Bolt to Aln Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert bolts to alnar with our free online length converter.
Bolt to Aln Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Bolt).
- The converted value in Aln will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Bolt to Aln
Converting Bolt to Aln involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Bolt = 51.31313 alnarExample Calculation:
Convert 10 bolts: 10 × 51.31313 = 513.1313 alnar
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Bolt and a Aln?
A Bolt is a commercial unit of length primarily used for measuring rolls of cloth or fabric. Unlike standardized units like the meter or yard, the length of a bolt is not fixed and can vary significantly depending on the type of material, the manufacturer, the country of origin, and trade customs.
Common lengths often associated with a bolt include:
- 40 yards (approximately 36.58 meters) - Frequently cited, especially for cottons and silks in the US.
- 100 yards (approximately 91.44 meters) - Often used for heavier fabrics like canvas.
- Other lengths such as 30, 50, 60, or 120 yards may also be encountered.
The bolt represents a quantity convenient for wholesale trade, manufacturing, and inventory management rather than a precise scientific measurement.
The Aln (Swedish), Alen (Danish and Norwegian) was a traditional Scandinavian unit of length, analogous to the English ell or cubit. Its length varied significantly by region and time but was generally based on the length of the forearm.
Key standardized or common values include:
- Swedish Aln: Officially standardized (as the Rydaholmsaln) in 1665 and confirmed in 1735 as exactly 2 Swedish fot (feet). This equates to approximately 0.5938 meters (or 59.38 cm / 23.38 inches).
- Danish Alen: The common standard (Sjællandsk alen) was 2 Danish fod (feet), equating to approximately 0.6277 meters (or 62.77 cm / 24.71 inches).
- Norwegian Alen: Often followed the Danish standard due to political union. After 1824, it was legally defined as 2 Norwegian fot, equating to 0.6275 meters (or 62.75 cm / 24.70 inches), very close to the Danish value.
The Aln/Alen was typically subdivided into 4 kvarter (quarters).
Note: The Bolt is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Aln belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Bolt and Aln
The concept of the bolt emerged from the practical needs of the textile industry. As cloth production scaled up, manufacturers and merchants needed a standardized way to handle, store, and trade large quantities of fabric. Winding cloth onto a roll or board (the "bolt") provided a convenient package.
The length associated with a bolt likely developed through trade customs specific to different types of fabric and regions. There was never a universal legal standard defining its length, leading to the wide variations seen historically and currently. While retail sales shifted towards measurement by the yard or meter, the bolt remained a useful unit in wholesale and industrial contexts. Even with the global adoption of the metric system, the term "bolt" persists in the textile trade as a reference to a full roll of fabric, though the exact length is usually specified separately in yards or meters.
The Aln/Alen originates from the Proto-Germanic word for forearm (alinō), reflecting its basis as an anthropomorphic unit, similar to the cubit in other cultures. For centuries, its length was inconsistent, varying between regions, cities, and trades within Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.
- Early Variations: Numerous local standards existed, often based on physical rods kept by authorities or guilds.
- Standardization Efforts:
- Sweden: Attempts at standardization culminated in the adoption of the Rydaholmsaln (based on a specific iron standard bar from Rydaholm church) in 1665, defined as 2 fot. This standard (≈0.5938 m) became mandatory nationwide in 1735.
- Denmark & Norway: The Sjællandsk alen (Zealand ell, ≈0.6277 m) became the dominant standard in Denmark and, consequently, in Norway during their union. Norway later formally adopted a slightly different value (≈0.6275 m) based on its own fot definition in 1824.
- Metrication: The Aln/Alen was officially replaced by the metric system during the 19th and early 20th centuries: Norway in 1875, Sweden in 1889, and Denmark in 1907.
Common Uses for bolts and alnar
Explore the typical applications for both Bolt (imperial/US) and Aln (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for bolts
The bolt is almost exclusively used within the textile industry:
- Wholesale Trade: Fabric manufacturers sell cloth to distributors or large buyers in bolts.
- Manufacturing: Clothing and upholstery manufacturers purchase fabric by the bolt for production runs.
