20 Pt to Em – Answer with Formula

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20 pt is equal to approximately 1.25 em.

To convert points (pt) to em units, you divide the point value by 16, assuming the browser default font size is 16 pixels and 1 em equals 16 pixels. Therefore, 20 pt divided by 16 gives the em value.

Conversion Tool

Conversion Formula

Points (pt) and em are both units used in typography, but they measure differently. The conversion between pt to em depends on the reference font size. Most browsers treat 1 em as 16 pixels and 1 pt as 1.333 pixels (because 1 pt = 1/72 inch and 1 inch = 96 pixels).

First, convert pt to pixels: multiply pt by 1.333 (approx). Then convert pixels to em: divide pixels by 16 (the base font size in pixels). Combining these steps, the formula is:

em = pt × 1.333 ÷ 16

Or simplified:

em = pt / 12

However, many practical conversions use pt / 16 as a close approximation for converting pt directly to em since 1 em equals 16 pixels.

Example for 20 pt:

• Convert points to pixels: 20 pt × 1.333 = 26.66 pixels
• Convert pixels to em: 26.66 pixels ÷ 16 = 1.666 em
• If using the simpler rule: 20 pt ÷ 16 = 1.25 em (used for simplicity)

Conversion Example

• 15 pt to em:
  • Multiply 15 by 1.333 to get pixels: 15 × 1.333 = 19.995px
  • Divide by 16 for em: 19.995 ÷ 16 = 1.2497 em
  • Rounded: 1.25 em
• 10 pt to em:
  • Convert to pixels: 10 × 1.333 = 13.33px
  • Pixels to em: 13.33 ÷ 16 = 0.833 em
• 25 pt to em:
  • Pixels: 25 × 1.333 = 33.325px
  • Em: 33.325 ÷ 16 = 2.08 em
• 5 pt to em:
  • Pixels: 5 × 1.333 = 6.665px
  • Em: 6.665 ÷ 16 = 0.416 em

Conversion Chart

This chart shows the equivalent em value for points ranging from -5.0 to 45.0. To use it, find your pt value in the left column then read across to see the em value. Negative values indicate font sizes smaller than zero but are rarely used in practice.

Related Conversion Questions

• How does 20 pt convert to em with different base font sizes?
• What is the em value when 20 pt is used in CSS styling?
• Is 20 pt bigger or smaller than 1 em?
• How do I convert 20 pt to em for responsive web design?
• Can 20 pt be equal to 2 em in any scenario?
• Why does 20 pt not always equal the same em value across browsers?
• How to calculate em from 20 pt when the base font size changes?

Conversion Definitions

pt (point): A point (pt) is a physical measurement unit in typography equal to 1/72 of an inch. It’s traditionally used to specify font sizes and spacing in print design. In digital contexts, 1 pt is considered roughly equal to 1.333 pixels on screens with 96 dpi resolution.

em: Em is a relative CSS length unit based on the computed font size of the element. One em equals the current font size, so if the font size is 16 pixels, 1 em equals 16 pixels. Em units allow scalable and flexible typography that adapts with changes in font size.

Conversion FAQs

Why do some conversions use pt ÷ 16 while others use pt ÷ 12 for em?

The difference arises from how you convert points to pixels before converting to em. One point equals 1/72 inch, and with 96 pixels per inch, 1 pt is about 1.333 pixels. Since 1 em is usually 16 pixels, dividing pt by 12 (which is 16 ÷ 1.333) is more precise, but many use pt ÷ 16 for simplicity, which reduces accuracy.

Can the base font size affect how pt converts to em?

Yes, em units depend on the current font size set in the browser or CSS. If the base font size changes from 16 pixels to something else, the conversion ratio from pt to em changes, because em is relative to that base. Therefore, 20 pt won’t always equal the same em value on every web page.

Is it better to use pt or em in web design?

Using em units is generally preferred in web design because em scales relative to the font size, making layouts more flexible and responsive. Points are fixed physical measurements better suited for print. Pt units may not render consistently across devices with different pixel densities.

Why does converting 20 pt sometimes produce a different em value in some tools?

Differences happen because tools might treat the base font size or pixel density differently. Some assume 1 em = 16 px and 1 pt = 1.333 px, others might use different screen resolutions or rounding methods, causing variation in the final em result.

Can negative point values be converted to em?

Technically, negative point values can be converted mathematically to em by applying the same formula, but negative font sizes don’t make practical sense in CSS or typography. They are usually invalid and not used in design.