Rope to Skein Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert ropes to skeins with our free online length converter.
Rope to Skein Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Rope).
- 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 Rope to Skein
Converting Rope to Skein involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Rope = 0.0555556 skeinsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 ropes: 10 × 0.0555556 = 0.555556 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 Rope and a Skein?
The Rope is an historical English unit of length, primarily used in surveying and sometimes in building or architecture. Its length was typically defined as 20 feet.
This equates to:
- 6.096 meters (m)
- Approximately 6.67 yards (yd)
Unlike more standardized surveying units like the chain, the rope's length could sometimes vary by region or specific use, but 20 feet is the most commonly cited value.
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 Rope 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 Rope and Skein
The origin of the Rope unit likely stems directly from the use of actual ropes of a predetermined length for measuring land or distances in medieval England and potentially earlier. Before the widespread adoption of more durable and precise measuring tools like metal chains (such as Gunter's chain, introduced in the 17th century), knotted or marked ropes served as practical, albeit less accurate, instruments for surveyors.
The length of 20 feet provided a convenient measure for certain types of land division or construction layout. However, ropes were susceptible to stretching, shrinking (when wet), and wear, leading to inconsistencies. This lack of precision contributed to its gradual replacement by the rod (16.5 feet) and the chain (66 feet) for official surveying work. The Rope unit fell into obsolescence as measurement standards became more rigorous and legally defined.
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 ropes and skeins
Explore the typical applications for both Rope (imperial/US) and Skein (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for ropes
The Rope is now an obsolete unit, but historically it was used for:
- Land Surveying: Measuring property boundaries, fields, and plots of land, particularly in older or less formal surveys.
- Building and Construction: Laying out foundations or measuring lengths in large-scale construction projects in historical contexts.
- Agriculture: Estimating field sizes or row lengths.
- Nautical Measurement (Less Common): Occasionally, "rope" might refer to specific lengths used on ships, but this is distinct from the land surveying unit and often context-dependent (similar to a "cable length").
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 Rope (rope)
How long is a Rope?
The most common definition for the historical English Rope unit is 20 feet, which is exactly 6.096 meters.
How does the Rope compare to other surveying units?
- Rod (or Pole, Perch): 1 Rod = 16.5 feet. Therefore, 1 Rope ≈ 1.21 Rods.
- Gunter's Chain: 1 Chain = 66 feet = 4 Rods. Therefore, 1 Chain = 3.3 Ropes.
- Foot: 1 Rope = 20 feet.
- Yard: 1 Rope ≈ 6.67 yards.
Was the Rope a standardized unit?
No, it was not rigorously standardized like later units such as the foot or the Gunter's chain. While 20 feet was a common value, variations could exist, and the physical nature of a rope made it inherently less precise than metal instruments.
Is the Rope unit still used today?
No, the Rope as a formal unit of length is obsolete. Modern surveying uses meters, feet, and occasionally chains or rods in specific legal contexts (like older land deeds in the US), but not the Rope.
Is the Rope an SI unit?
No, the Rope is not an SI unit. It is a traditional English unit. 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: Rope to Skein
| Rope (rope) | Skein (skein) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.056 |
| 5 | 0.278 |
| 10 | 0.556 |
| 25 | 1.389 |
| 50 | 2.778 |
| 100 | 5.556 |
| 500 | 27.778 |
| 1,000 | 55.556 |
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)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)