Furlong (fur) - Unit Information & Conversion
🔄 Quick Convert Furlong
What is a Furlong?
The furlong (symbol: fur) is a unit of length in the imperial and U.S. customary systems, defined as exactly one-eighth of a mile (220 yards, 660 feet, or 201.168 meters). The term derives from Old English "furlang" (furrow-long), originally representing the distance a team of oxen could plow without rest in medieval strip farming—approximately one acre's length. Historically fundamental to English land surveying, the furlong defined property boundaries through the chain-and-furlong system, where 10 chains (66 feet each) equaled 1 furlong, and 8 furlongs equaled 1 mile. While obsolete for general measurement, the furlong thrives in horse racing, where it remains the standard unit for race distances in the United Kingdom, Ireland, United States, Canada, and Australia. Classic races like the Kentucky Derby (10 furlongs), Royal Ascot Gold Cup (20 furlongs), and various sprint races (5-7 furlongs) are all measured in furlongs. The unit also persists in Myanmar (Burma) for road distances and land measurement alongside miles.
History of the Furlong
The furlong originated in Anglo-Saxon England (5th-11th centuries) from open-field strip farming, where peasants plowed long, narrow strips of land. The term "furlang" (furrow-long) described the practical distance oxen could plow before requiring rest—approximately 220 yards. This distance became standardized as it corresponded to one side of an acre (1 furlong × 1 chain = 1 acre). The Statute of 1305 under Edward I formalized the furlong as 40 rods (each 16.5 feet), establishing the chain-rod-furlong-mile hierarchy still used in surveying. Edmund Gunter's surveyor's chain (1620), exactly 66 feet (4 rods or 1/10 furlong), revolutionized land measurement and cemented the furlong's role in property surveys throughout the British Empire. The furlong spread globally through British colonization, becoming standard in North America, Australia, and India. While metrication eliminated general furlong usage in the 20th century, horse racing preserved it: the Jockey Club (founded 1750) and later racing authorities worldwide standardized race distances in furlongs. Today, thoroughbred racing worldwide references furlongs, with the Kentucky Derby (1875-present) maintaining its 10-furlong tradition and Royal Ascot continuing to run furlong-based races established in the 18th century.
Quick Answer
1 furlong = 1/8 mile = 220 yards = 660 feet = 201.168 meters
Common racing distances:
- 5 furlongs = 1,000 meters / 1 km (sprint races)
- 6 furlongs = 1,207 meters / 1.2 km (sprint/middle distance)
- 8 furlongs = 1 mile / 1,609 meters (classic middle distance)
- 10 furlongs = 1.25 miles / 2,012 meters (Kentucky Derby, Epsom Derby)
- 12 furlongs = 1.5 miles / 2,414 meters (Belmont Stakes)
- 20 furlongs = 2.5 miles / 4,023 meters (Royal Ascot Gold Cup)
Historical context: Distance a team of oxen could plow without rest in medieval strip farming.
Quick Comparison Table
| Furlongs | Yards | Feet | Meters | Miles | Horse Racing Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 220 | 660 | 201.2 | 0.125 | Very short sprint |
| 5 | 1,100 | 3,300 | 1,006 | 0.625 | Sprint races (2-year-olds) |
| 6 | 1,320 | 3,960 | 1,207 | 0.75 | Standard sprint distance |
| 7 | 1,540 | 4,620 | 1,408 | 0.875 | Extended sprint |
| 8 | 1,760 | 5,280 | 1,609 | 1.0 | One mile (classic distance) |
| 9 | 1,980 | 5,940 | 1,811 | 1.125 | Middle distance |
| 10 | 2,200 | 6,600 | 2,012 | 1.25 | Derby distance (Kentucky, Epsom) |
| 12 | 2,640 | 7,920 | 2,414 | 1.5 | Belmont Stakes distance |
| 16 | 3,520 | 10,560 | 3,219 | 2.0 | Long-distance races |
| 20 | 4,400 | 13,200 | 4,023 | 2.5 | Extreme endurance (Gold Cup) |
Definition
The Eighth of a Mile
The furlong is defined as exactly 1/8 of a statute mile.
