Smoot to Klafter Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert smoots to klafter with our free online length converter.
Smoot to Klafter Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Smoot).
- The converted value in Klafter 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 Smoot to Klafter
Converting Smoot to Klafter involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Smoot = 0.897337 klafterExample Calculation:
Convert 10 smoots: 10 × 0.897337 = 8.973372 klafter
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 Smoot and a Klafter?
The Smoot is a non-standard, humorous unit of length created as part of an MIT fraternity prank in October 1958. It is defined by the height of Oliver R. Smoot (MIT class of 1962) at the time of the prank, which was 5 feet 7 inches.
This equates to:
- 67 inches (in)
- 1.7018 meters (m)
- Approximately 1.86 yards (yd)
Unlike standardized units, the Smoot is intrinsically tied to a specific individual's height at a particular moment and serves primarily as a cultural artifact and inside joke, particularly within the MIT community.
The Klafter is a historical unit of length originating from Central Europe, particularly prominent in German-speaking regions like Austria, Bavaria, Prussia, and Switzerland. It is conceptually similar to the fathom, often defined by the span of a person's outstretched arms.
While its exact length varied significantly by region and time, a widely recognized standard, especially from the Austrian Empire, defines the Klafter as 6 Vienna feet (Wiener Fuß). This equates to approximately:
- 1.8965 meters (m)
- 6.222 feet (ft) (using the Vienna foot of ~0.31608 m)
The Klafter was also used as a unit of area (Quadratklafter or square Klafter) and volume (Kubikklafter or cubic Klafter), especially for measuring firewood (often called a Raummeter or Ster in this context, though volumes could vary). This page focuses on the linear Klafter.
Note: The Smoot is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Klafter belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Smoot and Klafter
The Smoot unit originated in October 1958 during the pledge activities of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at MIT. Pledges were tasked with measuring the length of the Harvard Bridge, which connects Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, over the Charles River.
Instead of using conventional measuring tools, the fraternity members decided to use one of their pledges, Oliver Smoot, as the unit of measure. They repeatedly laid him down end-to-end across the bridge, marking off increments in paint. His companions carried him or helped him move for each new measurement.
The final measurement determined the bridge's length to be 364.4 Smoots "plus or minus one ear". The "ear" indicated the uncertainty of the measurement, adding to the absurdity and humor of the event.
The painted markings on the bridge became a local landmark. They have been maintained and periodically repainted over the decades, often unofficially by members of the fraternity or other MIT affiliates. The Cambridge Police Department traditionally tolerates the markings because, among other reasons, they serve as useful reference points for identifying locations along the bridge.
Interestingly, Oliver R. Smoot later became a prominent figure in standards organizations, serving as Chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), an ironic twist given his namesake unit's non-standard nature.
The term "Klafter" likely derives from Old High German klāftra, related to the act of embracing or grasping, reflecting its origin as an anthropometric unit based on arm span.
- Regional Variations: Before widespread standardization and metrication, the length of the Klafter differed across various German states and Swiss cantons. For example, the Prussian Klafter was slightly different from the Austrian one.
- Standardization Efforts: Attempts were made to standardize measures, with the Austrian system (based on the Wiener Fuß) becoming influential. The definition of 1 Klafter = 6 Fuß (feet) = 72 Zoll (inches) was common, but the length of the Fuß itself varied.
- Dual Use (Length & Volume): The Klafter was notably used for measuring stacked firewood. A Klafter Holz typically referred to a stack of wood 1 Klafter high, 1 Klafter wide, and a specific log length (often 3 or 4 feet), representing a volume unit.
- Metrication: The Klafter became obsolete following the adoption of the metric system across Central Europe, primarily during the latter half of the 19th century (e.g., Germany 1872, Austria 1876).
Common Uses for smoots and klafter
Explore the typical applications for both Smoot (imperial/US) and Klafter (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for smoots
The Smoot is not used for any official, scientific, or commercial measurements. Its use is primarily cultural and humorous:
- Harvard Bridge Markings: The painted markings on the bridge sidewalk are its most famous application, indicating distance in Smoots from the Boston side. They are a well-known local landmark.
- MIT Culture and Slang: Used humorously within the MIT community and sometimes in the broader Boston area as a quirky local reference.
- Digital Recognition: The unit gained wider recognition when it was included as a unit of measurement in Google Calculator and Google Earth's ruler tool.
- Popular Culture: Occasionally referenced in media or tech circles as an example of a non-standard or humorous unit.
