Links to Meters Conversion Calculator

This calculator converts a distance in links to meters instantly. You enter the number of links (surveyor’s chain links, exactly 0.201168 meters each), and you get the equivalent length in meters. It also shows the result in feet and yards for convenience, since those are common in the same land-surveying contexts.

Formula

The conversion is a fixed linear relationship: meters = links × 0.201168. This constant comes directly from the definition of the international survey foot, which is exactly 0.3048 meters. One link is 0.66 feet, so:

meters = links × 0.66 ft × 0.3048 m/ft = links × 0.201168 m

Every variable is a length: links is the number of chain links (dimensionless count), and meters is the resulting length in the metric system. The factor 0.201168 is exact, not an approximation, because both the link and the international foot are defined units.

Worked Example

Using the default of 100 links:

1. Start with the number of links: 100.
2. Multiply by the conversion factor: 100 × 0.201168 = 20.1168.
3. Round to three decimal places: 20.117 meters.

The calculator shows 20.117 m, exactly as above. In feet, 100 links × 0.66 = 66.00 ft, and in yards, 100 × 0.22 = 22.00 yd.

What Is a Link and Where Is It Used?

A link is a unit of length from the Gunter’s chain system, introduced in the 17th century by Edmund Gunter. One chain is 66 feet, and each chain is divided into 100 links, so each link is 0.66 feet (7.92 inches). This system was designed for land surveying because it made acreage calculations simple: a rectangle 1 chain by 10 chains is exactly 1 acre.

Links are still encountered in older land deeds, property descriptions, and rural boundary records, especially in the United States, Canada, and the UK. Modern surveyors use metric or decimal feet, but when reading historical documents, you’ll often need to convert links to meters or other modern units.

How to Use the Calculator

Enter any non-negative number in the Links field. The calculator immediately updates the three output fields:

• Meters – the primary result, rounded to 3 decimals.
• Feet – links × 0.66, rounded to 2 decimals.
• Yards – links × 0.22, rounded to 2 decimals.

For example, a typical old deed might say “the north boundary is 150 links.� Entering 150 gives 30.175 meters, 99.00 feet, or 33.00 yards. If you have a measurement in chains, just multiply by 100 first to get links, then use the calculator.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

The biggest error is confusing surveyor’s links with engineer’s links. Engineer’s chains are 100 feet long and divided into 100 links, making each engineer’s link exactly 1 foot. That is completely different from Gunter’s link (0.66 feet). Always confirm which chain your source uses; if it says “Gunter’sâ€� or “surveyor’s,â€� use 0.201168 m per link. If it says “engineer’s,â€� use 0.3048 m per link.

Another mistake is rounding too early. Because the factor is exact, you can carry full precision in your calculation and round only at the end. Also, don’t mix the international foot (0.3048 m) with the U.S. survey foot (0.3048006 m). The difference is tiny (about 2 parts per million), but for large land areas it can add up. This calculator uses the international foot, which is the standard in most modern applications.

Why Use Links at All?

You might wonder why anyone would use such an odd unit. The reason is historical convenience: Gunter’s chain made area math easy before calculators existed. A square that is 1 chain on each side is 4,356 square feet, and 10 such squares make an acre. Because 1 acre = 10 square chains, a rectangle’s area in acres is simply (length in chains × width in chains) / 10.

Today, links are rarely used in new work, but they appear constantly in old records. If you’re buying rural land, tracing a property line, or reading a historical survey, you’ll likely need this conversion. It’s also useful for genealogists or local historians interpreting old maps.

Alternatives and Related Units

If you don’t have links, you might be dealing with other survey units:

• Rods – 1 rod = 25 links = 16.5 feet = 5.0292 meters.
• Chains – 1 chain = 100 links = 20.1168 meters.
• Furlongs – 1 furlong = 10 chains = 201.168 meters.
• Miles – 1 mile = 80 chains = 1,609.344 meters.

For quick mental estimates, remember that 1 link is about 20 centimeters (exactly 20.1168 cm). So 100 links is about 20 meters, 500 links is about 100 meters, and so on.

Accuracy and Limits

The conversion factor is exact, so the calculator’s accuracy is limited only by the number of decimal places shown. For most land-survey purposes, 3 decimal places in meters (about a millimeter) is more than sufficient. However, if you’re working with very large distances (thousands of links), the rounding in feet and yards (2 decimals) may introduce small errors – use the meters output for the most precise value.

Also note that this calculator assumes standard Gunter’s links. If your source uses a different link definition (e.g., engineer’s link), the result will be wrong. Always verify the chain type before relying on the conversion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many meters is one link?

One Gunter’s link is exactly 0.201168 meters, which is 20.1168 centimeters or about 7.92 inches. This is derived from the definition that 1 link = 0.66 feet and 1 foot = 0.3048 meters.

What is the difference between a surveyor’s link and an engineer’s link?

A surveyor’s link (Gunter’s) is 0.66 feet, while an engineer’s link is exactly 1 foot. They come from different chain systems: Gunter’s chain is 66 feet (100 links), and engineer’s chain is 100 feet (100 links). Using the wrong factor will give a 50% error, so always check which one you have.

Can I convert acres to square meters using links?

Yes, but you need to convert each dimension separately. Since 1 link = 0.201168 m, 1 square link = 0.0404686 square meters. An acre is 100,000 square links (10 square chains), which equals 4,046.86 square meters – the standard acre definition.

Why do old property deeds use links instead of feet?

Because Gunter’s chain made area arithmetic simple. With the chain and link system, a rectangle’s area in acres is (length in chains × width in chains) / 10. This was a huge advantage before calculators, and the system persisted for centuries in English-speaking countries.

Is the conversion factor 0.201168 exact?

Yes, it is exact under the international foot definition. Since 1 link = 0.66 ft and 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly, multiplying gives 0.201168 m exactly. There is no rounding in the factor itself; only the displayed result is rounded.

How do I convert meters back to links?

Divide the number of meters by 0.201168. For example, 50 meters ÷ 0.201168 = 248.55 links. You can also multiply by the reciprocal: 1 meter = 4.97097 links.

Related

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in links | Links | - | 100 | 0
out meters | Meters | m | links * 0.201168 | 3
out feet | Feet | ft | links * 0.66 | 2
out yards | Yards | yd | links * 0.22 | 2