Precise equivalents:
- 220 yards (1/8 × 1,760 yards)
- 660 feet (220 yards × 3 feet/yard)
- 40 rods (traditional surveying unit; 1 rod = 16.5 feet)
- 10 chains (1 chain = 66 feet = 4 rods)
- 201.168 meters (exactly, using 1 yard = 0.9144 m)
Old English Etymology
"Furlang" = "furrow-long"
- Furh (Old English) = furrow (a trench cut by a plow)
- Lang (Old English) = long
Agricultural origin: In medieval open-field farming, peasants plowed long, narrow strips. The furlong represented the standard length of these strips—the distance a team of oxen could pull a heavy plow before needing to rest and turn around.
Why this specific distance?
- Oxen stamina: Approximately 220 yards before fatigue
- Practical turn-around: Long enough to be efficient, short enough to manage
- Acre relationship: 1 furlong × 1 chain (66 ft) = 1 acre (historical definition)
The Chain-Furlong-Mile System
Edmund Gunter's surveyor's chain (1620):
- 1 chain = 66 feet = 4 rods = 100 links
- 10 chains = 1 furlong
- 80 chains = 1 mile
Why 66 feet? Gunter designed the chain so that:
- 10 square chains = 1 acre (exactly)
- Easy conversion between area and distance
- Practical length for field surveying (two surveyors could carry it)
This system dominated English-speaking land surveys for 300+ years.
History
Anglo-Saxon Origins (5th-11th Centuries)
Open-field strip farming: Medieval English villages practiced communal agriculture, with fields divided into long, narrow strips assigned to different families.
Strip dimensions:
- Length: 1 furlong (~220 yards)
- Width: 1 chain (~22 yards, later standardized to 1 chain = 66 feet / 4 rods)
- Area: Approximately 1 acre
Plowing practice: Farmers plowed the length of the strip (1 furlong), then turned the ox team at the headland (the unplowed area at each end). The furlong emerged as the natural unit for this plowing distance.
Norman and Plantagenet Standardization (11th-14th Centuries)
Domesday Book (1086): William the Conqueror's land survey used furlongs and acres to catalog English landholdings, cementing these units in law.
Statute of 1305 (Edward I): Formalized the furlong as:
- 40 rods (1 rod = 16.5 feet = 5.5 yards)
- 1/8 mile
- Standard for all land measurement in England
Acre definition: Legally defined as 1 furlong × 4 rods (1 furlong × 66 feet), creating the enduring acre-furlong relationship.
Edmund Gunter and the Surveyor's Chain (1620)
Revolutionary tool: English mathematician Edmund Gunter invented the surveyor's chain, a 66-foot measuring chain with 100 links.
Advantages:
- Durability: Metal chain resisted wear better than ropes
- Accuracy: Standardized links prevented stretching errors
- Calculation ease: 100 links made decimal-like subdivision simple
- Furlong integration: 10 chains = 1 furlong (exact)
Global spread: Gunter's chain became the standard surveying tool throughout the British Empire, spreading the furlong to:
- North America (colonial land surveys)
- Australia (1788 onwards)
- India (British Raj)
- Africa (colonial territories)
Horse Racing Adoption (18th Century)
The Jockey Club (founded 1750): British horse racing's governing body standardized race distances in furlongs and miles.
Common race distances established:
- 5 furlongs: Sprint races
- 1 mile (8 furlongs): Classic middle distance
- 1.5 miles (12 furlongs): St. Leger Stakes (established 1776)
- 2.5 miles (20 furlongs): Royal Ascot Gold Cup
Why furlongs?
- Traditional British measurement
- Convenient divisions of the mile
- Allowed precise race distance specifications
- Established in racecourse infrastructure (distance poles)
American Horse Racing (19th Century)
Kentucky Derby (1875): Established at 1.5 miles (12 furlongs), later shortened to 1.25 miles (10 furlongs) in 1896. The furlong became America's standard racing measurement.
Belmont Stakes (1867): Originally 1.625 miles, standardized to 1.5 miles (12 furlongs)—the "Test of the Champion."
Preakness Stakes (1873): Run at 9.5 furlongs (1.1875 miles).
All three Triple Crown races use furlong-based distances.
