Pica (Printer's) to Character (X) Conversion

Convert between Pica (Printer's) and Character (X) quickly and accurately.

From Pica (Printer's)

To Character (X)

char

How to Convert Pica (Printer's) to Character (X)

Conversion Formula

1 pc = 1.993 char

1 char = 0.502 pc

Example

Convert 15 pc to char:

15 pc = 15 × 1.993 char = 29.888 char

Unit Information

Learn about the typography units you're converting between

Pica (Printer's)

Definition

A printer's pica is the traditional typographic unit used in professional printing, slightly different from the computer pica. One printer's pica equals 239.10336 twips, reflecting historical printing standards.

History/Origin

The printer's pica has been used in professional printing for centuries, originally defined as 12 points. It represents the traditional typographic measurement system used in commercial printing and publishing.

Current Use

Printer's picas are used in professional printing, traditional typography, and publishing for precise text layout, font sizing, and spacing that maintains compatibility with historical printing standards and equipment.

Multiplier

239.103

Offset

Character (X)

char

Definition

Character (X) represents the average width of characters in a font, used for horizontal measurements in typography. One character (X) equals 120 twips, providing a font-relative unit for text layout calculations.

History/Origin

Character (X) measurements were developed in early computer typography to provide font-relative horizontal spacing. The unit allows for proportional text layout that adapts to different font sizes and families.

Current Use

Character (X) units are used in programming, document layout, and typography for calculating text width, column sizing, and horizontal spacing that scales proportionally with font size changes.

Multiplier

120

Offset