Data & Digital

Typography Converter

Typographic measurement mixes several near-identical units. The PostScript (computer) point is exactly 1/72 inch and is what design software and CSS use; the older printer's point is about 0.4% smaller. A pica is twelve points, a twip is a twentieth of a point, and a CSS pixel is 0.75 point at 96 dpi.

13 units supported Base unit point (postscript) (pt)

1 pt
0.083333333 pc

Multiply the number of points (postscript) by 0.0833333333333 to get picas (computer). How this is calculated

About typography conversion

Typography conversion is commonly needed when print layout, font sizing, and CSS and PDF work. The PostScript point used by design software is 1/72 inch; the older printer's point is about 0.4% smaller, which is why old and new specs disagree slightly.

Convert Point (PostScript) to other typography units

1 pt expressed in every other typography unit on this site.

  • Point (printer's) pt (print) 1.00375
  • Pica (computer) pc 0.083333333
  • Pica (printer's) pc (print) 0.083645834
  • En en 2.0075
  • Twip twip 20
  • Pixel (96 dpi) px 1.3333333
  • Character (X) char (X) 0.16666667
  • Character (Y) char (Y) 0.083333333
  • Inch in 0.013888889
  • Millimeter mm 0.35277778
  • Centimeter cm 0.035277778
  • Meter m 0.00035277778

Complete list of typography units

All 13 units this converter supports, each stated against the point (postscript) (pt).

13 units

Every typography unit, stated against the point (postscript)
Unit Symbol System In points (postscript) Conversions
Point (PostScript) pt Other base unit (pt)
Point (printer's) pt (print) Other 1 pt (print) = 0.996264 pt
Pica (computer) pc Other 1 pc = 12 pt
Pica (printer's) pc (print) Other 1 pc (print) = 11.955168 pt
En en Other 1 en = 0.498132 pt
Twip twip Other 1 twip = 0.05 pt
Pixel (96 dpi) px Other 1 px = 0.75 pt
Character (X) char (X) Other 1 char (X) = 6 pt
Character (Y) char (Y) Other 1 char (Y) = 12 pt
Inch in Imperial 1 in = 72 pt
Millimeter mm SI 1 mm = 2.83464566929 pt
Centimeter cm SI 1 cm = 28.3464566929 pt
Meter m SI 1 m = 2,834.64566929 pt

Scroll the table sideways to see every column.

Frequently asked questions

What is the base unit for typography?

Typography conversions on this site are calculated against the point (postscript) (pt).

Which typography units can I convert?

You can convert between 13 units, including point (postscript), point (printer's), pica (computer), pica (printer's), and more.

Where is typography conversion useful?

It is commonly needed when print layout, font sizing, and CSS and PDF work.

Does this converter mix measurement systems?

The converter supports Other, Imperial, SI units and keeps their exact definitions separate so results stay accurate.

Related categories

Conversion factors are based on internationally agreed unit definitions. See our methodology and sources for details on how these values are verified.