Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) to Skein Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert cubits to skeins with our free online length converter.
Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) to Skein Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Cubit (Royal/Egyptian)).
- The converted value in Skein 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 Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) to Skein
Converting Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) to Skein involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) = 0.00476633 skeinsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 cubits: 10 × 0.00476633 = 0.0476633 skeins
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 Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) and a Skein?
The Royal Cubit (Ancient Egyptian: meh nesut) was the primary ancient Egyptian standard unit of linear measure. It was based on the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the extended middle finger, plus the width of the palm. It is considered one of the earliest attested standard units of measurement.
The Royal Cubit was typically divided into 7 palms (shesep), with each palm further divided into 4 digits or fingers (djeba), totaling 28 digits. Its length varied slightly over time and location but is generally accepted to be approximately 52.3 to 52.9 centimeters (about 20.6 to 20.8 inches). A common average value used is 0.524 meters.
A shorter Common Cubit or Short Cubit (Ancient Egyptian: meh sherer) also existed, measuring 6 palms (24 digits), approximately 45 cm.
A Skein is a traditional unit of length primarily used for measuring yarn or thread. It represents a specific length of yarn coiled into a loop, often then twisted for packaging and sale.
The length of a skein is highly variable and depends significantly on the type of fiber (e.g., cotton, wool, linen), the region, and the specific yarn count system being used. There is no single universal standard.
Common historical or industry-specific standard lengths include:
- Cotton Skein (or Hank): 840 yards (≈ 768.1 meters)
- Worsted Wool Skein (or Hank): 560 yards (≈ 512.1 meters)
- Linen Skein (or Lea): 300 yards (≈ 274.3 meters)
For the purpose of this converter, a Skein is defined as:
- Exactly 120 yards (yd)
- Exactly 109.728 meters (m)
- Exactly 360 feet (ft)
This value (120 yards) corresponds to a Lea, a unit often associated with linen and sometimes used as a subdivision or specific standard in certain yarn count systems.
Note: The Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Skein belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) and Skein
The Royal Cubit emerged very early in Egyptian history, likely during the Predynastic or Early Dynastic Period (before 3000 BCE). Its standardization was crucial for the large-scale construction projects undertaken by the pharaohs.
- Early Standardization: It represents one of history's first successful attempts at creating and maintaining a standard unit of length, essential for architectural precision and administrative consistency.
- Cubit Rods: Physical standards, known as cubit rods, were created from durable materials like wood, slate, or granite. These rods were often inscribed with subdivisions (palms, digits, and sometimes fractions of digits) and sometimes bore dedications or official insignia. Examples have been found in tombs, such as that of Tutankhamun, and likely served as official benchmarks.
- Monumental Construction: The Royal Cubit was the fundamental unit used in the design and construction of temples, palaces, and most famously, the pyramids. The precise dimensions of structures like the Great Pyramid of Giza reflect careful measurement using this standard.
- Longevity: The Royal Cubit remained the standard measure in Egypt for millennia, from the Old Kingdom through the Ptolemaic period and into Roman times, demonstrating remarkable stability.
The practice of winding yarn into standardized lengths like skeins or hanks dates back centuries. It originated as a practical way to manage, measure, dye, trade, and store yarn. Standardizing the length allowed spinners, weavers, and merchants to calculate material quantities and costs more reliably.
Different textile industries and regions developed their own specific standards for skein lengths. These standards became intrinsically linked to yarn count systems (e.g., Cotton Count (Ne), Worsted Count (Nw), Linen Count (NeL)), which define the fineness (thickness) of yarn based on the length per unit weight (e.g., the number of 840-yard hanks per pound for cotton).
While metric units (meters, kilograms) are now standard for trade, the historical skein lengths remain relevant for understanding yarn counts and for crafts like knitting and crochet where yarn is still often sold in skeins or hanks labeled with length and weight.
Common Uses for cubits and skeins
Explore the typical applications for both Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (imperial/US) and Skein (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for cubits
The Royal Cubit was integral to many aspects of ancient Egyptian society:
- Architecture and Construction: Defining building dimensions, column heights, room layouts, and overall structural proportions.
- Land Surveying: Measuring fields for agriculture, taxation, and property boundaries, especially after the annual Nile flood receded.
- Record Keeping: Used in administrative documents, inventories, and calculations.
- Craftsmanship: Measuring materials like stone blocks, timber, rope, and textiles.
- Art and Iconography: Used to establish proportions in statues and reliefs according to canonical rules.
