Typography Converter
Print pageAll Equivalents Reference Table
| Unit | Equivalent Value |
|---|
Typography and document layout measurements span two distinct eras: traditional letterpress printing and modern digital desktop publishing (DTP) for the web. Graphic designers, web developers, typographers, and print production managers frequently convert font sizes, line heights, margins, and grid spacing between PostScript points (pt), printer’s points, picas (pc), pixels (px), twips, inches (in), and millimeters (mm).
Our free online Typography Converter provides instant, high-precision conversions across all digital and print typography standards:
- PostScript Points to Inches: Divide points by
72(exact 1/72 inch standard). - Points to Pixels (at 96 DPI Web Standard): Multiply points by
1.3333333(1 pt = 1.333 px; 12 pt = 16 px). - Points to Twips: Multiply points by
20(1 PostScript point = 20 twips). - Picas to Points: Multiply picas by
12(1 Pica = 12 points = 240 twips). - Inches to Twips: Multiply inches by
1,440(1 inch = 1,440 twips).
Typography Units Conversion Comparison Table
The table below summarizes the exact physical measurements and pixel equivalents (at standard 96 DPI display resolution) for core typography units:
| Typography Unit | Abbreviation | Exact Inches (in) | PostScript Points (pt) | Twips | CSS Pixels at 96 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Twip (1/20th point) | twip |
0.000694 in | 0.05 pt | 1 twip |
0.0667 px |
| 1 PostScript Point (Computer) | pt |
0.013889 in (1/72 in) | 1.0 pt |
20 twips |
1.3333 px |
| 1 Printer’s Point (1886 US) | pt (pr) |
0.013837 in (1/72.27 in) | 0.996264 pt | 19.92528 twips |
1.3284 px |
| 1 Pixel (at 96 DPI CSS) | px |
0.010417 in (1/96 in) | 0.75 pt | 15 twips |
1.0 px |
| 1 Computer Pica | pc, pica |
0.166667 in (1/6 in) | 12.0 pt |
240 twips |
16.0 px |
| 1 Printer’s Pica | pc (pr) |
0.166044 in | 11.955168 pt | 239.10336 twips |
15.9403 px |
| 1 Inch | in, " |
1.0 in | 72.0 pt |
1,440 twips |
96.0 px |
Step-by-Step Calculation Example
To convert a 36-point headline (36 pt) into pixels for a web CSS stylesheet (at 96 DPI):
36 pt × 1.3333333 = 48 pixels (px)
Thus, a 36 pt print font size corresponds to exactly 48 CSS pixels (3 Picas or 720 Twips).
Web CSS vs. Print Typography Size Benchmarks
Below is a handy reference chart matching standard font sizes and line heights across print DTP and web design CSS:
| Typography Role | PostScript Points (pt) | CSS Pixels at 96 DPI | Twips Equivalent | Picas Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caption / Footnote Text | 9.0 pt | 12.0 px | 180 twips | 0.75 pc |
| Small UI / Secondary Text | 10.5 pt | 14.0 px | 210 twips | 0.875 pc |
| Standard Body Text (1rem) | 12.0 pt | 16.0 px | 240 twips | 1.0 pc (1 Pica) |
| Subheading (H3) | 18.0 pt | 24.0 px | 360 twips | 1.5 pc |
| Section Header (H2) | 24.0 pt | 32.0 px | 480 twips | 2.0 pc |
| Page Title (H1) | 36.0 pt | 48.0 px | 720 twips | 3.0 pc |
| Display Hero Title | 72.0 pt | 96.0 px | 1,440 twips | 6.0 pc (1 Inch) |
History & Standards: PostScript Point vs. 1886 Printer’s Point vs. Twip
The Traditional American Printer’s Point (1886)
Before desktop computing, metal type casting in North America used the American Point System, codified in 1886 by the United States Type Founders Association. They defined 1 point as exactly 0.013837 inches (giving 72.27 points per inch). 12 printer’s points equaled 1 printer’s pica (0.166044 inches).
Adobe PostScript Point (1984) and DTP
In 1984, Adobe co-founders John Warnock and Charles Geschke created the PostScript language for Apple LaserWriter digital printers. To simplify digital page calculations, Adobe rounded the point to exactly 1/72 inch (0.013888… inches). Today, the 72 pt/inch PostScript point is the universal standard used across W3C CSS, Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, and macOS/Windows graphics subsystems.
Microsoft Twip Origin
A twip stands for “twentieth of a point” (1/20th of a PostScript point = 1/1,440 inch). Microsoft created the twip for device-independent layout rendering in Visual Basic, Rich Text Format (RTF), and Windows GDI to ensure crisp font layout across screen displays and printers regardless of screen DPI.
For general geometric or layout area calculations, check our Area Calculator or explore our Conversion Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many points (pt) are in 1 inch?
There are exactly 72 PostScript points in 1 inch in digital desktop publishing (or 72.27 traditional printer’s points).
How many pixels (px) is 12 pt font size on the web?
At the standard CSS web display resolution of 96 DPI, a 12 pt font equals 16 pixels (px) (12 × 1.3333 = 16 px).
What is a twip in typography?
A twip (twentieth of a point) is a screen-independent unit equal to 1/20th of a point or 1/1,440th of an inch (15 twips = 1 pixel at 96 DPI).
How many points are in 1 pica?
There are exactly 12 points in 1 pica (and 6 picas in 1 inch).