Convert furlong to miles easily.
1 fur ÷ 8 = 0.125 mi
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Ever wondered why horse races are measured in furlongs? Or how to translate those quirky furlong markers on British roads into miles? Whether you’re a equestrian enthusiast, a history buff, or just need to convert fur to mi for a project, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s trot through everything you need to know about furlongs and miles—no horsing around!
Unit definitions
What is a furlong (fur)?
A furlong is a traditional unit of distance that’s equal to 220 yards or 201.168 meters. Its name comes from Old English "furh lang," meaning "furrow long"—the length of a medieval farm field’s furrow. Today, it’s mostly used in horse racing (races are 6-12 furlongs) and some UK road signs. Fun fact: 1 furlong is exactly 40 rods. Try dropping that trivia at your next party!
What is a mile (mi)?
A mile, specifically the statute mile used in the US and UK, measures 5,280 feet or 1,609.344 meters. It originated from the Roman "mille passus" (1,000 paces). Miles are standard for road distances, speed limits, and marathons. Pro tip: If you walk 15-20 minutes, you’ve covered roughly one mile!
Conversion formula
The conversion between furlongs and miles is refreshingly simple:
Miles = Furlongs ÷ 8
Since there are 8 furlongs in a mile, divide your furlong value by 8 to get miles. To go the other way:
Furlongs = Miles × 8
Example calculations
- Converting 16 furlongs to miles:
16 fur ÷ 8 = 2 mi
(Perfect for a 2-mile jog equivalent to 16 furlongs!) - Converting 3.5 miles to furlongs:
3.5 mi × 8 = 28 fur
(That’s how racehorses would measure a 3.5-mile endurance test.)
Conversion tables
Furlong to miles
| Furlong (fur) | Mile (mi) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.125 |
| 2 | 0.25 |
| 4 | 0.5 |
| 8 | 1 |
| 10 | 1.25 |
| 16 | 2 |
| 20 | 2.5 |
| 40 | 5 |
| 80 | 10 |
| 160 | 20 |
Miles to furlongs
| Mile (mi) | Furlong (fur) |
|---|---|
| 0.125 | 1 |
| 0.25 | 2 |
| 0.5 | 4 |
| 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 16 |
| 5 | 40 |
| 10 | 80 |
| 20 | 160 |
| 50 | 400 |
| 100 | 800 |
Historical background
Furlongs date back to Anglo-Saxon England, where they represented the length of a plowed field (or “furrow”). Farmers used oxen to plow these furrows, and standardization helped divide land. Meanwhile, the mile’s Roman roots made it a staple for military marches. By the 9th century, England formalized the mile as 8 furlongs to sync agricultural and travel measurements. Even today, you’ll see furlongs on older British highway markers—though they’re slowly being replaced by kilometers.
Interesting facts?
- Horse racing’s furlong fetish: Races shorter than 1 mile are measured in furlongs (e.g., the Kentucky Derby is 10 furlongs).
- Acres and furlongs: One acre is 43,560 square feet—the area of a rectangle measuring 1 furlong by 1 chain (66 feet).
- Olympic avoidance: Furlongs never made it to the Olympics; meters rule there.
- US oddity: While the US uses miles, furlongs appear in some state laws for land surveys.
- Metric ties: 1 furlong is approximately 201.168 meters, making conversions to metric a decimal-heavy affair.
FAQ
Furlongs remain popular in horse racing and agriculture, especially in the UK and Ireland, due to historical traditions.
There are 8 furlongs in 1 statute mile. It’s a straightforward 1:8 ratio!
No, this converter is for statute miles. Nautical miles measure marine/air distance and use a different standard.
Yes! One furlong (220 yards) multiplied by one chain (22 yards) equals 1 acre (4,840 square yards).
Outside of horse racing and some UK road signs, most countries switched to metric units by the late 20th century.