Convert rod to feet in seconds.
1 rd x 16.5 = 16.5 ft
Discover other related calculators
Ever stumbled across the term “rod” in a property deed or old surveying map and scratched your head? You’re not alone. This old-school unit still pops up in surprising places, and knowing how to swap rods for feet can save you time (and confusion). Let’s break it down—no oxen required.
Unit definitions
What is a rod (rd)?
- Description: A rod is a historical unit of length tied to agriculture and surveying.
- Symbol: rd
- Common uses: Measuring fields, legacy land documents, and canoe lengths (seriously—some canoes are 16.5 ft long!).
- Definition: 1 rod = 16.5 feet or 5.0292 meters.
What is a foot (ft)?
- Description: A foot is a standard imperial unit used globally for everyday measurements.
- Symbol: ft
- Common uses: Height, room dimensions, and shorter distances.
- Definition: 1 foot = 12 inches or 0.3048 meters.
Conversion formula
Need to swap rods to feet? Just multiply the number of rods by 16.5. For feet to rods, divide by 16.5.
Formula for rod to feet:
feet = rods × 16.5
Formula for feet to rod:
rods = feet ÷ 16.5
Example calculations
- Converting 3 rods to feet:
3 rods × 16.5 = 49.5 feet
(That’s about the length of two parked SUVs.) - Converting 100 feet to rods:
100 feet ÷ 16.5 ≈ 6.06 rods
(Imagine six full rods plus a tiny fraction—perfect for precision surveys.)
Conversion tables
Rods to feet
| Rods | Feet |
|---|---|
| 1 | 16.5 |
| 2 | 33.0 |
| 3 | 49.5 |
| 4 | 66.0 |
| 5 | 82.5 |
| 6 | 99.0 |
| 7 | 115.5 |
| 8 | 132.0 |
| 9 | 148.5 |
| 10 | 165.0 |
Feet to rods
| Feet | Rods |
|---|---|
| 16.5 | 1 |
| 33.0 | 2 |
| 49.5 | 3 |
| 66.0 | 4 |
| 82.5 | 5 |
| 99.0 | 6 |
| 115.5 | 7 |
| 132.0 | 8 |
| 148.5 | 9 |
| 165.0 | 10 |
Historical background
The rod’s origins are kinda medieval. Back in England, farmers needed a reliable way to measure fields, so they used a physical rod, often an actual wooden pole—to mark plots. Fun fact: the length was based on theaverage ox goad, a tool used to steer cattle. By the 1600s, it was standardized to 16.5 feet to align with the furlong (220 yards), making acre calculations easier. Even today, you’ll find rods in U.S. Public Land Survey System descriptions.
Interesting facts
- Canoe connection: Standard canoe lengths often match one rod (16.5 ft).
- Harry Potter tie-in: In the UK, “rod” is slang for a wand—no relation, but fun trivia.
- Sports fields: Soccer fields in medieval villages were sometimes measured in rods.
- Moon measurements: Apollo missions used metric, but NASA’s early blueprints? Imperial, including feet.
- Metric shift: Most countries phased out rods, but Myanmar and Liberia still use imperial units.
FAQ
The rod’s length was standardized in the 16th century based on practical land measurement needs. It matched the length of 11 old Saxon feet, which later aligned with the imperial foot.
Yes! Rods are primarily used in surveying and agriculture in the U.S. and U.K., especially for measuring plots and legacy land deeds.
Multiply 5 by 16.5. That gives you 82.5 feet. Our calculator above does this instantly.
A furlong equals 40 rods. Historically, a furlong represented the length a team of oxen could plow without resting.
It’s uncommon, but some rural deeds still reference rods. Always check local standards before buying land!