Chain to Kilometer Converter
Length · unit-converter
Convert Chain to Kilometer with a fixed input and output unit, step-by-step formula line, and reference tables. All calculations use SI-based definitions (international yard, nautical mile, etc.).
Calculator
From: Chain (chain)
To: Kilometer (km)
About Chain
The chain is a surveying unit equal to 66 feet (20.1168 meters) exactly. It appears in land measurement and legacy civil engineering records.
About Kilometer
The kilometer is an SI unit equal to 1,000 meters. It is the standard unit for longer distances in most countries that use the metric system.
How to convert chains to kilometers
1 chain is equal to 0.0201168 kilometer:
1 chain = (20.1168 m ÷ 1000 m) km = 0.0201168 km
Each chain is defined as 20.1168 m and each kilometer as 1000 m, so one chain equals 20.1168 ÷ 1000 km = 0.0201168 km.
Let d(chain) be the numeric value of the same length measured in Chain (chain), and d(km) the value in Kilometer (km). Then:
d(km) = d(chain) × (20.1168 / 1000)
Equivalently, divide by how many chain fit into one km (meters per km divided by meters per chain):
d(km) = d(chain) ÷ 49.70969537898672
Or: kilometer = chain ÷ 49.70969537898672
Examples
Example #1: Convert 20 chain to kilometer
20 chain = 20 chain × (20.1168/1000) km = 0.402336 km
20 chain = 20 chain ÷ 49.70969537898672 = 0.402336 km
Example #2: Convert 50 chain to kilometer
50 chain = 50 chain × (20.1168/1000) km = 1.00584 km
50 chain = 50 chain ÷ 49.70969537898672 = 1.00584 km
Summary
To convert Chain to Kilometer, multiply the value in chain by the ratio of meters per chain divided by meters per km. Equivalently: value_km = value_chain × (20.1168 / 1000). Numerically, 1 chain equals 0.0201168 km.
Relationship context
You are converting between US customary / imperial (Chains) and metric (SI) (Kilometers). Metric units are decimal; imperial units use inches, feet, yards, and miles tied to the international yard definition. Nautical miles are defined in meters (1 nmi = 1,852 m). This tool uses SI-based factors so results stay consistent with modern standards.
Conversion tables
| Chain (chain) | Kilometer (km) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.00201168 |
| 1 | 0.0201168 |
| 2 | 0.0402336 |
| 3 | 0.0603504 |
| 4 | 0.0804672 |
| 5 | 0.100584 |
| 6 | 0.1207008 |
| 7 | 0.1408176 |
| 8 | 0.1609344 |
| 9 | 0.1810512 |
| Chain (chain) | Kilometer (km) |
|---|---|
| 10 | 0.201168 |
| 20 | 0.402336 |
| 30 | 0.603504 |
| 40 | 0.804672 |
| 50 | 1.00584 |
| 60 | 1.207008 |
| 70 | 1.408176 |
| 80 | 1.609344 |
| 90 | 1.810512 |
| 100 | 2.01168 |