Vara to Toise Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert varas to toise with our free online length converter.
Vara to Toise Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Vara).
- The converted value in Toise 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 Vara to Toise
Converting Vara to Toise involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Vara = 0.430067 toiseExample Calculation:
Convert 10 varas: 10 × 0.430067 = 4.300667 toise
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 Vara and a Toise?
The Vara (Spanish and Portuguese for "rod" or "pole") is a traditional Iberian unit of length, roughly comparable to the English yard. Its precise length varied significantly depending on the region and historical period, reflecting local customs and lack of centralized standardization before the metric era.
Commonly cited values include:
- Castilian Vara (Vara de Castilla): Approximately 83.59 centimeters (cm) or 32.91 inches (in). This was arguably the most influential standard in Spain and many of its colonies.
- Portuguese Vara: Typically longer, around 110 cm or 43.3 inches.
- Texas Vara: Legally defined in Texas as exactly 33 1/3 inches (approximately 84.67 cm).
Other regional variations existed throughout Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and other territories under their influence.
The Toise is an historical French unit of length, used extensively before the adoption of the metric system. It was legally defined as 6 pieds du roi (French royal feet).
Based on the standard established for the pied du roi, the Toise equates to:
- Exactly 1.94903631 meters (m) (based on the 1799 definition of the meter relative to the standard Toise bar)
- Approximately 6.395 English feet (ft)
- Approximately 76.73 English inches (in)
The Toise was further subdivided:
- 1 Toise = 6 Pieds (French feet)
- 1 Toise = 72 Pouces (French inches)
- 1 Toise = 864 Lignes (French lines)
Note: The Vara is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Toise belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Vara and Toise
The Vara likely originated from Roman units like the virga and became a fundamental measure in Spain and Portugal during the Middle Ages. Its use spread extensively through colonization from the 15th century onwards, becoming the standard for land measurement and trade in vast territories across the Americas (including areas now part of the US like Texas, California, Florida), Africa, and Asia.
Despite attempts to standardize, such as establishing the Vara de Castilla (sometimes associated with Burgos), enforcement across diverse and distant colonies was inconsistent. This led to the development and persistence of numerous local Varas, often differing slightly based on regional decrees or customary usage. For example:
- The Mexican Vara was later standardized at approximately 83.8 cm, very close to the Castilian.
- The Texas Vara was given its specific legal definition (33 1/3 inches) which remains crucial for interpreting historical land grants in the state.
The adoption of the metric system, beginning in the 19th century, gradually led to the official obsolescence of the Vara in most countries. However, its historical importance, particularly in land records, ensures its continued relevance.
The Toise was a fundamental unit of length in France for centuries, used in various fields from the Middle Ages through the Ancien Régime and into the early post-revolutionary period. Its name derives from the Latin tensa, meaning "stretched (arms)", suggesting an origin related to fathom.
Standardization was crucial. The primary standard became the Toise du Châtelet, an iron bar embedded in the wall of the Grand Châtelet fortress in Paris. In 1668, this standard was physically copied by Jean Picard and used for geodetic surveys. Later, a copy known as the Toise du Pérou (or Toise de l'Académie) became the official reference standard for French length measurements. This specific bar was physically used in the famous French Geodesic Missions to Peru (1735–1744) and Lapland (1736–1737), which aimed to measure the length of a degree of latitude near the equator and the Arctic Circle, respectively.
These measurements, based on the Toise, were instrumental in determining the shape of the Earth and ultimately provided the basis for the definition of the meter. The meter was initially defined in the 1790s as one ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the Equator along the meridian passing through Paris, a distance calculated from the geodetic surveys performed using the Toise standard.
The Toise was officially replaced by the meter following the French Revolution and the establishment of the metric system in France, formally adopted in 1799.
Common Uses for varas and toise
Explore the typical applications for both Vara (imperial/US) and Toise (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for varas
Historically, the Vara was a primary unit for:
- Land Surveying: Measuring property boundaries, town lots, roads, and vast land grants. It is frequently encountered in historical deeds and surveys throughout Latin America and the Southwestern United States.
- Trade and Commerce: Measuring textiles (cloth), rope, lumber, and other goods sold by length.
- Architecture and Construction: Laying out building foundations, measuring walls, and quantifying construction materials.
- Agriculture: Measuring field dimensions or distances for planting.
Its use today is almost entirely historical or related to the interpretation of old documents and land titles.
