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Bolt (bolt) - Unit Information & Conversion

Symbol:bolt
Plural:bolts
Category:Length

What is a Bolt?

Definition

A Bolt is a commercial unit of length primarily used for measuring rolls of cloth or fabric. Unlike standardized units like the meter or yard, the length of a bolt is not fixed and can vary significantly depending on the type of material, the manufacturer, the country of origin, and trade customs.

Common lengths often associated with a bolt include:

  • 40 yards (approximately 36.58 meters) - Frequently cited, especially for cottons and silks in the US.
  • 100 yards (approximately 91.44 meters) - Often used for heavier fabrics like canvas.
  • Other lengths such as 30, 50, 60, or 120 yards may also be encountered.

The bolt represents a quantity convenient for wholesale trade, manufacturing, and inventory management rather than a precise scientific measurement.

History

The concept of the bolt emerged from the practical needs of the textile industry. As cloth production scaled up, manufacturers and merchants needed a standardized way to handle, store, and trade large quantities of fabric. Winding cloth onto a roll or board (the "bolt") provided a convenient package.

The length associated with a bolt likely developed through trade customs specific to different types of fabric and regions. There was never a universal legal standard defining its length, leading to the wide variations seen historically and currently. While retail sales shifted towards measurement by the yard or meter, the bolt remained a useful unit in wholesale and industrial contexts. Even with the global adoption of the metric system, the term "bolt" persists in the textile trade as a reference to a full roll of fabric, though the exact length is usually specified separately in yards or meters.

Common Uses

The bolt is almost exclusively used within the textile industry:

  • Wholesale Trade: Fabric manufacturers sell cloth to distributors or large buyers in bolts.
  • Manufacturing: Clothing and upholstery manufacturers purchase fabric by the bolt for production runs.
  • Inventory Management: Textile mills, warehouses, and large retailers manage stock using bolts as units.
  • Industrial Fabrics: Suppliers of canvas, vinyl, and other industrial textiles often sell material by the bolt.

It is generally not used for retail sales to consumers, where fabric is typically measured and cut to specific lengths (yards or meters) from the bolt.

Unit FAQs

How long is a bolt of cloth?

There is no single standard length. It depends heavily on the fabric type and manufacturer. Common lengths include:

  • 40 yards (~36.58 m)
  • 100 yards (~91.44 m)
  • Other lengths like 30, 50, 60, or 120 yards are also possible. Always check the specific product information for the actual length of a particular bolt.

How many yards are in a bolt?

Commonly 40 yards or 100 yards, but this is highly variable.

How many meters are in a bolt?

Based on common yard lengths:

  • A 40-yard bolt is approximately 36.58 meters.
  • A 100-yard bolt is approximately 91.44 meters.

Is the bolt a standardized unit?

No, it is not a standardized unit of length like the yard or meter. It's a commercial trade unit whose length varies.

Is the bolt still used today?

Yes, the term "bolt" is still widely used in the wholesale textile industry and manufacturing contexts to refer to a full roll of fabric, although the precise length is usually specified in yards or meters.

Is this related to the fastener "bolt"?

No, the bolt unit for cloth is completely unrelated to the metal fastener known as a bolt. They share the same name but have entirely different meanings and origins.

Bolt Conversion Formulas

To Meter:

1 bolt = 30.48 m
Example: 5 bolts = 152.4 meters

To Kilometer:

1 bolt = 0.03048 km
Example: 5 bolts = 0.1524 kilometers

To Hectometer:

1 bolt = 0.3048 hm
Example: 5 bolts = 1.524 hectometers

To Decimeter:

1 bolt = 304.8 dm
Example: 5 bolts = 1524 decimeters

To Centimeter:

1 bolt = 3048 cm
Example: 5 bolts = 15240 centimeters

To Millimeter:

1 bolt = 30480 mm
Example: 5 bolts = 152400 millimeters

To Inch:

1 bolt = 1200 in
Example: 5 bolts = 6000 inches

To Foot:

1 bolt = 100 ft
Example: 5 bolts = 500 feet

To Yard:

1 bolt = 33.333333 yd
Example: 5 bolts = 166.666667 yards

To Mile:

1 bolt = 0.018939 mi
Example: 5 bolts = 0.094697 miles

To Nautical Mile:

