PX to PC Converter
Convert pixels to picas for professional typography and print design
PX to PC Calculator
Pixels (px) are screen-based units, while picas (pc) are print-based units used in typography and layout design. 1 pica equals 12 points or 1/6 of an inch. The standard conversion ratio is 1pc = 16px at 96 DPI (dots per inch), which is the default resolution for most screens.
Conversion Result
Formula: Picas = Pixels × (6 ÷ DPI)
Example: 16px × (6 ÷ 96) = 1pc
DPI Comparison
See how this value converts at different screen resolutions:
| Screen Type | DPI | Pixel Value | Pica Value |
|---|
Batch Converter
Convert multiple pixel values at once. Enter values separated by spaces, commas, or new lines.
Batch Results
| Pixels | Picas | CSS Code |
|---|
Common PX to PC Conversions
Reference table for commonly used values at standard 96 DPI:
| Common Use | Pixels (px) | Picas (pc) | Equivalent in Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small column width | 96px | 6pc | 72pt (1 inch) |
| Medium column width | 192px | 12pc | 144pt (2 inches) |
| Large column width | 288px | 18pc | 216pt (3 inches) |
| Page margin | 48px | 3pc | 36pt (0.5 inch) |
| Page width (letter) | 768px | 48pc | 576pt (8 inches) |
| Large heading size | 32px | 2pc | 24pt |
| Gutter width | 16px | 1pc | 12pt |
| Grid unit | 8px | 0.5pc | 6pt |
Frequently Asked Questions
A pica (abbreviated as 'pc') is a typographic unit of measurement used primarily in print design and traditional typography:
- Definition: 1 pica equals 12 points or 1/6 of an inch (approximately 4.233 mm)
- Relationship to other units: 6 picas = 1 inch, 1 pica = 12 points
Historical Significance and Usage
Picas have been used in typesetting and print design for centuries and remain important in professional publishing for several reasons:
- Page Layout: Used to define column widths, margins, and overall page dimensions
- Typography: Used to measure larger typographic elements and spaces
- Grid Systems: Many print design grids are based on pica measurements
- Professional Publishing: Standard unit in newspaper, magazine, and book design
Notation in Traditional Typography
In traditional typography, picas and points are often written together using a special notation:
5p6 = 5 picas and 6 points (5.5 picas or 66 points)
While pixels have largely replaced picas in digital design, picas remain the standard unit for professional print layout, especially in publications that follow traditional typographic practices.
Picas and points are related typographic units but are used for different purposes in design:
| Picas (pc) | Points (pt) |
|---|---|
| 1 pica = 12 points | 1 point = 1/12 of a pica |
| 1 pica = 1/6 inch (≈ 4.233mm) | 1 point = 1/72 inch (≈ 0.353mm) |
| Used for layout measurements (columns, margins, page size) | Used for type measurements (font size, leading) |
| Larger unit, good for measuring layout elements | Smaller unit, good for fine typography adjustments |
Working Together in Print Design
In professional print design, picas and points are often used together:
- Page dimensions and grid systems are typically set in picas
- Text sizes, leading (line spacing), and small measurements are set in points
- Combined notation: 5p6 means 5 picas and 6 points (5.5 picas or 66 points)
Example of print design specifications:
- Column width: 12 picas
- Gutter width: 1 pica
- Margin: 6 picas
- Body text: 10 points
- Line spacing: 12 points
Think of picas and points as similar to inches and fractions of inches – picas are used for larger measurements while points provide the precision needed for smaller typographic details.
