Free Points to Pixels Converter
Convert typographic points (pt) to digital screen pixels (px) based on PPI / DPI settings
Understanding Points to Pixels Conversion
Converting physical typographic points (PT) to digital screen pixels (PX) is a standard workflow for web developers, graphic artists, and mobile designers. Points are physical units dating back to traditional print, defined as exactly 1/72 of an inch. Pixels are virtual screen visual elements. To map absolute points into virtual screen sizes, you must specify the display resolution density, measured in PPI (Pixels Per Inch) or DPI (Dots Per Inch).
The Mathematical Formula
To convert points to pixels, divide the points by 72 to convert them into physical inches, then multiply by the display or print resolution density (PPI/DPI):
Pixels = Points × (PPI ÷ 72)
For example, if you want to render a classic 12 pt typographic element at standard digital display density of 96 PPI:
If you want to render the same 12 pt typography size for high-resolution printing plates at 300 DPI:
PT to Pixels Reference Table
Compare physical point values calculated across common digital screen and high-resolution print densities:
| Points (PT) | at Web Standard (96 PPI) | at Print Standard (150 DPI) | at High-Res Press (300 DPI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pt | 1.33 px | 2.08 px | 4.17 px |
| 6 pt | 8.00 px | 12.50 px | 25.00 px |
| 9 pt | 12.00 px | 18.75 px | 37.50 px |
| 12 pt | 16.00 px | 25.00 px | 50.00 px |
| 16 pt | 21.33 px | 33.33 px | 66.67 px |
| 24 pt | 32.00 px | 50.00 px | 100.00 px |
| 36 pt | 48.00 px | 75.00 px | 150.00 px |
| 72 pt (1 in) | 96.00 px | 150.00 px | 300.00 px |
Applying Typography Styles Correctly
When coding modern responsive stylesheet files (CSS), it is generally best practice to convert points (PT) into pixels (PX) or relative units (REM, EM). Keep the target scale set to 96 PPI for screen displays, but raise it to 300 DPI when building custom print stylesheets (@media print) to ensure high-fidelity physical typesetting.
