Typography Converter - Convert Points, Pixels, Picas, Ems & More Units
Input Value
16 px
Converted Value
12.000003 pt
Conversion
16 px = 12.000003 pt
How It Works
Enter Value
Type the typography value you want to convert
Select Units
Choose from unit and to unit for conversion
What is Typography Converter?
What
A typography converter helps you change font sizes and text measurements from one unit to another. It makes working with different design tools easy.
Why
Designers and developers need to convert between pixels, points, ems, and other units. This tool saves time and prevents mistakes in your work.
Applications
Used in web design, print design, mobile apps, CSS coding, and creating responsive websites that look good on all devices.
Common Examples
Web Body Text
16 pixels = 12 points
16 pixels = 1 em
16 pixels = 1 rem
Standard web font size
Heading Text
32 pixels = 24 points
32 pixels = 2 em
32 pixels = 2 picas
Large heading size
Small Text
12 pixels = 9 points
12 pixels = 0.75 em
12 pixels = 0.75 rem
Caption or footnote size
Typography Conversion Table
| Pixels (px) | Points (pt) | Picas (pc) | Ems (em) | Rems (rem) | Inches (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 6.0 | 0.50 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 0.0833 |
| 10 | 7.5 | 0.63 | 0.625 | 0.625 | 0.1042 |
| 12 | 9.0 | 0.75 | 0.750 | 0.750 | 0.1250 |
| 14 | 10.5 | 0.88 | 0.875 | 0.875 | 0.1458 |
| 16 | 12.0 | 1.00 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 0.1667 |
| 18 | 13.5 | 1.13 | 1.125 | 1.125 | 0.1875 |
| 20 | 15.0 | 1.25 | 1.250 | 1.250 | 0.2083 |
| 24 | 18.0 | 1.50 | 1.500 | 1.500 | 0.2500 |
| 28 | 21.0 | 1.75 | 1.750 | 1.750 | 0.2917 |
| 32 | 24.0 | 2.00 | 2.000 | 2.000 | 0.3333 |
| 36 | 27.0 | 2.25 | 2.250 | 2.250 | 0.3750 |
| 48 | 36.0 | 3.00 | 3.000 | 3.000 | 0.5000 |
| 60 | 45.0 | 3.75 | 3.750 | 3.750 | 0.6250 |
| 72 | 54.0 | 4.50 | 4.500 | 4.500 | 0.7500 |
| 96 | 72.0 | 6.00 | 6.000 | 6.000 | 1.0000 |
*Conversions based on 96 DPI standard and 16px base font size
Understanding Typography Units
What Are Typography Units?
Typography units are ways to measure text size. Different tools use different units. Web designers use pixels. Print designers use points. CSS developers use ems and rems. This converter helps you switch between all these units easily.
When you design a website or create a document, you need to set font sizes. Sometimes you have a size in pixels but need it in points. Or you have points but need ems. This tool does the math for you instantly.
Pixels (px) - For Screens
Pixels are tiny dots on your screen. When you say 16 pixels, you mean 16 dots tall. Web designers love pixels because they are exact. What you see is what you get. Most websites use 16 pixels for normal text.
Pixels work great for computer screens, phones, and tablets. They give you precise control over how text looks. However, pixels can look different on different screens. A high-resolution screen shows more pixels per inch.
Points (pt) - For Print
Points come from the printing world. One point equals 1/72 of an inch. This means 72 points make exactly one inch. Print designers use points because they stay the same size when printed.
When you print a document, 12 points is a common size for body text. Newspapers and books use points. Microsoft Word and other word processors show font sizes in points. On a standard screen, 12 points equals 16 pixels.
Ems and Rems - For Responsive Design
Ems and rems are relative units. They change based on other sizes. One em equals the current font size. If the parent text is 16 pixels, then 1 em is 16 pixels. If you make it 2 em, it becomes 32 pixels.
Rems work like ems but always relate to the root font size. The root is usually 16 pixels. So 1 rem is always 16 pixels, 2 rem is 32 pixels. Web developers use rems to make websites that look good on all screen sizes.
Picas (pc) - For Layout
Picas are bigger units used in print design. One pica equals 12 points. Designers use picas to measure column widths and page margins. It is easier to say 5 picas than 60 points.
