When you need this conversion
Setting metric margins, gutters and column widths in software that works in points, building a PDF page to a metric size, or matching a European print specification in a US-configured layout app.
Useful values
- 0.3 cm (3 mm bleed) = 8.50394 pt
- 1 cm = 28.3465 pt
- 1.5 cm = 42.5197 pt
- 2 cm = 56.6929 pt
- 2.5 cm = 70.8661 pt
- 21 cm (A4 width) = 595.276 pt
- 29.7 cm (A4 height) = 841.89 pt
Page sizes in points
PDF files describe every page size in points. That’s why A4 appears as 595 × 842 in PDF properties and print dialogs, and US Letter as 612 × 792. If a printer asks for a page “in points”, convert each side from centimeters and round to the nearest whole point only at the end.
Common mistakes
Rounding too early. 28.35 is close, but over a 29.7 cm page it drifts by about 0.1 pt. Use the full factor and round the result.
Confusing points with pixels. A pixel size depends on DPI; a point is always 1/72 inch. For screen sizes, use centimeters to pixels instead.
The reverse is points to centimeters.