What is the length of a Surveyor’s chain?

Discussion - MCQs on Chain Surveying (6) - Surveyor's Chain Length

What is the length of a Surveyor's chain?

A. 33 feet
B. 133 feet
C. 66 feet
D. 100 feet
Correct Answer: C. 66 feet

⛓️ Core Concept: Surveyor's (Gunter's) Chain

The Surveyor's chain, also known as the Gunter's chain after its inventor Edmund Gunter, is a historic and foundational tool in surveying. Its specific length was designed to be convenient for land measurement in the imperial system.

The standard specifications are:

  • Total Length: 66 feet
  • Total Links: 100 links
  • Length per Link: 0.66 feet (or 7.92 inches)

📊 Comparison of Common Surveying Chains

To avoid confusion, it's helpful to compare the Surveyor's chain with other types:

Chain Type Standard Length Number of Links Length of One Link
Surveyor's (Gunter's) 66 ft 100 0.66 ft
Engineer's Chain 100 ft 100 1 ft
Revenue Chain 33 ft 16 ~2.06 ft
Metric Chain 20 m or 30 m 100 or 150 0.2 m (20 cm)
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