Metrication and Decline (20th Century)
UK Weights and Measures Act (1985): Officially transitioned Britain to metric system for most purposes. The furlong became obsolete for:
- Road distances (now kilometers)
- Land surveying (now meters)
- General measurement (meters standard)
Exception: Horse racing Racing authorities worldwide retained furlongs, grandfathered as a traditional sporting measure.
Modern Persistence (21st Century)
Countries still using furlongs in horse racing:
- United Kingdom: All thoroughbred racing
- Ireland: All thoroughbred racing
- United States: All thoroughbred and quarter horse racing
- Canada: Thoroughbred racing
- Australia: Some racing uses furlongs alongside meters
- Myanmar (Burma): Road signs and general distance measurement
Global standard: Despite metrication, international horse racing maintains furlong terminology for consistency with historical records and tradition.
Real-World Examples
Horse Racing Distances
Sprint Races (5-7 furlongs):
- 5 furlongs (1,006 m): Two-year-old sprints, short bursts of speed
- 6 furlongs (1,207 m): Standard sprint distance (King's Stand Stakes, Royal Ascot)
- 7 furlongs (1,408 m): Extended sprint (July Cup, Newmarket)
Middle Distance (8-10 furlongs):
- 8 furlongs / 1 mile (1,609 m): Classic race distance (2000 Guineas, Breeders' Cup Mile)
- 9 furlongs (1,811 m): Transitional distance
- 10 furlongs / 1.25 miles (2,012 m): Derby distance (Kentucky Derby, Epsom Derby, Irish Derby)
Long Distance (12-20 furlongs):
- 12 furlongs / 1.5 miles (2,414 m): Belmont Stakes, St. Leger Stakes
- 14 furlongs / 1.75 miles (2,816 m): Long-distance tests
- 16 furlongs / 2 miles (3,219 m): Cesarewitch Handicap (longest major flat race)
- 20 furlongs / 2.5 miles (4,023 m): Royal Ascot Gold Cup (extreme stamina test)
Historical Land Surveying
U.S. Public Land Survey System (1785-present): Thomas Jefferson's grid system divided American territories into townships and sections using furlong-based measurements:
- 1 section = 1 square mile = 640 acres
- 1 quarter-section = 160 acres = 4 furlongs × 4 furlongs
- Survey lines laid out in chains and furlongs
Result: Midwest American roads often follow section lines spaced exactly 1 mile (8 furlongs) apart, creating the characteristic grid pattern visible from above.
Agricultural Field Sizes
Historical English acre:
- 1 furlong (220 yards) long
- 1 chain (22 yards) wide
- Total area: 4,840 square yards = 1 acre
Modern reference: Though obsolete, historical land deeds and property descriptions in England, U.S., Canada, and Australia often reference furlong measurements.
Common Uses
1. Thoroughbred Horse Racing
Race distance specification: Nearly all English-language racing nations specify race lengths in furlongs.
Examples:
- "A 6-furlong sprint on turf"
- "The colt won at distances from 8 to 12 furlongs"
- "She specializes in 5-furlong races"
Racecourse markers: Distance poles along the track show remaining furlongs to the finish (e.g., "4F" pole = 4 furlongs to go).
2. Breeding and Training
Horse pedigrees: Thoroughbred bloodlines are analyzed by optimal racing distances measured in furlongs.
Example: "This stallion's progeny excel at 8-10 furlongs, inheriting his stamina."
Training distances: Trainers describe workout distances in furlongs: "We gave him a strong 6-furlong breeze this morning."
3. Myanmar (Burma)
Road distances: Myanmar road signs often show distances in furlongs and miles rather than kilometers.
Example: "Yangon 12 furlongs" (1.5 miles ahead)
Why? British colonial legacy; Myanmar has resisted full metrication.
4. Historical Documents
Land deeds: Property descriptions in English-speaking countries often reference furlongs:
"Beginning at the oak tree, thence north 3 furlongs, thence east 2 furlongs..."
Literary references: Classic literature mentions furlongs for travel distances.
