Convert furlong to meters easily.
1 fur x 201.168 = 201.168 m
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Ever wondered why horse races in England list distances in furlongs while the rest of the world uses meters? This quirky unit conversion bridges tradition with modern measurement. Whether you’re analyzing historical land records or just curious about racetrack distances, understanding furlong-to-meter conversions opens up a fascinating world where medieval farming meets Olympic-standard measurements.
Unit definitions
What is a furlong (fur)?
Description: A furlong is a traditional unit of length rooted in agricultural history
Symbol: fur
Common uses: Horse racing, historical land measurement
Definition: 1 furlong = 660 feet = 220 yards = 1/8 mile
What is a meter (m)?
Description: The meter is the base unit of length in the International System of Units
Symbol: m
Common uses: Global scientific, engineering, and everyday measurements
Definition: 1 meter = distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 seconds
Conversion formula
Meters = Furlongs × 201.168
Furlongs = Meters ÷ 201.168
Example calculations
- Converting 5 furlongs to meters:
5 fur × 201.168 = 1,005.84 m - Converting 1,000 meters to furlongs:
1,000 m ÷ 201.168 ≈ 4.971 fur
Conversion tables
Furlongs to meters
| Furlongs | Meters |
|---|---|
| 1 | 201.168 |
| 2 | 402.336 |
| 3 | 603.504 |
| 4 | 804.672 |
| 5 | 1,005.84 |
| 6 | 1,207.01 |
| 7 | 1,408.18 |
| 8 | 1,609.34 |
| 9 | 1,810.51 |
| 10 | 2,011.68 |
Meters to furlongs
| Meters | Furlongs |
|---|---|
| 100 | 0.497 |
| 200 | 0.994 |
| 500 | 2.485 |
| 1,000 | 4.971 |
| 1,500 | 7.457 |
| 2,000 | 9.942 |
Historical background
The furlong’s story begins in Anglo-Saxon England, where it represented teh length of a plowed furrow in a medieval field (hence “furrow-long”). These standard fields measured 40 rods × 4 rods, with the longer side becoming our modern furlong. When the Roman mile was adopted in England, surveyors conveniently divided it into 8 furlongs – a system that stuck for over a thousand years.
Meters entered the scene much later during the French Revolution. Scientists defined the meter as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole, creating a decimal-based system meant to unify measurements worldwide.Today’s precise definition using light speed reflects our advancing technology.
Interesting facts?
- The iconic Epsom Derby horse race covers exactly 12 furlongs (2,414 meters)
- One square furlong equals 10 acres – a reminder of its agricultural roots
- Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is exactly 8 furlongs long
- J.R.R. Tolkien used furlongs to describe distances in The Lord of the Rings
- While the UK officially metricated in 1965, furlongs remain legal for horse racing and road signs
FAQ
Furlongs remain popular in horse racing and some agricultural contexts, especially in the UK and Ireland. They’re part of cultural heritage in these fields.
Yes! Roughly, 1 furlong equals 201 meters. For quick estimates, multiply furlongs by 200 and add 1% to the result.
The international standard defines 1 furlong as exactly 201.168 meters, so our tool uses this precise value.
There are 8 furlongs in a mile. This relationship comes from the historical definition of a furlong as 1/8th of a mile.
Furlongs occasionally appear in rowing competitions and older track events, but they’re most strongly associated with thoroughbred racing.