Span to Link (Gunter's) Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert spans to links with our free online length converter.
Span to Link (Gunter's) Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Span).
- The converted value in Link (Gunter's) 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 Span to Link (Gunter's)
Converting Span to Link (Gunter's) involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Span = 1.136364 linksExample Calculation:
Convert 10 spans: 10 × 1.136364 = 11.36364 links
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 Span and a Link (Gunter's)?
The Span is an ancient unit of length based on the distance across an outstretched human hand, measured from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger (or sometimes the index finger). As an anthropomorphic unit, its length was inherently variable, depending on the size of an individual's hand.
Historically, it was often defined in relation to other body-based units:
- Typically considered half a cubit.
- Often equated to 3 palms (where a palm is the width of the hand across the base of the fingers).
- Sometimes defined as 12 digits (fingerbreadths).
A common, though unofficial, modern estimate for a span is around 9 inches or approximately 22.86 centimeters (cm).
The Link, specifically Gunter's Link (symbol li), is a unit of length historically used in surveying, particularly within the imperial and U.S. customary systems. It is defined as exactly 1/100th of a Gunter's chain.
One Gunter's link is equivalent to:
- 0.01 Gunter's chains
- 7.92 inches (in)
- 0.66 feet (ft) (exactly 2/3 of a foot)
- 0.22 yards (yd)
- 0.04 rods (also called poles or perches)
- 0.201168 meters (m) (exactly)
- 20.1168 centimeters (cm)
A Gunter's chain itself measures 66 feet, 22 yards, 4 rods, or 20.1168 meters.
Note: The Span is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Link (Gunter's) belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Span and Link (Gunter's)
The span is one of the oldest informal units of measurement, used by numerous ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Israelites, Greeks, and Romans, due to the convenience of using the human hand.
- Ancient Egypt & Mesopotamia: The span was used alongside the cubit and digit. The relationship (often 1 span = 1/2 cubit) was fundamental in their systems.
- Biblical References: The span is mentioned in the Bible (e.g., Exodus 28:16 describing the High Priest's breastplate, Goliath's height in some interpretations).
- Ancient Greece & Rome: Used as a practical subdivision of the cubit.
- Medieval Europe: Continued in informal use and sometimes appeared in texts defining lengths. In England, it was often standardized (unofficially) as 9 inches.
Like other anthropomorphic units, the span fell out of official use with the development and adoption of more standardized systems like the Imperial (inches, feet) and Metric (meters) systems, which provided necessary precision for trade, science, and industry.
The link, as part of Gunter's chain, was devised by the English clergyman and mathematician Edmund Gunter around 1620. He introduced a measuring chain that was 66 feet long and divided into 100 links. This system was revolutionary for surveyors because its decimal nature (100 links per chain) simplified calculations, especially for area. Land area could be easily calculated in square chains and then converted to acres, as 10 square chains equal exactly 1 acre. Gunter's chain and its links became the standard tools for land surveying in England and later throughout the British Empire and the United States for centuries.
Common Uses for spans and links
Explore the typical applications for both Span (imperial/US) and Link (Gunter's) (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for spans
The span is now obsolete for precise or official measurements but is still encountered or used in specific contexts:
- Informal Estimation: Used for quick, rough measurements of moderate lengths where precision is not critical (e.g., gardening, crafts, estimating object sizes).
- Historical Texts: Found in ancient and medieval documents, requiring understanding for interpretation.
- Anthropology & Archaeology: Relevant when studying historical measurement systems or interpreting dimensions from ancient sites.
- Figurative Language: Can be used metaphorically to denote a small distance or extent ("life span").
- Understanding Historical Units: Key to grasping the relationship between units like the digit, palm, and cubit in ancient systems.
Common Uses for links
The Gunter's link is now largely obsolete but was historically significant:
- Land Surveying: It was the fundamental unit for measuring property boundaries and land parcels in English-speaking countries for over 300 years.
- Cartography: Used in creating maps and plats based on surveys.
- Land Records: Measurements in links (and chains) frequently appear in older property deeds, historical surveys, and legal descriptions of land. Understanding the link is crucial for interpreting these documents.
- Agriculture: The system was tied to the definition of the acre, a common unit of land area.
Its use declined dramatically with the adoption of the metric system and the advent of more precise surveying technologies like steel tapes, theodolites, Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM), and GPS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Span (span)
How long is a span?
There is no single, universally fixed length for a span because it's based on human hand size. However:
- A common historical and modern estimate is 9 inches (in).
- This is approximately 22.86 centimeters (cm) or 0.2286 meters (m).
- Historically, it was often defined as half a cubit, which varied (e.g., a common cubit of ~18 inches would yield a 9-inch span).
What is the relationship between a span and a cubit?
In many historical systems, a span was considered half (1/2) of a cubit. Since cubits themselves varied (e.g., common cubit vs. royal cubit), the exact length of the span derived this way also varied.
What is the relationship between a span and a palm or digit?
Common relationships, though varying by system, were:
- 1 span ≈ 3 palms (where a palm is the width of the hand).
- 1 span ≈ 12 digits (where a digit is the width of a finger).
Is the span an SI unit?
No, the span is not an SI unit. It is an ancient, non-standardized, anthropomorphic unit. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
Is the span still used today?
The span is not used for any official, scientific, or commercial measurements. Its use is limited to informal estimations, historical context, and figurative language. People might still use their own hand span for a quick size check.
Where does the name 'span' come from?
The word "span" comes from Old English spann, related to the verb spannan, meaning "to stretch, extend, or connect". This directly reflects the action of stretching the hand to measure the unit.
About Link (Gunter's) (li)
How long is a Gunter's Link?
One Gunter's Link is equal to:
- 7.92 inches
- 0.66 feet (2/3 ft)
- 0.201168 meters
- 20.1168 centimeters
How many links are in a Gunter's chain?
There are exactly 100 links in one Gunter's chain.
How long is a Gunter's Chain?
One Gunter's chain is equal to:
- 100 links
- 66 feet
- 22 yards
- 4 rods (or poles, perches)
- 1/10th of a furlong
- 1/80th of a statute mile
- 20.1168 meters
How does the link relate to the acre?
The link is directly related to the acre through the Gunter's chain. An acre is defined as 10 square chains. Since 1 chain = 100 links:
- 1 acre = 10 × (100 links)² = 10 × 10,000 square links = 100,000 square links. This decimal relationship greatly simplified area calculations for surveyors using the chain.
Is the link an SI unit?
No, the Gunter's link is not an SI unit. It is part of the traditional imperial and U.S. customary systems. The corresponding SI unit for length is the meter (m).
Is the Gunter's link still used today?
No, the Gunter's link is rarely used in modern surveying practice. Its primary relevance today is in historical contexts, particularly when interpreting old land deeds, surveys, and maps created using Gunter's system. Modern surveying relies on meters or feet, measured with advanced electronic equipment.
Why was it called a 'link'?
It was called a 'link' because Gunter's chain was literally constructed from 100 physical metal links connected by rings. Each link served as a unit of measurement.
Conversion Table: Span to Link (Gunter's)
| Span (span) | Link (Gunter's) (li) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.136 |
| 5 | 5.682 |
| 10 | 11.364 |
| 25 | 28.409 |
| 50 | 56.818 |
| 100 | 113.636 |
| 500 | 568.182 |
| 1,000 | 1,136.364 |
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)
- Pace (pace)
- 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)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)