Instant PX to
Pt Converter
Instantly Convert Pixels to the
CSS Unit Pt, and Vice Versa.
Pixels
Pt
PPI (Pixels Per Inch)
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How to Use Instant PX to Pt Converter
This calculator instantly converts pixels to the CSS unit Pt.
Cool, so how do I convert?
Easy: The calculations happen as you type, and you can simply click the copy button to copy the result to your clipboard.
Like this:
How about Px to REM?
Umm ...
Convert PX to Other Units
Ofcourse you can turn pixels (px) into millimeters (mm), centimeters (cm), ems (em), or rems (rem), really fast.
Okay, cool.
Pixels and Points: The Basics
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When we talk about web design, ‘pixels‘ are probably the most commonly known unit of measurement.
A pixel, denoted as ‘px’, is the basic building block of digital imaging and is used as a standard unit of measurement in digital design. Pixels are absolute units, meaning their size is fixed and does not scale based on any other element on the page.
‘Points‘, on the other hand, are a unit of measurement traditionally used in print media. One point is equal to 1/72 of an inch when printed.
Digitally speaking, points, represented as ‘pt‘, are often used on devices that have a known screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch).
However, the exact size of a point can vary between devices, making them a somewhat less predictable choice for web design.
Converting Between Pixels and Points
While pixels and points are different units of measurement, they are closely related, and you can convert from one to the other.
Using the standard 96 PPI (Pixels Per Inch), there are roughly 1.333 pixels in a point.
Therefore, you can convert pixels to points by dividing the number of pixels by 1.333, and you can convert points to pixels by multiplying the number of points by 1.333.
For example, to convert 16px to points:
16px / 1.333 = ~12pt
And to convert 12pt to pixels:
12pt * 1.333 = ~16px
Of course this conversion assumes a screen resolution of 96 PPI, which is the case for many desktop monitors, but not all devices. On devices with different resolutions, the ratio of pixels to points can vary.
When to Use Pixels vs Points
Pixels are the most reliable unit for web design because they are device-agnostic and render consistently across different screens. They are especially handy when you want to control an element’s size with pixel-level precision.
Points, being a physical unit of measurement, are more appropriate for print design or contexts where you have a high degree of control over the display, such as a controlled corporate environment with uniform hardware. They can also be used in applications designed for devices with a fixed or known PPI.
However, in modern responsive web design, neither pixels nor points provide the flexibility offered by relative units such as em, rem, or percentages.
These units can adjust their size based on other factors (like the size of a parent element or the root font size), making your design more adaptable to different screen sizes and user settings.
Why Is There a Pt. Measurement?
The unit ‘point‘ has its roots deep in the history of typography and print media.
Invented by Pierre Simon Fournier in the 18th century, it was later standardized by the American Type Founders in 1886. A point, traditionally, is approximately 1/72nd of an inch. It served as an essential unit in print media to ensure consistent font size across different prints.
With the advent of digital displays, points were then adapted to them.
In many systems, points are defined as 1/72nd of an inch, maintaining their original definition. However, the actual visual presentation of a point can vary between devices due to differences in screen resolution, or pixels per inch (PPI). Therefore, 12pt font on one device might not look the same size as 12pt font on another device with a different PPI.
