.
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 kilometers are in 1 link?
1 link equals 0.000201168 kilometers, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert link to kilometer?
Multiply the link value by 0.000201168. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert kilometer back to link?
Use the reverse factor: 1 kilometer equals 4,970.969538 links. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a link?
Link (li) is a unit of length.
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.
Is the link to kilometer conversion exact?
Yes. Both link and kilometer are defined by fixed standards rather than physical artifacts, so the factor of 0.000201168 used above is exact to as many digits as you choose to display.