PX to PT Converter
px
pt
Common values

This PX to PT Converter is a lightweight browser tool that instantly converts between pixels and points for screen and print workflows.

Key features:

  • Bidirectional conversion - type in either field and the other updates in real time

  • DPI mode toggle - switch between Screen (96 dpi) and Print (72 dpi) to match your context

  • Live formula display - shows the exact multiplication used so you understand the math, not just the result

  • Common values reference - 12 clickable chips for frequently used sizes like 8px, 16px, 24px, 64px

  • Copy buttons - grab either value to clipboard with one click

  • Swap - flip the direction of conversion without retyping

Useful for designers moving between Figma, CSS, and print documents. The formula bar makes it a learning tool too, not just a calculator.

PX to PT Converter

Enter a pixel value, pick your screen PPI, and get the exact point equivalent instantly.

No guesswork. No manual math.

What is a PX to PT Conversion

Pixels (px) are screen-dependent units. Their physical size changes based on the device's pixel density, so a 16px font on a 96 PPI monitor looks different from 16px on a 72 PPI display.

Points (pt) come from print typography.

One point equals exactly 1/72 of an inch, a fixed physical measurement that doesn't shift across output mediums.

The relationship between the two depends entirely on PPI. At 96 PPI (the standard for most screens), 1px equals 0.75pt. At 72 PPI, 1px equals 1pt exactly.

That's why assuming 1px = 1pt breaks things in production.

How to Convert PX to PT

The PX to PT Formula

The conversion formula is: PT = PX × (72 / PPI)

PPI is the variable most people forget. The formula only works correctly when you know the pixel density of the output environment.

PX to PT Conversion at 96 PPI

At 96 PPI (the web standard), multiply your pixel value by 0.75.

16px → 12pt. 24px → 18pt. 32px → 24pt.

PX to PT Conversion at 72 PPI

At 72 PPI, pixels and points are equal. 1px = 1pt.

This is where the "they're the same" myth comes from. It only holds at 72 PPI, which is rare on modern screens.

PX to PT Conversion Chart

Reference values at 96 PPI:

PX

PT

8px

6pt

10px

7.5pt

12px

9pt

14px

10.5pt

16px

12pt

18px

13.5pt

24px

18pt

32px

24pt

48px

36pt

64px

48pt

72px

54pt

96px

72pt

Standard body text sits at 16px / 12pt. Headings and display sizes scale up predictably from there.

Where PX to PT Conversion is Used

PX to PT in CSS and Web Typography

Most CSS stylesheets use px or rem, not pt. Points work poorly in fluid, responsive design because they're absolute.

The exception: @media print. Print stylesheets commonly use pt for font sizing since the output is a physical document, not a screen.

PX to PT in Print Design

Moving from screen to print is where px-to-pt conversion actually matters.

A 16px body font on screen = 12pt in InDesign or Illustrator. Standard body text in print is 10–12pt, so web defaults translate cleanly.

PX to PT in iOS and macOS Development

Apple's frameworks use points as their base unit, not pixels.

On standard displays, 1pt = 1px. On Retina displays, 1pt = 2px (or 3px on some devices). The point system abstracts away physical pixel density, so layouts scale without manual adjustment.

PX to PT in PDF Generation

Server-side PDF tools like wkhtmltopdf and Puppeteer often require point-based measurements.

Web-to-PDF conversion means translating px values from your HTML or CSS into pt for the document renderer. Getting this wrong produces font sizes that are either tiny or oversized in the final PDF.

PX vs PT: Key Differences

PX

PT

Type

Screen unit

Print unit

Fixed size?

No (depends on PPI)

Yes (1/72 inch)

Best for

Screens, web, UI

Print, PDF, native apps

Responsive?

Works well

Poor fit

CSS use

Standard

Print stylesheets only

Pixels scale with the display environment. Points stay physically constant regardless of screen or device.

For web, use px (or rem for responsive typography). For print, PDFs, or iOS development, pt is the right unit.

Media queries don't play well with pt values. Another reason to keep points out of your main stylesheet.

Common PX to PT Conversion Mistakes

Assuming 1px = 1pt

Only true at 72 PPI. At 96 PPI (the actual web standard), 1px = 0.75pt.

Building a print layout based on this assumption produces font sizes roughly 33% larger than intended.

Ignoring PPI When Converting

The same pixel value converts to different point values at 72, 96, and 120 PPI.

Always confirm the target PPI before converting. Screen design assumes 96 PPI; print assumes 72 PPI equivalent.

Using PT in Responsive CSS

Point values are absolute. They don't scale with viewport size, user font preferences, or browser zoom in the way rem or em units do.

Using pt in a fluid layout breaks web accessibility - specifically, it can prevent text from scaling when users adjust their browser's default font size.

Stick to pt only where the output medium is fixed: print stylesheets, PDFs, or platform-specific UI specs.

Related Unit Conversions

Working with unit conversion regularly? These tools cover the most common measurement conversions in web and print design: