When you need this conversion
Checking how large type, rules or spacing will be on a printed page in the US, reading a PDF’s page size, or turning a stroke width from a design file into a measurement a sign maker or engraver can use.
Useful values
- 1 pt = 0.0138889 in
- 6 pt = 0.0833333 in
- 12 pt = 0.166667 in
- 18 pt = 0.25 in
- 36 pt = 0.5 in
- 72 pt = 1 in
- 144 pt = 2 in
Points, picas and inches
Typographers measure in three linked units: 12 points make a pica, and 6 picas make an inch, so 72 points make an inch. Column widths are often given in picas (a 30-pica column is 5 inches wide), while type sizes and line spacing are given in points. The picas to inches converter covers the larger unit.
Common mistakes
Treating font size as letter height. Point size measures the em square, not the visible letters. Capitals are usually about 70% of the font size.
Using an old point. The 1/72 inch point is the desktop publishing standard used by every modern program. The traditional American printer’s point was slightly smaller (about 1/72.27 inch).
The reverse is inches to points.