Acre vs. Chain — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 7, 2024
An acre is a unit of area used primarily in land measurement, while a chain is a unit of length, often used to measure land distances.
Difference Between Acre and Chain
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An acre is traditionally used to measure large areas of land, commonly in agriculture and real estate, covering 43,560 square feet. A chain, on the other hand, is a linear measurement totaling 66 feet, often utilized in surveying.
When measuring property, an acre gives a sense of the overall size or footprint of a plot, whereas a chain is used to describe specific dimensions such as length or width of the property.
One acre can be visualized as a square of approximately 208.71 feet on each side, highlighting its use as a spatial measurement. Conversely, the chain, comprising 100 links, traditionally helped surveyors measure distances directly in the field.
Historically, the acre originated from the amount of land tillable by a yoke of oxen in one day, emphasizing its agricultural roots. In contrast, the chain was specifically designed for land surveying, invented by Edmund Gunter in the 17th century.
From a practical application perspective, the acre is more commonly referenced in general real estate and public land descriptions, while the chain is specialized for use in surveying and mapping tasks.
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Comparison Chart
Unit Type
Area
Length
Size
43,560 square feet
66 feet
Common Use
Land measurement
Surveying distances
Historical Origin
Agricultural use
Land surveying
Visual Representation
Square of about 208.71 ft per side
Straight line of 66 feet
Compare with Definitions
Acre
Often used in real estate to describe the size of land parcels.
The new development offers lots ranging from half an acre to five acres.
Chain
Can be converted into 20.1168 meters in metric terms.
He used a chain to measure the width of the property.
Acre
Used historically to measure tracts of agricultural land.
The farm spans several hundred acres.
Chain
A measurement of length equal to 66 feet or 100 links.
The old fence line runs for 10 chains along the road.
Acre
A unit of area equal to 43,560 square feet, commonly used in land measurement.
They bought a two-acre plot to build their new home.
Chain
Historically important in surveying land parcels.
The surveyor measured the boundary with a 66-foot chain.
Acre
Can be visualized as slightly less than an American football field.
The property is almost as large as an acre.
Chain
Sometimes used in forestry to measure distances.
The distance between two plots was quickly assessed with a chain.
Acre
Represents about 4046.86 square meters in metric terms.
The city park covers about 50 acres.
Chain
Forms part of larger surveying units such as furlongs and miles.
The old road was originally plotted in chains and furlongs.
Acre
The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial and US customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one chain by one furlong (66 by 660 feet), which is exactly equal to 10 square chains, 1⁄640 of a square mile, or 43,560 square feet, and approximately 4,047 m2, or about 40% of a hectare.
Chain
A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. A chain may consist of two or more links.
Acre
A unit of area in the US Customary System, used in land and sea floor measurement and equal to 160 square rods, 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet. See Table at measurement.
Chain
A series of linked metal rings used for fastening or securing something, or for pulling loads
The drug dealer is being kept in chains
He slid the bolts on the front door and put the safety chain across
Acre
Acres Property in the form of land; estate.
Chain
A sequence of items of the same type forming a line
He kept the chain of buckets supplied with water
Acre
(Archaic) A field or plot of arable land.
Chain
A jointed measuring line consisting of linked metal rods.
Acre
Often acres A wide expanse, as of land or other matter
"acres of textureless carpeting" (Anne Tyler).
Chain
Fasten or secure with a chain
She chained her bicycle to the railings
Acre
An English unit of land area (symbol: a. or ac.) originally denoting a day's ploughing for a yoke of oxen, now standardized as 4,840 square yards or 4,046.86 square meters.
Chain
A connected, flexible series of links, typically of metal, used especially for holding objects together, for restraining, or for transmitting mechanical power.
Acre
An area of 10,240 square yards or 4 quarters.
Chain
Such a set of links, often of precious metal and with pendants attached, worn as an ornament or symbol of office.
Acre
Any of various similar units of area in other systems.
Chain
Often chains(Football) Such a set of links measuring ten yards and attached to a pole at each end, moved up and down the field to indicate necessary yardage for gaining a first down.
Acre
A wide expanse.
I like my new house - there’s acres of space!
Chain
A restraining or confining agent or force.
Acre
A large quantity.
Chain
Bonds, fetters, or shackles.
Acre
(obsolete) A field.
Chain
Captivity or oppression; bondage
Threw off the chains of slavery.
Acre
(obsolete) The acre's breadth by the length, English units of length equal to the statute dimensions of the acre: 22 yds (≈20 m) by 220 yds (≈200 m).
Chain
A series of closely linked or connected things
A chain of coincidences.
Acre
(obsolete) A duel fought between individual Scots and Englishmen in the borderlands.
Chain
A number of establishments, such as stores, theaters, or hotels, under common ownership or management.
Acre
Any field of arable or pasture land.
Chain
A range of mountains.
Acre
A piece of land, containing 160 square rods, or 4,840 square yards, or 43,560 square feet. This is the English statute acre. That of the United States is the same. The Scotch acre was about 1.26 of the English, and the Irish 1.62 of the English.
I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which callsThe burial ground, God's acre.
Chain
(Chemistry) A series of chemically bonded atoms, especially carbon atoms, which may be arranged in an open, branched, or cyclic structure.
Acre
A unit of area (4840 square yards) used in English-speaking countries
Chain
An instrument used in surveying, consisting of 100 linked pieces of iron or steel and measuring 66 feet (20.1 meters). Also called Gunter's chain.
