Land records · Parcel maps · October 5, 2026
What Is a Rod in Land Measurement? 16.5 Feet
A rod is an old land measurement equal to 16.5 feet, or one quarter of a surveyor's chain. Conversions, square rods, and how rods appear in old deeds.
What is a rod in land measurement? A rod is a traditional unit of length equal to 16.5 feet, or 5.5 yards. It is also called a pole or perch. Four rods make one surveyor’s chain of 66 feet, and 320 rods make a mile. Rods appear often in older deeds, especially metes and bounds descriptions in the eastern United States, and in early road and right-of-way widths. This page is general land-records background, not legal advice.
Rod conversions
| Unit | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 1 rod | 16.5 feet |
| 1 rod | 5.5 yards |
| 1 rod | About 5.03 meters |
| 1 rod | 25 links of a Gunter’s chain |
| 4 rods | 1 chain, 66 feet |
| 40 rods | 1 furlong, 660 feet |
| 320 rods | 1 mile, 5,280 feet |
Square rods and acres
| Area unit | Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 1 square rod | 272.25 square feet |
| 160 square rods | 1 acre |
| 1 acre | 43,560 square feet |
An old deed describing “40 square rods” means 10,890 square feet, a quarter acre.
Rods in deeds
Older metes and bounds descriptions might read “thence north 20 rods to a stake.” Converting 20 rods gives 330 feet. Pay attention to whether “perches” or “poles” are used, which mean the same thing. See metes and bounds vs lot and block.
Rods and roads
Many early rural roads were laid out as two, three, or four rods wide. A four-rod road is 66 feet wide, one chain, which is why 66-foot rights of way are common in older areas and in PLSS states. See what is the Public Land Survey System.
Rods and the chain
Surveyors used Gunter’s chain, 66 feet long with 100 links, through much of American history. A rod is 25 links. An engineer’s chain of 100 feet was later common for construction. See what is an engineer’s chain.
Other historic units
Different regions used other units, such as the Spanish vara in Texas and the Southwest and the French arpent in Louisiana and parts of the Mississippi Valley. See what is a vara and what is an arpent.
Converting old descriptions
- Identify each distance unit in the deed.
- Convert to feet using the factors above.
- Watch for mixed units, such as rods and links.
- Remember that old measurements were less precise than modern surveys; monuments and boundary evidence often control over stated distances.
Checking acreage from rods
For a simple rectangle, multiply the two sides in rods to get square rods, then divide by 160 for acres. A tract 40 rods by 80 rods holds 3,200 square rods, or 20 acres. Irregular tracts need more careful calculation, usually by a surveyor. Compare your result with assessor or plat acreage. See how to find acreage of property.
Bottom line
A rod is 16.5 feet, a quarter of a 66-foot chain, and 160 square rods make an acre. Rods, perches, and poles appear in older deeds and road widths, so convert carefully and rely on a surveyor for boundaries. Compare old descriptions with parcels on the Platbookmapper map.
What is a rod in land measurement FAQ
How long is a rod in land measurement?
16.5 feet.
How many rods are in an acre?
160 square rods make one acre.
Is a perch the same as a rod?
Yes, perch, pole, and rod refer to the same 16.5-foot length.
How many rods are in a mile?
320 rods.
How wide is a four-rod road?
66 feet.