PX to PT Converter
Convert pixels to points for print-ready typography and design
PX to PT Calculator
Pixels (px) are screen-based units, while points (pt) are print-based units. 1 point equals 1/72 of an inch. The standard conversion ratio is 1pt = 1.333px at 96 DPI (dots per inch), which is the default resolution for most screens.
Conversion Result
Formula: Points = Pixels × (72 ÷ DPI)
Example: 16px × (72 ÷ 96) = 12pt
DPI Comparison
See how this value converts at different screen resolutions:
| Screen Type | DPI | Pixel Value | Point Value |
|---|
Batch Converter
Convert multiple pixel values at once. Enter values separated by spaces, commas, or new lines.
Batch Results
| Pixels | Points | CSS Code |
|---|
Common PX to PT Conversions
Reference table for commonly used typography sizes at standard 96 DPI:
| Common Use | Pixels (px) | Points (pt) | CSS Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Text | 10px | 7.5pt | font-size: 10px; /* 7.5pt */ |
| Body Text | 16px | 12pt | font-size: 16px; /* 12pt */ |
| Subheading | 20px | 15pt | font-size: 20px; /* 15pt */ |
| Heading | 24px | 18pt | font-size: 24px; /* 18pt */ |
| Large Heading | 32px | 24pt | font-size: 32px; /* 24pt */ |
| Title | 48px | 36pt | font-size: 48px; /* 36pt */ |
| Display Title | 64px | 48pt | font-size: 64px; /* 48pt */ |
| Border Width | 1px | 0.75pt | border-width: 1px; /* 0.75pt */ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pixels and points are two different units of measurement used in digital and print design:
| Pixels (px) | Points (pt) |
|---|---|
| Relative to the viewing device's screen resolution | Absolute unit based on 1/72 of an inch |
| Primarily used for screen-based media (web, apps) | Traditionally used for print media and typography |
| Varies in physical size based on device resolution | Maintains consistent physical size across media |
| The standard unit for web measurements | The standard unit for print typography |
Key distinction: Pixels are device-dependent and can vary in physical size, while points are fixed in physical size (1/72 of an inch). This means that text set at 12pt should appear at the same physical size on a printed page or at 100% zoom on any device, whereas text set at 16px may appear larger or smaller depending on the device's pixel density.
When designing for both print and screen, it's helpful to understand the relationship between these units. For instance, if you're preparing a design that will be both viewed on screens and printed, knowing that 16px is approximately equivalent to 12pt at standard screen resolution helps maintain consistency.
Screen DPI (Dots Per Inch) is crucial for accurate PX to PT conversion because it defines the relationship between pixels and physical measurements:
- DPI Establishes the Pixel/Inch Relationship - DPI tells us how many pixels fit in one inch on a specific display. Since points are defined as 1/72 of an inch, knowing the DPI is essential for accurate conversion.
- Different Screens Have Different DPIs - A standard desktop monitor typically has 96 DPI, while high-resolution displays like Retina screens can have 144 DPI or higher. This means the same number of pixels will occupy different physical spaces on different screens.
- The Conversion Formula Uses DPI - The formula for converting pixels to points (Points = Pixels × (72 ÷ DPI)) requires knowing the DPI value to be accurate.
Example of how DPI affects conversion:
For 16 pixels:
- At 72 DPI: 16px × (72 ÷ 72) = 16pt
- At 96 DPI: 16px × (72 ÷ 96) = 12pt
- At 144 DPI: 16px × (72 ÷ 144) = 8pt
This shows that the same pixel value represents a different physical size (in points) depending on the screen's DPI.
When designing for print from a digital mockup, it's important to know your screen's DPI to ensure that what you see on screen will match the physical size when printed. This is particularly important for typography and precise layout work.
