EM to Point Converter

➡️ EM to Point Converter

Ever felt like web designers and print designers are speaking two different languages?

One person talks about everything in EMs—flexible, scalable units perfect for screens. The other talks in Points (pt)—fixed, absolute sizes for paper.

It’s like one person is describing a size as “about twice as big as normal,” while the other is saying, “it’s exactly 0.33 inches.”

This tool is your personal translator.

It bridges the gap between the “stretchy” world of web EMs and the “fixed” world of print Points. All you need is one piece of info to get started: the Base Font Size in Pixels (PX).

🚀 How to Use This Converter

Using this tool is a piece of cake.

1. Set Your “Base” Size: In the “Base Font Size (PX)” box, tell the tool what your website’s default font size is. 16px is the most common default for all web browsers, so we’ve put that in for you.
2. Type in Your Value:
   • Got an EM value (like 1.5)? Type it in the “EM” box.
   • Got a Point value (like 18)? Type it in the “Point (pt)” box.
3. Get Your Answer: The tool instantly calculates and fills in the other box. No “submit” button needed!

You can use the Copy buttons to grab the value you need or hit Reset to clear everything and start fresh.

🤔 What’s the Difference Between EM and PT?

Let’s break down the two players here.

What is EM? (The “Stretchy” Unit)

Think of EM as a multiplier. It’s a relative unit, meaning 1em isn’t a fixed size. It means “100% of the current font size.”

• If your base font is 16px, then 1em = 16px.
• If your base font is 20px, then 1em = 20px.

This is why 2em simply means “two times the base size.” It’s fantastic for accessibility and responsive design because it lets your entire layout scale up or down beautifully.

What is PT? (The “Fixed” Unit)

Point (pt) is the opposite. It’s an absolute unit of measurement, just like inches or centimeters. It comes from the world of print.

A point is defined as 1/72nd of an inch.

A 12pt font on your business card is the same physical size as a 12pt font in a textbook. It doesn’t care about a “base size” or what its parent element is. It’s fixed.

🧮 The Math: How We Convert EM to Point

Want to peek under the hood? You can’t actually go straight from EM to Point. You have to use Pixels (PX) as the middleman.

It’s a simple two-step formula:

1. EM to Pixels:Value in EM × Base Font Size (PX) = Value in PixelsExample: 1.5em × 16px = 24px
2. Pixels to Points:This conversion uses a “magic number”: 0.75. (This comes from 72 points per inch / 96 pixels per inch).Value in Pixels × 0.75 = Value in PointsExample: 24px × 0.75 = 18pt

And that’s it! 1.5em equals 18pt… but only when the base size is 16px. Change the base, and the whole result changes.

📋 Quick Reference: EM to PT Conversion Table

Need some common values at a glance? This chart shows the conversions based on the standard 16px base font size.

EM Value	Equivalent Pixels (PX)	Equivalent Points (PT)
0.5em	8px	6pt
0.75em	12px	9pt
0.875em	14px	10.5pt
1em	16px	12pt
1.25em	20px	15pt
1.5em	24px	18pt
2em	32px	24pt
2.5em	40px	30pt
3em	48px	36pt

💡 So, When Would You Actually Need This?

This might seem like a niche conversion, but it’s super handy in a few key moments:

1. Creating Print Stylesheets: You can use CSS to make your webpage look good when someone prints it (@media print). In that CSS, you should use pt sizes so the text is consistent on paper. This tool lets you convert your screen ems to print pts.
2. Brand Consistency: A brand designer might give you a style guide that says “All body text must be 12pt.” This tool helps you figure out that on a 16px base, 12pt is 1em.
3. Working with Documents: If you’re trying to match a web design to a Word document or a PDF, this tool helps you align the typography perfectly.

FAQs

Q: So, 1em = 12pt, right?

A: Not so fast! That’s the most common myth. 1em only equals 12pt when the base size is 16px. If your base size is 20px, then 1em (20px) is 15pt. Always check your base size!

Q: Is it okay to use pt in my main website’s CSS?

A: It’s strongly discouraged. Points are fixed and don’t scale, which is bad for users who need to zoom in or change their default font size. It’s also bad for responsive design. Stick with em, rem, or px for screens. Save pt for your print stylesheet.

Q: Does this work for REM units too?

A: Yes! rem (Root EM) works the same way, but it’s always relative to the root <html> element’s font size. So, just put your website’s root font size (which is probably 16px) into the “Base Font Size” box, and you’re good to go!