Mile to Chain Converter
Length · unit-converter
Convert Mile to Chain 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: Mile (mi)
To: Chain (chain)
About Mile
The statute mile is a US customary and imperial unit equal to exactly 1,609.344 meters. It is widely used for road distances in the United States and the United Kingdom.
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.
How to convert miles to chains
1 mile is equal to 80 chain:
1 mi = (1609.344 m ÷ 20.1168 m) chain = 80 chain
Each mile is defined as 1609.344 m and each chain as 20.1168 m, so one mi equals 1609.344 ÷ 20.1168 chain = 80 chain.
Let d(mi) be the numeric value of the same length measured in Mile (mi), and d(chain) the value in Chain (chain). Then:
d(chain) = d(mi) × (1609.344 / 20.1168)
Equivalently, divide by how many mi fit into one chain (meters per chain divided by meters per mi):
d(chain) = d(mi) ÷ 0.0125
Or: chain = mile ÷ 0.0125
Examples
Example #1: Convert 20 mi to chain
20 mi = 20 mi × (1609.344/20.1168) chain = 1600 chain
20 mi = 20 mi ÷ 0.0125 = 1600 chain
Example #2: Convert 50 mi to chain
50 mi = 50 mi × (1609.344/20.1168) chain = 4000 chain
50 mi = 50 mi ÷ 0.0125 = 4000 chain
Summary
To convert Mile to Chain, multiply the value in mi by the ratio of meters per mi divided by meters per chain. Equivalently: value_chain = value_mi × (1609.344 / 20.1168). Numerically, 1 mi equals 80 chain.
Relationship context
Both units belong to US customary / imperial length. Conversions often use simple ratios (for example inches and feet), while miles relate to yards and feet through fixed definitions. The numeric factor used here is traceable to the international inch (0.0254 m) and related definitions.
Conversion tables
| Mile (mi) | Chain (chain) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 8 |
| 1 | 80 |
| 2 | 160 |
| 3 | 240 |
| 4 | 320 |
| 5 | 400 |
| 6 | 480 |
| 7 | 560 |
| 8 | 640 |
| 9 | 720 |
| Mile (mi) | Chain (chain) |
|---|---|
| 10 | 800 |
| 20 | 1,600 |
| 30 | 2,400 |
| 40 | 3,200 |
| 50 | 4,000 |
| 60 | 4,800 |
| 70 | 5,600 |
| 80 | 6,400 |
| 90 | 7,200 |
| 100 | 8,000 |