Typography Converter
Convert between points, pixels, ems, picas, inches and millimetres.
What the Typography Converter does
Print typography uses points, where 72 points make an inch. Screens use pixels at a nominal 96 DPI, making 1 px equal 0.75 pt. Em and rem are relative units — the values here assume the common 16 px browser default.
Formula
Convert to point, then divide by the target unit's factorResult = Value × (from factor ÷ to factor)
Inputs explained
| Input | Unit | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | number | Yes | — |
| From | one of 8 options | Yes | — |
| To | one of 8 options | Yes | — |
How to use it
- Choose From and To.
- Enter Value.
- Select Calculate.
Worked example
Convert a 16 px web font size to points.
- Value
- 16
- From
- Pixel
- To
- Point
16 × 0.75 = 12 pt.
Reading the result
- Seventy-two points make an inch by definition, and CSS treats 96 px as an inch, so one pixel is exactly 0.75 pt.
- A pica is twelve points, which puts six picas to the inch.
Assumptions and limitations
- Em and rem are converted against the usual 16 px root font size. If the page sets a different root size, those two columns shift with it.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a CSS pixel is a device pixel. On a high-density display one CSS pixel covers several physical ones.
- Treating em as fixed. Em is relative to the element’s own font size, so nesting compounds it; rem is relative to the root and does not.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between em and rem?
Em is relative to the parent element's font size and compounds when nested. Rem is always relative to the root, which makes it more predictable.