Acre
A territory of western Brazil bordering on Bolivia and Peru
Chain
A similar instrument used in engineering, measuring 100 feet (30.5 meters).
Acre
A town and port in northwestern Israel in the eastern Mediterranean
Chain
Abbr. ch A unit of measurement equal to the length of either of these instruments.
Chain
To bind or make fast with a chain or chains
Chained the dog to a tree.
Chain
To restrain or confine as if with chains
Workers who were chained to a life of dull routine.
Chain
A series of interconnected rings or links usually made of metal.
He wore a gold chain around the neck.
The anchor is connected to the boat with a 100-metre long chain.
Chain
A series of interconnected things.
A chain of mountains
A chain of ideas, one leading to the next
This led to an unfortunate chain of events.
Chain
A series of stores or businesses with the same brand name.
That chain of restaurants is expanding into our town.
Chain
(chemistry) A number of atoms in a series, which combine to form a molecule.
When examined, the molecular chain included oxygen and hydrogen.
Chain
(surveying) A series of interconnected links of known length, used as a measuring device.
Chain
(surveying) A long measuring tape.
Chain
A unit of length equal to 22 yards. The length of a Gunter's surveying chain. The length of a cricket pitch. Equal to 20.12 metres, 4 rods, or 100 links.
Chain
A totally ordered set, especially a totally ordered subset of a poset.
Chain
(British) A sequence of linked house purchases, each of which is dependent on the preceding and succeeding purchase (said to be "broken" if a buyer or seller pulls out).
Chain
That which confines, fetters, or secures; a bond.
The chains of habit
Chain
Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.
Chain
A livery collar, a chain of office.
Chain
(weaving) The warp threads of a web.
Chain
(transitive) To fasten something with a chain.
You should chain your bicycle to the railings to protect it from being stolen.
Chain
(figurative) To connect as if with a chain, due to dependence, addiction, or other feelings
Sometimes I feel like I'm chained to this computer.
She's been chained to her principles since she was 18, it's unlikely you can convince her otherwise.
Chain
(intransitive) To link multiple items together.
Chain
(transitive) To secure someone with fetters.
Chain
(transitive) To obstruct the mouth of a river etc with a chain.
Chain
(figurative) To obligate.
Chain
(computing) To relate data items with a chain of pointers.
Chain
(computing) To be chained to another data item.
Chain
(transitive) To measure a distance using a 66-foot long chain, as in land surveying.
Chain
To load and automatically run (a program).
Chain
A series of links or rings, usually of metal, connected, or fitted into one another, used for various purposes, as of support, of restraint, of ornament, of the exertion and transmission of mechanical power, etc.
[They] put a chain of gold about his neck.
Chain
That which confines, fetters, or secures, as a chain; a bond; as, the chains of habit.
Driven downTo chains of darkness and the undying worm.
Chain
A series of things linked together; or a series of things connected and following each other in succession; as, a chain of mountains; a chain of events or ideas.
Chain
An instrument which consists of links and is used in measuring land.
Chain
Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.
Chain
The warp threads of a web.
Chain
To fasten, bind, or connect with a chain; to fasten or bind securely, as with a chain; as, to chain a bulldog.
Chained behind the hostile car.
Chain
To keep in slavery; to enslave.
And which more blest? who chained his country, sayOr he whose virtue sighed to lose a day?
Chain
To unite closely and strongly.
And in this vow do chain my soul to thine.
Chain
To measure with the chain.
Chain
To protect by drawing a chain across, as a harbor.
Chain
A series of things depending on each other as if linked together;
The chain of command
A complicated concatenation of circumstances
Chain
(chemistry) a series of linked atoms (generally in an organic molecule)
Chain
A series of (usually metal) rings or links fitted into one another to make a flexible ligament
Chain
A number of similar establishments (stores or restaurants or banks or hotels or theaters) under one ownership
Chain
Anything that acts as a restraint
Chain
A unit of length
Chain
British biochemist (born in Germany) who isolated and purified penicillin, which had been discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming (1906-1979)
Chain
A series of hills or mountains;
The valley was between two ranges of hills
The plains lay just beyond the mountain range
Chain
Metal shackles; for hands or legs
Chain
A necklace made by a stringing objects together;
A string of beads
A strand of pearls
Chain
Connect or arrange into a chain by linking
Chain
Fasten or secure with chains;
Chain the chairs together
Common Curiosities
Why do surveyors use chains?
Chains allow precise measurements over land, crucial for accurate mapping and boundary setting.
Can you visualize the size of an acre?
Yes, an acre is about the size of a standard American football field, minus the end zones.
Is the chain still used today?
While less common, the chain is still used in certain surveying and forestry tasks.
What are some common conversions for an acre?
An acre is equal to 4,840 square yards or about 4,047 square meters.
How did the acre originate?
The acre historically represented the area tillable by a yoke of oxen in one day.
What is an acre used for?
An acre is primarily used for measuring large areas of land, especially in real estate and agriculture.
How is land area calculated using chains?
Land area can be calculated by measuring length and width in chains and converting to acres or square feet.
How long is a chain?
A chain is a linear measurement that extends 66 feet or 20.1168 meters.
How many chains are there in a mile?
There are 80 chains in a mile.
What are the dimensions of an acre in chains?
An acre is about 10 square chains, with each side measuring about 4.47 chains.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
