Pica to Point Converter
Enter a value to instantly convert between typography units.
1 Pica = 12 Point
Key Formulas
Point → Pica
pc = pt × 0.0833333Point → Inch
in = pt × 0.0138889Pica → Inch
in = pc × 0.166667Formula
pt = pc × 12Picas and points are both traditional typographic units rooted in 72 points per inch. One pica equals 12 points—a clean, systematic relationship. Picas measure larger elements (line length, margins, column width), while points measure fine details (font size, leading). Professional print designers and publishing workflows rely on picas for layout precision. Modern web design largely abandoned picas in favor of pixels and ems, but picas remain standard in InDesign, QuarkXPress, and high-end typography. Understanding picas-to-points conversion is essential for translating between design tools and print specifications.
Source: Adobe PostScript Language Reference & W3C CSS Values
Frequently Asked Questions
Real-World Examples
1 pica = 12 points. The fundamental relationship in traditional typography—1 pica is one-sixth of an inch.
1 pc = 12 pt
3.5 picas = 42 points. A typical line height in professional typography (42 points ≈ 0.583 inches).
3.5 pc = 42 pt
6 picas = 72 points = 1 inch. A full inch—useful for page margin calculations and grid systems.
6 pc = 72 pt
0.167 picas ≈ 2 points. Fine adjustments in typography—1/6 pica per point allows granular control.
0.167 pc = 2 pt