- Inventory Management: Textile mills, warehouses, and large retailers manage stock using bolts as units.
- Industrial Fabrics: Suppliers of canvas, vinyl, and other industrial textiles often sell material by the bolt.
It is generally not used for retail sales to consumers, where fabric is typically measured and cut to specific lengths (yards or meters) from the bolt.
Common Uses for alnar
Historically, the Aln/Alen was a fundamental unit for everyday trade and craft:
- Textiles: Its most prominent use was measuring cloth (wool, linen, silk). Standardization was often driven by the textile trade.
- Timber and Lumber: Measuring lengths of wood.
- Rope and Cordage: Measuring lengths of rope.
- Construction: Used in building measurements, though perhaps less formally than in trade.
- General Trade: Measuring various goods sold by length.
It was less commonly used for land surveying, where units like the stång (rod) or mil (mile) were preferred.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Bolt (bolt)
How long is a bolt of cloth?
There is no single standard length. It depends heavily on the fabric type and manufacturer. Common lengths include:
- 40 yards (~36.58 m)
- 100 yards (~91.44 m)
- Other lengths like 30, 50, 60, or 120 yards are also possible. Always check the specific product information for the actual length of a particular bolt.
How many yards are in a bolt?
Commonly 40 yards or 100 yards, but this is highly variable.
How many meters are in a bolt?
Based on common yard lengths:
- A 40-yard bolt is approximately 36.58 meters.
- A 100-yard bolt is approximately 91.44 meters.
Is the bolt a standardized unit?
No, it is not a standardized unit of length like the yard or meter. It's a commercial trade unit whose length varies.
Is the bolt still used today?
Yes, the term "bolt" is still widely used in the wholesale textile industry and manufacturing contexts to refer to a full roll of fabric, although the precise length is usually specified in yards or meters.
Is this related to the fastener "bolt"?
No, the bolt unit for cloth is completely unrelated to the metal fastener known as a bolt. They share the same name but have entirely different meanings and origins.
About Aln (aln)
How long is an Aln/Alen?
There isn't one single value, as it depended on the country and era. The main official standards were:
- Swedish Aln: ~0.594 meters / ~23.4 inches
- Danish Alen: ~0.628 meters / ~24.7 inches
- Norwegian Alen: ~0.628 meters / ~24.7 inches (very close to Danish)
Always consider the context (Swedish, Danish, or Norwegian) when encountering this unit in historical documents.
What's the difference between the Aln in different countries?
The primary difference was length:
- The Swedish Aln (≈59.4 cm) was noticeably shorter than the Danish and Norwegian Alen (both ≈62.8 cm).
- All were typically defined as 2 local fot (feet), but the length of the fot itself varied between the countries.
Is the Aln related to the English Ell?
Yes, both the Aln/Alen and the English Ell are historical units of length derived from the concept of the cubit or forearm length (Latin ulna). However, their standardized lengths differed significantly. The most common English Ell was 45 inches (1.143 m), much longer than any standard Scandinavian Aln/Alen.
Is the Aln/Alen still used today?
No, the Aln/Alen is obsolete. It was officially replaced by the meter in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway during the metrication process in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its use today is purely historical.
Is the Aln an SI unit?
No, the Aln/Alen is not an SI unit. It is a traditional unit from the historical Scandinavian systems of measurement. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
Conversion Table: Bolt to Aln
| Bolt (bolt) | Aln (aln) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 51.313 |
| 5 | 256.566 |
| 10 | 513.131 |
| 25 | 1,282.828 |
| 50 | 2,565.657 |
| 100 | 5,131.313 |
| 500 | 25,656.566 |
| 1,000 | 51,313.131 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Light Year (ly)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- Parsec (pc)
- Angstrom (Å)
- Point (Typography) (pt)
- Mil/Thou (mil)
- Fathom (fath)
- Furlong (fur)
- Link (Gunter's) (li)
- Pace (pace)
- Span (span)
- Digit (digit)
- Cable Length (cb)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- Roman Mile (m.p.)
- Stadion (stadion)
- Chi (Chinese) (chi)
- Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
- Li (Chinese) (li)
- Toise (toise)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)