Convert Barleycorn to Finger
Convert barleycorns to fingers instantly. 1 barleycorn = 0.0740740744 finger — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Finger to Barleycorn converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Barleycorn
A barleycorn is an Imperial unit of length equal to one third of an inch (about 8.47 mm). It is the basis of UK shoe sizing and is one of the oldest English length units still in use.
The barleycorn derives from the average length of a grain of barley as a natural reference. Standardised at exactly 1/3 inch by the Statute of Edward II in 1324, which used three barleycorns to define an inch.
Barleycorns are the foundation of UK and US children's shoe sizing — each whole size differs by one barleycorn. Also occasionally referenced in horse-handling and historical English literature.
Standardised in 1324 by the Statute of Edward II at 1/3 inch; the value became exact in 1959 when the inch was fixed at 25.4 mm.
Finger
A finger is an Imperial unit of length equal to 4.5 inches (114.3 mm). It is one of the historical English cloth-measure units.
The finger derives from English cloth-trade tradition, where it was used as a small measure for ribbons and small fabric pieces. Standardised at 4.5 inches through English customary practice.
Fingers are rare in modern use; they appear primarily in historical English textile records and bartending (where 'a finger of whisky' is an informal usage roughly 1 inch, not 4.5).
Medieval English cloth-trade origin; standardised at 4.5 inches; the value became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Barleycorn to Finger conversion formula
The relationship between barleycorns and fingers:
To convert barleycorns to fingers, multiply the value in barleycorns by 0.0740740744. To reverse, multiply fingers by 13.4999999469.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in fingers updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Finger to Barleycorn converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert barleycorns to fingers
- Write down the value in barleycorns (barleycorn).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0740740744.
- The product is the equivalent value in fingers (finger).
- To reverse, multiply the finger value by 13.4999999469.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 barleycorn to finger:
1 × 0.0740740744 = 0.0740740744 finger
Example 2 — Convert 100 barleycorn to finger:
100 × 0.0740740744 = 7.4074074366 finger
Real-world example — Furniture and large objects
A 72-barleycorn piece of furniture converts to a value in fingers that's easier to mentally compare with room dimensions. This is the typical workflow when shopping internationally and product specs use a different unit than your room measurements.
72 barleycorn × 0.0740740744 = 5.3333333543 finger
Real-world example — Children's height milestones
A 150-barleycorn-tall child measures a value in fingers that's commonly used for theme-park ride height requirements when travelling between countries that use different measurement units.
150 barleycorn × 0.0740740744 = 11.1111111549 finger
Real-world example — Body height conversion
You enter your height as 180 barleycorns into an international job or visa application. The form then asks for the same value in fingers — converting between these adjacent units is one of the most-used length conversions globally.
180 barleycorn × 0.0740740744 = 13.3333333858 finger
Barleycorn to Finger conversion table
Standard reference values for converting barleycorns to fingers:
| Barleycorn [barleycorn] | Finger [finger] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0007407407 |
| 0.1 | 0.0074074074 |
| 1 | 0.0740740744 |
| 2 | 0.1481481487 |
| 3 | 0.2222222231 |
| 4 | 0.2962962975 |
| 5 | 0.3703703718 |
| 10 | 0.7407407437 |
| 20 | 1.4814814873 |
| 30 | 2.222222231 |
| 40 | 2.9629629746 |
| 50 | 3.7037037183 |
| 100 | 7.4074074366 |
| 500 | 37.0370371829 |
| 1000 | 74.0740743657 |
Frequently asked questions
How many fingers is 1 barleycorn?
How do I convert barleycorns to fingers?
How do I convert fingers back to barleycorns?
How many fingers is 100 barleycorns?
Popular length unit conversions
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 barleycorn = 0.0740740744 finger) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Hydrographic Organization — Resolution on the Nautical Mile
International authority that standardised the nautical mile at exactly 1852 m in 1929 — the value adopted worldwide for sea and air navigation.