- Religious and Funerary Contexts: Cubit rods were sometimes included in tomb equipment, possibly symbolizing order and correctness or serving a practical purpose in the afterlife.
- Historical Texts: The term "cubit" appears in various ancient texts, including the Bible, though the specific length intended (Egyptian Royal, common, Babylonian, etc.) can be context-dependent.
Common Uses for skeins
Historically and currently, the skein (or the concept of a standard yarn length) is used in:
- Textile Industry: Calculating yarn yield, planning weaving or knitting projects, and defining yarn counts.
- Yarn Sales: Yarn for handcrafts (knitting, crochet) is commonly sold in skeins or hanks, usually labeled with weight, length (in yards or meters), and fiber type.
- Dyeing: Skeins are a convenient form for dyeing batches of yarn evenly.
- Historical Context: Understanding older textile production methods, trade practices, and calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
How was the Royal Cubit standardized?
Standardization was achieved through the creation and maintenance of master cubit rods. These physical exemplars, often made of durable stone like granite, were likely kept in major temples or administrative centers. Officials and craftsmen would use copies made from these masters for practical work. The rods themselves were meticulously marked with the primary divisions of 7 palms and 28 digits, often including finer subdivisions. This system ensured consistency across large projects and different regions of the kingdom.
What is the difference between a short cubit and a royal cubit?
The two main cubit measures in ancient Egypt were:
- Short Cubit (meh sherer): Measured 6 palms (24 digits), approximately 44.7 to 45 cm (around 17.6 inches). It represented the distance from the elbow to the tip of the thumb or closed fist. It was likely used for more common, everyday measurements of cloth, goods, or smaller objects.
- Royal Cubit (meh nesut): Measured 7 palms (28 digits), approximately 52.3 to 52.9 cm (around 20.6 inches). It was the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger plus one palm width. This was the official standard used for monumental architecture, land surveying, and significant state projects. It likely held a higher status and was associated with the pharaoh and divine order.
How long was the Royal Cubit?
The Royal Cubit was approximately:
- 0.523 to 0.529 meters (m)
- 52.3 to 52.9 centimeters (cm)
- 20.6 to 20.8 inches (in)
- Roughly 1.72 feet (ft)
A value of 0.524 m is often used as a representative average.
Is the Cubit still used today?
No, the ancient Egyptian Cubit (both Royal and short) is obsolete. It has not been in practical use for centuries, having been replaced by other measurement systems and ultimately by the metric system. Its relevance today is purely historical, archaeological, and academic.
Is the Cubit an SI unit?
No, the Cubit is not an SI unit. It is an ancient, traditional unit of measurement originating in Egypt. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
About Skein (skein)
How long is a skein?
The length varies greatly! There is no single universal value. Common standards include:
- Cotton: 840 yards (≈ 768 m)
- Worsted Wool: 560 yards (≈ 512 m)
- Linen (Lea): 300 yards (≈ 274 m)
- Value used in this converter: 120 yards (≈ 110 m), representing a specific standard sometimes called a Lea.
Always check the specific fiber type or context when dealing with skeins.
How is a skein different from a hank or a ball of yarn?
- Skein / Hank: These terms are often used interchangeably. They refer to yarn wound into a large loop, which is usually twisted for sale. This form is good for dyeing and storage but must be wound into a ball before use to prevent tangling.
- Ball: Yarn wound into a spherical or oval shape, ready for direct use in knitting or crocheting.
Sometimes "skein" is used informally to refer to any package of yarn.
What is yarn count and how does it relate to skeins?
Yarn count is a measure of the fineness (thickness) of yarn. Most systems define it based on length per unit weight. Standard skein/hank lengths are fundamental to these systems. For example:
- Cotton Count (Ne): The number of 840-yard hanks that weigh one pound. Higher Ne means finer yarn.
- Worsted Count (Nw): The number of 560-yard hanks that weigh one pound.
- Linen Count (NeL or Lea): The number of 300-yard leas that weigh one pound.
Is the Skein an SI unit?
No, the Skein is not an SI unit. It is a traditional, variable unit used in the textile industry. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m). Yarn length is typically measured in meters or yards in modern contexts.
Conversion Table: Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) to Skein
| Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit) | Skein (skein) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.005 |
| 5 | 0.024 |
| 10 | 0.048 |
| 25 | 0.119 |
| 50 | 0.238 |
| 100 | 0.477 |
| 500 | 2.383 |
| 1,000 | 4.766 |
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)
- Bolt (bolt)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)