Common Uses for toise
The Toise is now obsolete but was historically essential for:
- Land Surveying: Measuring land areas, property boundaries, and distances for cartography.
- Architecture and Civil Engineering: Designing and constructing buildings, bridges, canals, roads, and fortifications (notably by Vauban). Dimensions of major historical French structures were often specified in Toise.
- Military Engineering: Laying out fortifications, measuring artillery ranges.
- Geodesy and Scientific Measurement: Serving as the standard unit for precise scientific measurements, particularly in astronomy and the crucial 18th-century geodetic surveys that measured the Earth.
- Craftsmanship: Used in various trades requiring length measurements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Vara (vara)
Why does the length of a Vara vary so much?
The variation stems from several factors:
- Long History: The unit was used for centuries before rigorous international standards like the metric system existed.
- Decentralized Standards: Measurement standards were often set locally or regionally (by kingdom, province, or even city) rather than being effectively enforced across entire empires.
- Physical Standards: Early standards were often based on physical rods, which could vary slightly or degrade over time.
- Customary Usage: Local trade practices and customs often solidified specific lengths for the Vara in different areas. While influential standards like the Castilian Vara existed, practical enforcement across vast colonial territories was difficult, allowing regional variations to flourish and persist.
Is the Vara still used today?
Officially, the Vara has been superseded by the metric system in Spain, Portugal, and all Latin American countries. However, it remains highly relevant in specific contexts:
- Historical Land Records: It is essential for interpreting historical land surveys, deeds, and grants, particularly in Texas, California, New Mexico, Florida, and throughout Latin America. Legal property descriptions may still reference original measurements in Varas.
- Historical Research: Understanding the Vara is crucial for historians studying architecture, urban planning, trade, or agriculture in regions formerly under Spanish or Portuguese rule.
- Cultural Context: While not used for practical measurement, the term might appear in historical literature, place names, or cultural discussions. In very rare, localized instances, informal references might persist among older generations.
How long is a Vara?
There is no single universal length. You must consider the specific regional and historical context. Key values include:
- Castilian Vara (Spain): ~83.59 cm / ~32.91 inches
- Portuguese Vara: ~110 cm / ~43.3 inches
- Mexican Vara: ~83.8 cm / ~33.0 inches
- Texas Vara (USA): Exactly 33 1/3 inches / ~84.67 cm
How does the Vara compare to a Yard or Meter?
- Most common Varas (Castilian, Mexican, Texas) are shorter than both a meter (100 cm) and an English yard (91.44 cm / 36 inches).
- 1 Meter ≈ 1.18 to 1.20 Varas (Castilian/Texas)
- 1 Yard ≈ 1.09 to 1.10 Varas (Castilian/Texas)
- The Portuguese Vara (~1.1 m) is longer than both a meter and a yard.
- 1 Meter ≈ 0.91 Portuguese Varas
- 1 Yard ≈ 0.83 Portuguese Varas
Is the Vara an SI unit?
No, the Vara is not an SI unit. It is a traditional unit belonging to the historical Spanish and Portuguese systems of measurement. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
About Toise (toise)
How long is a Toise?
The standard French Toise is defined as 6 pieds du roi (French royal feet). This corresponds to:
- Exactly 1.94903631 meters
- Approximately 6.395 English feet
How does the Toise compare to a Meter?
- 1 Toise ≈ 1.949 meters
- 1 Meter ≈ 0.513 Toise The Toise was the historical standard upon which the original definition of the meter was based through geodetic surveys.
What were the subdivisions of the Toise?
The Toise was divided based on the French foot (pied du roi):
- 1 Toise = 6 Pieds
- 1 Pied = 12 Pouces (inches)
- 1 Pouce = 12 Lignes (lines) Therefore, 1 Toise = 72 pouces = 864 lignes.
Is the Toise an SI unit?
No, the Toise is not an SI unit. It is a traditional unit from the pre-metric French system (Mesures usuelles). The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
Is the Toise still used today?
No, the Toise is obsolete and not used in modern measurements. It was legally replaced by the meter in France and elsewhere. Its significance today is purely historical, particularly in the context of historical architecture, engineering, surveying, and the scientific history leading to the metric system.
Conversion Table: Vara to Toise
| Vara (vara) | Toise (toise) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.43 |
| 5 | 2.15 |
| 10 | 4.301 |
| 25 | 10.752 |
| 50 | 21.503 |
| 100 | 43.007 |
| 500 | 215.033 |
| 1,000 | 430.067 |
All Length Conversions
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