Magazines and newspapers use picas for layout. When you see a column that is 15 picas wide, that means 180 points or about 2 inches. On screens, 1 pica equals 16 pixels.
When to Use Each Typography Unit
Use Pixels When:
- •You are designing websites or web apps
- •You need exact control over text size
- •You are working with screen designs
- •You want consistent sizing across browsers
Use Points When:
- •You are creating print documents
- •You are using word processors like Microsoft Word
- •You need standard print sizes
- •You are designing for physical media
Use Ems/Rems When:
- •You want responsive typography
- •You are building mobile-friendly websites
- •You need flexible sizing
- •You want text to scale with user preferences
Use Picas When:
- •You are doing print layout design
- •You are measuring column widths
- •You work with newspapers or magazines
- •You need traditional print measurements
Real World Typography Examples
📱 Mobile App Design
Sarah is designing a mobile app. She uses 14 pixels for small text, 16 pixels for body text, and 24 pixels for headings. When her developer asks for these sizes in ems, she uses this converter. 14px becomes 0.875em, 16px becomes 1em, and 24px becomes 1.5em.
Small text: 14px = 0.875em
Body text: 16px = 1em
Heading: 24px = 1.5em
📄 Print Document
John is creating a business report in Microsoft Word. The template uses 11 point font. His web designer asks what size that is in pixels for the online version. Using this converter, John finds that 11 points equals about 14.67 pixels. He rounds it to 15 pixels for the website.
Print size: 11pt
Web size: 15px (rounded from 14.67px)
🌐 Responsive Website
Maria builds websites that work on all devices. She sets her base font to 16 pixels. Then she uses rems for everything else. Her small text is 0.875rem (14px), normal text is 1rem (16px), and large headings are 2rem (32px). This way, if users change their browser font size, everything scales perfectly.
Base: 16px = 1rem
Small: 14px = 0.875rem
Large: 32px = 2rem
📰 Magazine Layout
Tom designs magazine layouts. His columns are 15 picas wide. The body text is 10 points. When he needs to create a digital version, he converts these measurements. 15 picas equals 240 pixels for column width. 10 points equals about 13.33 pixels, which he rounds to 13 pixels for the screen version.
Column width: 15pc = 240px
Body text: 10pt = 13px
Typography Tips and Best Practices
Keep Body Text Readable
Use at least 16 pixels (12 points) for body text. Smaller text is hard to read. Larger text is easier on the eyes.
Use Consistent Sizes
Pick a few font sizes and stick to them. Too many different sizes look messy. Three to five sizes are usually enough.
Test on Real Devices
Check how your text looks on phones, tablets, and computers. What looks good on your screen might be too small on a phone.
Consider Your Audience
Older readers need larger text. Kids can read smaller text. Think about who will read your content.
Use Rems for Accessibility
Rems let users change text size in their browser. This helps people with vision problems. It makes your site more accessible.
Match Print to Screen
When converting print to web, remember that 12 points equals 16 pixels. This keeps your design consistent across media.
Round to Whole Numbers
When possible, use whole pixel values. 16px is better than 15.75px. Whole numbers render more clearly on screens.
Create a Type Scale
Use a ratio between sizes. For example: 12px, 16px, 24px, 32px. This creates visual harmony in your design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between pixels and points?
Pixels are used for screens and digital displays. Points are used for print design. One point equals 1.333 pixels at standard 96 DPI screen resolution.
How do I convert pixels to em?
Divide the pixel value by 16 to get em. For example, 24 pixels divided by 16 equals 1.5 em. This assumes the base font size is 16 pixels.
What is a pica in typography?
A pica is a unit used in print design. One pica equals 12 points or 16 pixels. Designers use picas to measure column widths and page layouts.
Should I use em or rem for web design?
Use rem for consistent sizing across your website. Rem is based on the root font size. Use em when you want sizes to change based on parent element font size.
What is DPI and how does it affect conversions?
DPI means dots per inch. Standard screens use 96 DPI. This affects how points convert to pixels. Higher DPI screens show more pixels per inch.
Why is 16 pixels the standard base font size?
Browsers use 16 pixels as the default font size because it is easy to read on most screens. This size works well for body text and is comfortable for most users.
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Dr. Jane Doe
VerifiedExpert Reviewer & Mathematician
Last Updated: May 19, 2026