1.5 em is equal to 24 pixels (px).
This conversion assumes the default font size of 16 pixels for 1 em. Since em units are relative to the font size of the parent element, multiplying 1.5 by 16 gives you the equivalent in pixels.
Conversion Tool
Result in px:
Conversion Formula
To convert em to pixels, you multiply the em value by the font size in pixels of the element (or its parent). The formula is:
pixels = em × font-size (in px)
Since 1 em equals the current font size, if the base font size is 16px, then 1.5 em equals 1.5 × 16 = 24px.
This works because em units are relative, so multiplying converts the relative measurement into an absolute pixel value. For example:
- Given em = 1.5
- Base font-size = 16px
- Calculation: 1.5 × 16 = 24 (pixels)
Conversion Example
- Example 1: 2 em to px
- Start with 2 em
- Multiply by 16 (default font size): 2 × 16 = 32 px
- Result is 32 pixels
- Example 2: 0.75 em to px
- Take 0.75 em
- Multiply by 16: 0.75 × 16 = 12 px
- Result is 12 pixels
- Example 3: 3.2 em to px
- Value is 3.2 em
- Multiply by 16: 3.2 × 16 = 51.2 px
- Result is 51.2 pixels
- Example 4: 1.25 em to px
- Given 1.25 em
- Multiply by 16: 1.25 × 16 = 20 px
- Result is 20 pixels
Conversion Chart
The chart below shows em values from -23.5 to 26.5 converted into pixels assuming 1 em = 16 px. Negative values mean smaller sizes relative to base font size. You can use this chart to quickly find pixel equivalents for different em values.
| em | px | em | px | em | px | em | px |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -23.5 | -376 | -15.5 | -248 | -7.5 | -120 | 0.5 | 8 |
| -23 | -368 | -15 | -240 | -7 | -112 | 1 | 16 |
| -22.5 | -360 | -14.5 | -232 | -6.5 | -104 | 1.5 | 24 |
| -22 | -352 | -14 | -224 | -6 | -96 | 2 | 32 |
| -21.5 | -344 | -13.5 | -216 | -5.5 | -88 | 2.5 | 40 |
| -21 | -336 | -13 | -208 | -5 | -80 | 3 | 48 |
| -20.5 | -328 | -12.5 | -200 | -4.5 | -72 | 3.5 | 56 |
| -20 | -320 | -12 | -192 | -4 | -64 | 4 | 64 |
| -19.5 | -312 | -11.5 | -184 | -3.5 | -56 | 4.5 | 72 |
| -19 | -304 | -11 | -176 | -3 | -48 | 5 | 80 |
| -18.5 | -296 | -10.5 | -168 | -2.5 | -40 | 5.5 | 88 |
| -18 | -288 | -10 | -160 | -2 | -32 | 6 | 96 |
| -17.5 | -280 | -9.5 | -152 | -1.5 | -24 | 6.5 | 104 |
| -17 | -272 | -9 | -144 | -1 | -16 | 7 | 112 |
| -16.5 | -264 | -8.5 | -136 | -0.5 | -8 | 7.5 | 120 |
| -16 | -256 | -8 | -128 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 128 |
| -15.5 | -248 | -7.5 | -120 | 0.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 136 |
| -15 | -240 | -7 | -112 | 1 | 16 | 9 | 144 |
| -14.5 | -232 | -6.5 | -104 | 1.5 | 24 | 9.5 | 152 |
| -14 | -224 | -6 | -96 | 2 | 32 | 10 | 160 |
| -13.5 | -216 | -5.5 | -88 | 2.5 | 40 | 10.5 | 168 |
| -13 | -208 | -5 | -80 | 3 | 48 | 11 | 176 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How many pixels are in 1.5 em for different font sizes?
- What is the pixel value of 1.5 em if the base font size changes?
- Is 1.5 em always equal to 24 pixels in CSS?
- How does browser default font size affect converting 1.5 em to px?
- Can 1.5 em be converted to pixels without knowing the parent font size?
- Why does 1.5 em sometimes not equal 24 px on my webpage?
- How to calculate pixel size from 1.5 em in responsive design?
Conversion Definitions
em: A relative unit in typography that is based on the current font size of an element. It scales proportionally, so 1 em equals the font size itself. This unit allows flexible sizing that adapts to different device settings and user preferences, making layouts more fluid.
px: A fixed unit representing a single pixel on a screen. Pixels provide absolute sizing that does not scale with font size or other properties. Using px gives precise control over element dimensions but lacks flexibility for responsive or accessible designs.
Conversion FAQs
Does the base font size always have to be 16px when converting em to px?
No, the base font size can vary depending on the browser settings or the CSS applied to the parent elements. The conversion formula multiplies the em value by the font size of the element’s parent, so if the font size is different from 16px, the pixel value changes accordingly.
What happens if the font size changes dynamically on a webpage?
If the font size changes, the pixel equivalent of em units shifts too. Since em units are relative, resizing text or using media queries affecting font size will cause em-based measurements to scale, adjusting layout and element sizes automatically.
Can em values be negative, and what would that mean in pixels?
Yes, em values can be negative, but in practical CSS usage, negative font sizes are invalid. For other properties like margins or positioning, negative em values translate to negative pixel values, effectively moving elements in the opposite direction.
Why do some browsers render em units differently?
Browser defaults and user settings influence the root font size, causing slight differences in how em units convert to pixels. Variations in zoom, accessibility settings, or default font declarations can all affect the final computed pixel value.
Is it better to use em or px for font sizing?
Using em units allows for scalable, accessible typography that adapts to user preferences, while px units offer precise control without responsiveness. Choosing between them depends on the design goals, but em units are preferred for flexible layouts.