Common Uses for klafter
Historically, the Klafter served various measurement needs:
- Forestry: Measuring timber lengths and, crucially, the volume of stacked firewood.
- Mining: Measuring the depth of shafts and the length of tunnels.
- Construction: Measuring building dimensions, rope lengths, and materials.
- Surveying: Measuring land distances and areas (Quadratklafter), although units like the Ruthe (rod) were also common for land.
- Nautical: Sometimes used similarly to a fathom for measuring water depth or rope lengths, though less common than the English fathom in maritime contexts.
Today, its use is confined to historical records, architectural studies, forestry history, and understanding old land deeds or documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Smoot (smoot)
How long is a Smoot?
One Smoot is exactly the height of Oliver R. Smoot in 1958:
- 5 feet 7 inches
- 67 inches
- 1.7018 meters
Is the Smoot an official or standardized unit?
No, the Smoot is not an official or standardized unit of measurement in any system (Imperial, US customary, or SI). It is a non-standard, humorous unit originating from a specific event.
Why is the bridge measurement "plus or minus one ear"?
The "plus or minus one ear" (often written as ± εar) reflects the humorous imprecision of the original measurement method using a person. It signifies the margin of error in a whimsical way, possibly referencing the difficulty of the final partial measurement or simply adding to the prank's absurdity.
Are the Smoot markings still on the Harvard Bridge?
Yes, the markings are traditionally repainted periodically (often by Lambda Chi Alpha members) and are considered a fixture of the bridge. During bridge renovations in 2011, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation restored the markings, acknowledging their cultural significance.
How does the Smoot compare to standard units?
- 1 Smoot = 1.7018 meters
- 1 Meter ≈ 0.5876 Smoots
- 1 Smoot = 5.583 feet (5 feet 7 inches)
- 1 Foot ≈ 0.1791 Smoots
Is the Smoot an SI unit?
No, the Smoot is not an SI unit. It is a non-standard, informal unit. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
What did Oliver Smoot think of the unit?
Oliver Smoot generally embraced his namesake unit with good humor throughout his life and career, often participating in events related to it at MIT.
About Klafter (klafter)
How long is a Klafter?
The length varied, but the most common standard, based on the Austrian system, is:
- Exactly 6 Vienna Feet (Wiener Fuß)
- Approximately 1.8965 meters
- Approximately 6.222 feet
Other historical values might range roughly from 1.7 to 1.95 meters depending on the specific regional "foot" standard used.
Is a Klafter the same as a fathom?
Conceptually, they are very similar, both derived from the span of outstretched arms. Numerically, they are close but distinct.
- Klafter (Austrian): ~1.8965 meters / ~6.222 feet
- Fathom (International): Exactly 1.8288 meters / 6 feet
So, the common Austrian Klafter was slightly longer than the standard fathom.
What were the main related units in the Austrian system?
The Klafter was part of a system:
- 1 Klafter = 6 Fuß (Vienna Foot or Wiener Schuh)
- 1 Fuß = 12 Zoll (Vienna Inch or Wiener Zoll)
- 1 Zoll ≈ 2.634 cm / 1.037 inches
- 1 Fuß ≈ 31.608 cm / 12.444 inches / 1.037 feet
Where was the Klafter primarily used?
It was used across Central Europe, notably in:
- Austria-Hungary
- Southern German states (Bavaria, Württemberg)
- Prussia (with a slightly different length)
- Switzerland
- Other parts of the Holy Roman Empire and subsequent German Confederation.
Is the Klafter still used today?
No, the Klafter is obsolete for practical measurements. It was replaced by the meter during metrication in the 19th century. Its relevance is purely historical.
How does a Klafter compare to a meter or foot?
- A Klafter (~1.9 m) is almost twice as long as a meter. (1 Klafter ≈ 1.9 m)
- A Klafter (~6.2 ft) is significantly longer than a standard foot. (1 Klafter ≈ 6.2 ft)
Is the Klafter an SI unit?
No, the Klafter is not an SI unit. It is a traditional unit from historical Central European measurement systems. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
Conversion Table: Smoot to Klafter
| Smoot (smoot) | Klafter (klafter) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.897 |
| 5 | 4.487 |
| 10 | 8.973 |
| 25 | 22.433 |
| 50 | 44.867 |
| 100 | 89.734 |
| 500 | 448.669 |
| 1,000 | 897.337 |
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)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)