In modern web design, pixels are generally preferred over points, but there are specific situations where points might be appropriate:
When to Use Pixels (px):
- Standard Web Design - For most websites and web applications
- Responsive Layouts - When designing layouts that need to adapt to different screen sizes
- UI Elements - For buttons, navigation, borders, and other interface elements
- Consistency Across Devices - When you want elements to appear with consistent pixel dimensions regardless of the device
When to Consider Points (pt):
- Print Stylesheets - When creating CSS specifically for print media using
@media print - Email Templates - Some email clients render point-sized fonts more consistently than pixel-sized fonts
- Cross-Media Publications - When the same content will appear both online and in print
- Accessibility Considerations - In some cases for users who prefer absolute units for better readability
Example of print-specific CSS:
/* Screen styles */
body {
font-size: 16px;
}
/* Print styles */
@media print {
body {
font-size: 12pt;
}
h1 {
font-size: 18pt;
}
h2 {
font-size: 16pt;
}
}
In most cases, it's best to use pixels for web content and use points only for print-specific stylesheets. Using points for screen display can lead to inconsistent sizing across different browsers and devices.
High-resolution displays like Retina screens, 4K monitors, and modern mobile devices significantly impact the relationship between pixels and points:
Key Effects of High-DPI Displays:
- Physical Pixel vs CSS Pixel - Modern browsers distinguish between physical pixels (actual screen pixels) and CSS pixels (used for layout). One CSS pixel might represent multiple physical pixels.
- Device Pixel Ratio - High-resolution screens have a device pixel ratio (DPR) greater than 1, meaning each CSS pixel is represented by multiple physical pixels (e.g., a DPR of 2 means 1 CSS pixel = 4 physical pixels).
- Scaled Conversion - The PX to PT conversion needs to account for this scaling. A high-DPI display's effective DPI might be 192 or 288 rather than the standard 96.
- Display Inconsistency - This can lead to inconsistencies between how content appears on standard vs. high-resolution displays when using point units.
Example calculation on a Retina display (effective 192 DPI):
16px (CSS pixels) to points:
- On a standard 96 DPI display: 16px × (72 ÷ 96) = 12pt
- On a Retina display (192 DPI): 16px × (72 ÷ 192) = 6pt
However, browsers handle this automatically, so 16px CSS pixels will still look similar in physical size across different displays despite the different point equivalents.
Best Practices for High-DPI Displays:
- Use CSS pixels (px) for web content, as browsers automatically handle the scaling
- For print stylesheets, convert based on the standard 96 DPI rather than the device's actual DPI
- Use vector formats (SVG) for images when possible to ensure crispness on all displays
- Test designs on both standard and high-resolution displays to ensure consistency
For design work that spans both digital and print, it's helpful to understand that the same CSS pixel values will render differently across devices in terms of physical size. This is why checking your designs on multiple devices is crucial for ensuring a consistent user experience.
About Point Units
Points (pt) are an absolute unit of measurement commonly used in print design and typography. One point equals 1/72 of an inch, making it ideal for specifying text sizes and other elements that need consistent physical dimensions.
Key Facts About Points
-
Print Standard: Used as the primary unit in print design for centuries
-
Absolute Size: 1pt = 1/72 of an inch (about 0.35mm)
-
Typography Focus: The standard unit for font sizes in print typography
-
Device Independent: Maintains consistent physical size across different media
The relationship between points and pixels depends on screen resolution. At the standard 96 DPI, there are approximately 1.33 pixels per point (1pt ≈ 1.33px).
CSS Usage Examples
Point units in CSS are typically used for print stylesheets:
/* Standard screen styles using pixels */
body {
font-size: 16px;
line-height: 1.5;
}
h1 {
font-size: 32px;
margin-bottom: 16px;
}
/* Print styles using points */
@media print {
body {
font-size: 12pt;
line-height: 1.2;
}
h1 {
font-size: 24pt;
margin-bottom: 12pt;
}
h2 {
font-size: 18pt;
margin-bottom: 9pt;
}
h3 {
font-size: 14pt;
margin-bottom: 7pt;
}
p {
margin-bottom: 6pt;
}
nav, footer, .sidebar {
display: none;
}
/* Adjust margins for print */
@page {
margin: 2cm;
}
/* Ensure page breaks don't disrupt content */
h1, h2, h3 {
page-break-after: avoid;
}
img, table {
page-break-inside: avoid;
}
}When creating print stylesheets, use point units for typography to ensure consistent sizing when printed. For screen display, stick with pixels or relative units like em or rem.