📝 Typography measurement
Font Point Size to Inches Calculator
Convert typographic points into inches and millimeters, then estimate the full line box when you add leading. Use it for print layouts, sizing checks, and quick comparisons.
| Font size | Inches | Millimeters | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 pt | 0.111 in | 2.8 mm | Caption text |
| 10 pt | 0.139 in | 3.5 mm | Body copy |
| 12 pt | 0.167 in | 4.2 mm | Standard print |
| 18 pt | 0.250 in | 6.4 mm | Headlines |
| Font size | Inches | Millimeters | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 pt | 0.333 in | 8.5 mm | Subheads |
| 30 pt | 0.417 in | 10.6 mm | Display type |
| 36 pt | 0.500 in | 12.7 mm | Cover text |
| 48 pt | 0.667 in | 16.9 mm | Poster type |
| Point size | Inches | Line box at 1.2x | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 pt | 0.125 in | 0.150 in | Light footnotes |
| 11 pt | 0.153 in | 0.183 in | Common ebook body |
| 14 pt | 0.194 in | 0.233 in | Readable print |
| 16 pt | 0.222 in | 0.267 in | Large print |
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The size of font measures the vertical height of the letters. It comes from typography as physical unit. In most lands, one spot matches 1/72 of inch, or around 0.353 millimeters according to SI-system.
For users of American system, DTP-spot is 1/12 of pica. Spots point the height of letters, with around 72 spots in one inch, so 2.54 cm. For instance, 72-punkta font has height of one inch, while 36 spots give half inch.
How Font Size Is Measured
On-line converter of type sizes count spots or picaj in inches and millimeters. For receive inches from spots, share the type size by means of 72, because one inch stores 72 spots. Although it seems easy, you cannot estimate type size only by means of eye or measuring on printed page.
Some fonts are more compacted in width, so you lay more text in line.
Typefaces differ a lot, that do not exist simple rules for ideal sizes. For instance, 9.5 pt in one font match 10 pt in another. Best use that works for the design, even if it is 9.3 or 9.625 spots.
The type size is the height of em-square, invisible box a bit bigger than of ascender to descender.
For traditional publication, prepare manuscript by means of 12-punkta Times New Roman, doubly spaced lines and 1-inch margins around the page. Books usually have 9-12 pt for text. Smaller pages are less big, so commonly use a bit smaller fonts.
Some favour 14 pt for Garamond either Palatino for better reading. Minimal size of 1/16 inch confines the height of printed signs to around 1.6 mm. For ensure readability, choose fonts with spots equal or bigger than this, typical 5-6 spots.
As approximate guide, 1/8-cola font matches Arial 16 pt, Times New Roman 18 pt either Bodoni 20 pt. 1/16-cola are Arial 9 pt, Times 10 pt and Bodoni 12pt.