Picas are rarely used in standard web design, but there are specific scenarios where they can be valuable:
Limited Use Cases for Picas in Web Design
- Print-focused Web Applications: Design tools for print layout that need to display accurate pica measurements
- Print Stylesheets: When creating
@media printstylesheets for content that will be professionally printed - Cross-media Publishing: Content that will appear both online and in professional print publications
- Digital to Print Workflows: Web-based applications that prepare content for professional printing
Preferred Units for Web Design
For standard web design, these units are more appropriate:
- Pixels (px): For precise control and consistent sizing across devices
- Relative units (em, rem): For scalable, accessible typography
- Viewport units (vw, vh): For responsive, screen-size-relative measurements
- Percentages (%): For fluid layouts that adapt to their container
Example of print-specific CSS using picas:
/* Standard web styles */
.content {
width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
}
/* Print styles */
@media print {
.content {
width: 32pc; /* 32 picas = ~5.33 inches */
margin: 6pc; /* 6 picas = 1 inch margin */
}
.column {
width: 15pc; /* 15 picas = 2.5 inches */
margin-right: 2pc; /* 2 picas = 1/3 inch gutter */
}
}
While CSS does support picas as a unit (pc), their use in web design is uncommon and generally unnecessary. Stick to pixels, percentages, and relative units for most web design work, and only use picas when specifically designing for professional print output.
Picas are part of a system of typographic measurements that includes several related units. Here's how they connect:
The Typographic Measurement System
| Unit | Relationship | Physical Size (approx.) | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pica (pc) | 1/6 inch 12 points |
4.233 mm | Layout grids, column widths, page dimensions |
| Point (pt) | 1/72 inch 1/12 pica |
0.353 mm | Font sizes, leading, small measurements |
| Inch (in) | 6 picas 72 points |
25.4 mm | Page sizes, larger measurements |
| Millimeter (mm) | ≈ 0.236 pica ≈ 2.83 points |
1 mm | Metric alternative to points and picas |
| Cicero | ≈ 1.066 picas ≈ 12.8 points |
4.51 mm | European equivalent to picas |
Digital Equivalents at 96 DPI
In digital design at the standard screen resolution of 96 DPI:
- 1 pica ≈ 16 pixels
- 1 point ≈ 1.333 pixels
- 6 picas (1 inch) ≈ 96 pixels
Converting between typographic units:
- Points to picas: divide by 12 (e.g., 24pt ÷ 12 = 2pc)
- Picas to points: multiply by 12 (e.g., 3pc × 12 = 36pt)
- Picas to inches: divide by 6 (e.g., 12pc ÷ 6 = 2in)
- Inches to picas: multiply by 6 (e.g., 1.5in × 6 = 9pc)
Understanding these relationships is especially important when working between digital and print media, or when interpreting traditional typographic specifications in modern design software.
About Pica Units
Picas (pc) are an absolute unit of measurement used in typography and print design. One pica equals 12 points or 1/6 of an inch, making it ideal for page layout, column widths, and other larger typographic measurements.
Key Facts About Picas
-
Print Standard: Traditional unit used by typesetters and print designers
-
Absolute Size: 1pc = 1/6 inch = 12 points ≈ 4.233mm
-
Layout Focus: Used for page dimensions, columns, and grids
-
Professional Publishing: Standard in newspapers, magazines, and book design
At the standard screen resolution of 96 DPI, 1 pica equals approximately 16 pixels. This conversion can vary based on the actual screen resolution.
CSS Usage Examples
Pica units in CSS are primarily used for print-specific stylesheets:
/* Print-specific styles using picas */
@media print {
/* Page setup */
@page {
size: letter;
margin: 6pc; /* 1-inch margins */
}
/* Main content container */
.content {
width: 33pc; /* 5.5-inch content width */
margin: 0 auto;
}
/* Two-column layout */
.column {
width: 15pc; /* 2.5-inch column width */
margin-right: 3pc; /* 0.5-inch gutter */
}
/* Typography */
h1 {
font-size: 2pc; /* 24pt heading */
margin-bottom: 1pc; /* 12pt spacing */
}
p {
margin-bottom: 0.5pc; /* 6pt paragraph spacing */
}
/* Page breaks */
h1, h2 {
page-break-after: avoid;
}
.new-section {
page-break-before: always;
}
}For web design, pixels and relative units are generally preferred over picas. Use picas mainly when creating layouts specifically for print.