PX to PT Converter

Understanding Pixels (px) and Points (pt)

Pixels (px) and points (pt) are both units of measurement used in digital design and typography, but they serve different purposes and have different relationships depending on the medium.

What are Pixels (px)?

Pixels are the smallest controllable elements of a digital display. In web design:

• 1 px typically corresponds to one dot on a screen
• Pixel size varies based on screen resolution and density
• CSS pixels are reference pixels that may not correspond to physical pixels on high-DPI devices
• The standard assumption for web is 96 pixels per inch (PPI)

What are Points (pt)?

Points are a physical unit of measurement traditionally used in print:

• 1 point equals 1/72 of an inch (0.3528 mm)
• Standardized in digital typography as exactly 1/72 inch
• Commonly used in word processors and desktop publishing
• Point size remains consistent regardless of screen resolution

Conversion Formula

The conversion between pixels and points depends on the DPI (dots per inch) or PPI (pixels per inch) of the display:

Points to Pixels: pixels = points × (DPI / 72)

Pixels to Points: points = pixels × (72 / DPI)

For web design, the standard assumption is 96 DPI, which gives us:

1 px = 0.75 pt (96 DPI / 72 = 1.333, then 1 / 1.333 = 0.75)

1 pt = 1.333 px (96 DPI / 72 = 1.333)

Common Conversions

When to Use Each Unit

Use pixels (px) for:

• Web design and development
• Screen media (CSS, digital interfaces)
• When you need precise control over element sizes

Use points (pt) for:

• Print design
• Word processing documents
• When working with typography for print media

Technical Considerations

Modern devices often have high pixel densities (e.g., Retina displays with 2x or 3x pixel density). However, operating systems and browsers handle this through:

• Device pixel ratio
• CSS reference pixels
• Viewport meta tags

This means that even on high-DPI screens, the conversion between px and pt remains consistent with the assumed DPI (usually 96 for web).

How to Use This PX to PT Converter

1. Enter the value you want to convert in the "Value to Convert" field
2. Select the unit you're converting from (px or pt)
3. Select the unit you want to convert to
4. Choose the DPI/PPI setting (default is 96 for web)
5. Click "Convert" to see the result

Advanced Options

For specialized use cases:

• Select "Custom" DPI to enter your own DPI/PPI value
• Use 72 DPI for print design conversions
• For mobile devices, research the specific device's PPI if you need physical accuracy