1 bolt = 0.016458 NM
Example: 5 bolts = 0.082289 nautical miles

To Micrometer:

1 bolt = 30480000 μm
Example: 5 bolts = 152400000 micrometers

To Nanometer:

1 bolt = 30480000000 nm
Example: 5 bolts = 152400000000 nanometers

To Light Year:

1 bolt = 3.2216e-15 ly
Example: 5 bolts = 1.6108e-14 light years

To Astronomical Unit:

1 bolt = 2.0374e-10 AU
Example: 5 bolts = 1.0187e-9 astronomical units

To Parsec:

1 bolt = 9.8778e-16 pc
Example: 5 bolts = 4.9389e-15 parsecs

To Angstrom:

1 bolt = 304800000000 Å
Example: 5 bolts = 1524000000000 angstroms

To Point (Typography):

1 bolt = 86399.945575 pt
Example: 5 bolts = 431999.727874 points

To Mil/Thou:

1 bolt = 1200000 mil
Example: 5 bolts = 6000000 mils

To Fathom:

1 bolt = 16.666667 fath
Example: 5 bolts = 83.333333 fathoms

To Furlong:

1 bolt = 0.151515 fur
Example: 5 bolts = 0.757576 furlongs

To Link (Gunter's):

1 bolt = 151.515152 li
Example: 5 bolts = 757.575758 links

To Pace:

1 bolt = 40 pace
Example: 5 bolts = 200 paces

To Span:

1 bolt = 133.333333 span
Example: 5 bolts = 666.666667 spans

To Digit:

1 bolt = 1600 digit
Example: 5 bolts = 8000 digits

To Cable Length:

1 bolt = 0.164579 cb
Example: 5 bolts = 0.822894 cable lengths

To Ell:

1 bolt = 26.666667 ell
Example: 5 bolts = 133.333333 ells

To Finger:

1 bolt = 266.666667 finger
Example: 5 bolts = 1333.333333 fingers

To Roman Mile:

1 bolt = 0.020595 m.p.
Example: 5 bolts = 0.102973 Roman miles

To Stadion:

1 bolt = 0.164757 stadion
Example: 5 bolts = 0.823784 stadia

To Chi (Chinese):

1 bolt = 91.449145 chi
Example: 5 bolts = 457.245725 chi

To Shaku (Japanese):

1 bolt = 100.594059 shaku
Example: 5 bolts = 502.970297 shaku

To Li (Chinese):

1 bolt = 0.06096 li
Example: 5 bolts = 0.3048 li

To Toise:

1 bolt = 15.638789 toise
Example: 5 bolts = 78.193946 toise

To Rope:

1 bolt = 5 rope
Example: 5 bolts = 25 ropes

To Smoot:

1 bolt = 17.910448 smoot
Example: 5 bolts = 89.552239 smoots

To Sajene:

1 bolt = 14.285714 sajene
Example: 5 bolts = 71.428571 sajenes

To Ken:

1 bolt = 16.765677 ken
Example: 5 bolts = 83.828383 ken

To Wa:

1 bolt = 15.24 wa
Example: 5 bolts = 76.2 wa

To Vara:

1 bolt = 36.363636 vara
Example: 5 bolts = 181.818182 varas

To Aln:

1 bolt = 51.313131 aln
Example: 5 bolts = 256.565657 alnar

To Cubit (Royal/Egyptian):

1 bolt = 58.279159 cubit
Example: 5 bolts = 291.395793 cubits

To Versta:

1 bolt = 0.028571 versta
Example: 5 bolts = 0.142857 versts

To Arpent:

1 bolt = 0.521284 arpent
Example: 5 bolts = 2.60642 arpents

To Ri (Japanese):

1 bolt = 0.007762 ri
Example: 5 bolts = 0.038808 ri

To Klafter:

1 bolt = 16.071711 klafter
Example: 5 bolts = 80.358555 klafter

To Yojana:

1 bolt = 0.002258 yojana
Example: 5 bolts = 0.011289 yojanas

To Skein:

1 bolt = 0.277778 skein
Example: 5 bolts = 1.388889 skeins

Convert Bolt

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Bolt Quick Info

bolt
Symbol:bolt
Category:Length
System:Various
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