12 px is equal to 9 pt.
The conversion from pixels (px) to points (pt) relies on the relationship that 1 pixel is equivalent to 0.75 points. This means you multiply the pixel value by 0.75 to get the measurement in points.
Conversion Tool
Result in pt:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert pixels to points is:
Points (pt) = Pixels (px) × 0.75
This works because points are a traditional print measurement where 1 inch equals 72 points, and screen pixels are often based on 96 pixels per inch. Converting 96 px to 72 pt gives the ratio:
72 pt / 96 px = 0.75 pt per px
Example calculation:
- Given 12 px, multiply by 0.75.
- 12 × 0.75 = 9 pt.
- So, 12 pixels equals 9 points.
Conversion Example
- Example: Convert 20 px to pt
- Multiply 20 by 0.75.
- 20 × 0.75 = 15 pt.
- So, 20 px equals 15 points.
- Example: Convert 7 px to pt
- 7 times 0.75 equals 5.25 pt.
- Therefore, 7 px equals 5.25 points.
- Example: Convert 50 px to pt
- Multiply 50 by 0.75.
- 50 × 0.75 = 37.5 pt.
- Hence, 50 pixels equals 37.5 points.
- Example: Convert 3.5 px to pt
- 3.5 multiplied by 0.75 is 2.625 pt.
- So 3.5 px equals 2.625 points.
- Example: Convert 100 px to pt
- 100 times 0.75 equals 75 pt.
- Thus, 100 px equals 75 points.
Conversion Chart
The table below shows pixel values from -13.0 to 37.0 with their conversion into points by multiplying each px value by 0.75. You can use this chart to quickly find the equivalent point size without calculating each time.
| Pixels (px) | Points (pt) |
|---|---|
| -13.0 | -9.75 |
| -10.0 | -7.50 |
| -5.0 | -3.75 |
| -1.0 | -0.75 |
| 0.0 | 0.00 |
| 1.0 | 0.75 |
| 5.0 | 3.75 |
| 8.0 | 6.00 |
| 12.0 | 9.00 |
| 15.0 | 11.25 |
| 20.0 | 15.00 |
| 25.0 | 18.75 |
| 30.0 | 22.50 |
| 35.0 | 26.25 |
| 37.0 | 27.75 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How many points equal 12 pixels in print design?
- What is the point size for 12 px font on my screen?
- Does 12 px always convert to 9 pt in every software?
- Why does 12 pixels equal 9 points when printing?
- How to convert 12 px to pt for PDF formatting?
- Can 12 px be exactly 9 pt in web and print?
- What formula converts 12 px to points for typography?
Conversion Definitions
px (Pixel): A pixel is the smallest unit of a digital image or display. It represents a single point in a raster image or screen, typically arranged in a grid. Pixels define resolution and size in digital screens, and their size can vary depending on device pixel density.
pt (Point): A point is a physical measurement unit used mostly in printing and typography. It equals 1/72 of an inch and is used to specify font size and spacing. Points provide a standardized way to measure text and graphics across different media and devices.
Conversion FAQs
Can the px to pt conversion change between devices?
Yes, px to pt conversion can vary because pixels depend on screen resolution and pixel density, which differ between devices. While points remain constant as a physical measurement, pixels might represent different physical sizes. That’s why 12 px on one screen may look different in size than 12 px on another.
Why multiply pixels by 0.75 to get points?
The multiplier 0.75 comes from the ratio of points per inch (72) versus pixels per inch (96). Since 1 inch equals 72 points and also equals 96 pixels, dividing 72 by 96 results in 0.75. Multiplying pixels by 0.75 converts them to the equivalent point measurement.
Is the px to pt conversion exact or approximate?
The conversion is exact based on the 96 DPI standard for pixels and 72 DPI for points. However, in real-world usage, screen settings, zoom levels, and device differences may cause small visual variations. The formula provides a precise mathematical conversion but the displayed size might slightly differ.
Does this conversion apply to all types of digital graphics?
This conversion mainly applies to screen and print typography where points and pixels are used as units. For other digital graphics, such as vector images or responsive designs, pixel sizes may scale differently, making direct conversions less relevant or require other methods.
How to convert points back to pixels?
To convert points to pixels, you do the inverse of the px to pt formula. Multiply points by 1.3333 (or 96/72). So, for example, 9 pt × 1.3333 equals 12 px. This helps in mapping print sizes to screen sizes accurately.