Points to Pixels (PT to PX) Converter

How do you convert points to pixels?

One point is 1/72 of an inch, so the formula is pixels = pt x DPI / 72. At 96 DPI, 12pt equals 16px. At 72 DPI a point equals exactly one pixel, which is why 72 was the old web baseline.

The DPI you pick is what changes the answer. A point is a fixed physical size, but a pixel isn't, so the same 12pt heading becomes 12px at 72 DPI, 16px at 96 DPI, and 50px at 300 DPI for print. That's why you can't convert points to pixels without first deciding which DPI you're rendering at. For screen work you'll almost always use 96 DPI, because that's the value CSS assumes for its reference pixel. For print you'll match the press, which is usually 300 DPI.

What is the PT to PX table at 72 and 96 DPI?

This table shows common point sizes converted to pixels at the two DPI values that matter most: 72 (where 1pt = 1px) and 96 (the screen standard). The wider chart below extends the same math to 150 and 300 DPI for print.

Should you use points or pixels?

It depends on the medium. Print typography is measured in points because paper is a physical surface, and a point keeps the same real-world size whether it's a business card or a billboard. Screens are measured in pixels because a display is a grid of light, not a fixed inch. So the rule is simple: if you're designing for print, work in points; if you're designing for web and UI, work in pixels or rem.

The friction shows up when a print spec lands on a website. A brand guide might call for 12pt body copy, but a browser doesn't understand points the way a press does, so you convert that 12pt to 16px at 96 DPI before you write the CSS. Going the other way, a 16px web size maps back to 12pt for a PDF or a printed flyer. Knowing both numbers keeps type consistent across the two systems, which is the whole reason this print-points versus screen-pixels framing matters. If you'd rather size relative to the root font, our PX to REM converter handles that next step for accessible CSS.

PT to PX conversion chart

How to use the pt to px calculator

You don't need to remember the formula. The calculator runs the math the moment you type, so here's the full workflow:

1. Enter your point value in the input field, such as 12 for 12pt body text.
2. Set the DPI to match your output. Use 96 for screens, 72 for the classic web baseline, or 300 for print.
3. Read the pixel result, which updates instantly as you change either field.
4. Copy the pixel value straight into your CSS, design file, or stylesheet.
5. Cross-check against the table above when you want quick reference numbers without retyping.