Conversion Guide
Furlongs to Miles
Formula: Miles = Furlongs ÷ 8
Examples:
- 8 furlongs ÷ 8 = 1 mile
- 10 furlongs ÷ 8 = 1.25 miles
- 12 furlongs ÷ 8 = 1.5 miles
Furlongs to Yards
Formula: Yards = Furlongs × 220
Examples:
- 1 furlong × 220 = 220 yards
- 6 furlongs × 220 = 1,320 yards
- 10 furlongs × 220 = 2,200 yards
Furlongs to Meters
Formula: Meters = Furlongs × 201.168
Examples:
- 1 furlong × 201.168 = 201.168 m
- 6 furlongs × 201.168 = 1,207 m
- 10 furlongs × 201.168 = 2,012 m
Meters to Furlongs
Formula: Furlongs = Meters ÷ 201.168
Examples:
- 1,000 m ÷ 201.168 ≈ 4.97 furlongs (~5 furlongs)
- 1,609 m ÷ 201.168 ≈ 8 furlongs (1 mile)
- 2,000 m ÷ 201.168 ≈ 9.94 furlongs (~10 furlongs)
Furlongs to Feet
Formula: Feet = Furlongs × 660
Examples:
- 1 furlong × 660 = 660 feet
- 8 furlongs × 660 = 5,280 feet (1 mile)
Common Conversion Mistakes
1. Confusing Furlongs with Kilometers in Racing
The Mistake: Assuming race distances in metric countries are in kilometers
Example:
- Race advertised as "1200" in Australia
- Wrong assumption: 1,200 kilometers
- Correct: 1,200 meters = ~6 furlongs
The Fix: Check race program units. Many metric-country races show meters (1200m, 1600m, 2000m) but may still reference furlong equivalents.
2. Incorrect Mile-to-Furlong Conversion
The Mistake: Thinking 10 furlongs = 1 mile
The Truth:
- 8 furlongs = 1 mile (not 10)
- 10 furlongs = 1.25 miles
Common error: Kentucky Derby advertised as "10 furlongs" → person thinks "10-mile race" Actually: 1.25 miles / 2,012 meters
3. Mixing Chain and Furlong Measurements
The Mistake: Confusing chains with furlongs in historical land surveys
The Truth:
- 1 chain = 66 feet
- 1 furlong = 10 chains = 660 feet
Example error: Land deed says "5 chains north"
- Wrong: 5 furlongs (3,300 feet)
- Correct: 5 chains (330 feet)
4. Assuming Furlongs Are Obsolete Everywhere
The Mistake: Believing furlongs are no longer used
The Truth: Active daily use in:
- Thoroughbred racing worldwide (UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia)
- Myanmar road distances
- Historical property records
5. Incorrect Acre-Furlong Relationship
The Mistake: Thinking 1 acre = 1 furlong × 1 furlong
The Truth: 1 acre = 1 furlong × 1 chain (66 feet / 4 rods)
- 1 furlong × 1 furlong = 10 acres (not 1 acre)
Furlong Conversion Formulas
To Meter:
To Kilometer:
To Hectometer:
To Decimeter:
To Centimeter:
To Millimeter:
To Inch:
To Foot:
To Yard:
To Mile:
To Nautical Mile:
To Micrometer:
To Nanometer:
To Light Year:
To Astronomical Unit:
To Parsec:
To Angstrom:
To Point (Typography):
To Mil/Thou:
To Fathom:
To Link (Gunter's):
To Pace:
To Span:
To Digit:
To Cable Length:
To Ell:
To Finger:
To Roman Mile:
To Stadion:
To Chi (Chinese):
To Shaku (Japanese):
To Li (Chinese):
To Toise:
To Bolt:
To Rope:
To Smoot:
To Sajene:
To Ken:
To Wa:
To Vara:
To Aln:
To Cubit (Royal/Egyptian):
To Versta:
To Arpent:
To Ri (Japanese):
To Klafter:
To Yojana:
To Skein:
Frequently Asked Questions
Exactly 8 furlongs = 1 statute mile. This is the defining relationship:
- 1 furlong = 1/8 mile = 0.125 miles
- 1 mile = 8 furlongs = 1,760 yards = 5,280 feet
Convert Furlong
Need to convert Furlong to other length units? Use our conversion tool.