Free tool · Convert units
Length Converter for Surveyors: Feet, US Survey Feet, Chains, Metres
Convert lengths between metres, feet, US survey feet, chains, links, rods, karam, gaz, miles and nautical miles — type once, see every unit.
Free · no sign-up · works in your browser, on phone and computer
Example · One chain from an old plan
- Typed
- 1 chain
- Feet · metres
- 66 ft · 20.1168 m
- Links · karam
- 100 links · 12 karam
- Gaz (yards)
- 22
What it does
US survey foot
Kept apart from the international foot — 2 parts per million matters on large state plane coordinates.
Old survey units
Gunter's chain, link and rod from old deeds and plans.
Local units
Karam and gaz from land records in Pakistan and Indian Punjab.
Every unit at once
Type once and see all 15 units, each with a copy button.
How to use it
- 1
Press Use the tool.
- 2
Type the length and choose its unit.
- 3
Read it in every other unit, and copy the one you need.
Who it's for
- Surveyors reading old plans in chains and links
- Engineers working with US state plane coordinates
- Anyone converting land record measurements
International foot or US survey foot?
The international foot is exactly 0.3048 m. The US survey foot is 1200/3937 m, about 2 parts per million longer — 2 mm in a kilometre, but about 1 m on a state plane northing of 10 million feet. Many older US state plane coordinates are in survey feet; since 2023 new US work uses the international foot. Check the grid's unit on its grid page.
Old survey units
- Chain (Gunter's): 66 ft = 100 links = 4 rods; 80 chains make a mile, 10 square chains an acre.
- Karam: 5.5 ft, used in land records in Pakistan and Indian Punjab.
- Gaz: a yard (0.9144 m) as used in South Asia today.
Questions
What is the difference between a foot and a US survey foot?
The international foot is exactly 0.3048 m; the US survey foot is 1200/3937 m, about 2 parts per million longer — around 1 m on a 10-million-foot northing.
How long is a chain?
Gunter's chain is 66 ft (20.1168 m), made of 100 links. 80 chains make a mile and 10 square chains an acre.
How long is a karam?
5.5 ft (1.6764 m), as used in land records in Pakistan and Indian Punjab.
How long is a gaz?
A yard, 0.9144 m, as used in South Asia today.
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Got a whole sheet of points?
Open the web app in your browser, or install the Windows app to work offline with no point limit. Both are free.