length
How much is a biblical span?
A span measured the spread from thumb to little finger, about three handbreadths.
Interactive reference
Convert a biblical measurement
Choose a unit and enter an amount to see a modern metric and labeled US customary or Imperial range.
span — A span measured the spread from thumb to little finger, about three handbreadths.
The range surrounds the commonly cited 22 cm or 8.75–9 inch estimate and remains approximate.
Direct answer
1 span ≈ 22–22.5 cm ≈ 8.66–8.86 in
The range surrounds the commonly cited 22 cm or 8.75–9 inch estimate and remains approximate.
Biblical ratio: 3 handbreadths = 1 span.
| Amount | Metric range | US customary / imperial range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 span | 22–22.5 cm | 8.66–8.86 in |
| 2 spans | 44–45 cm | 1.44–1.48 ft |
| 5 spans | 1.1–1.13 m | 3.61–3.69 ft |
| 10 spans | 2.2–2.25 m | 7.22–7.38 ft |
Primary reference: ESV Global Study Bible · Table of Weights and Measures ↗. The default system used for the representative estimates. The table says all equivalents are approximate and varied by time and place. Accessed October 10, 2026.
Bible passages using this unit
Questions about spans
How much is one span today?
22–22.5 cm, or 8.66–8.86 in, in this site's selected approximate system. The range surrounds the commonly cited 22 cm or 8.75–9 inch estimate and remains approximate.
Is the span conversion exact?
No. Biblical weights and measures varied by period, place, and standard. The displayed range is for reading scale and should not be treated as a calibrated surviving object.
Can I turn the result into a modern price or food weight?
Not without additional evidence. Metal price, purchasing power, material purity, grain density, and container packing are separate questions from unit conversion.
Related units
finger
A finger was a small body-based length, roughly the width of a finger.
handbreadth
A handbreadth was about the breadth of four fingers and one sixth of a common cubit.
common cubit
A common cubit was a forearm-length measure, usually represented as about 45 cm or 18 inches.
long cubit
Ezekiel's long cubit is explicitly a cubit plus one handbreadth, about 52 cm or 20.4 inches.