Inches to Picas Converter
Convert Inches (in) to Picas (pc).
About Inches to Picas Converter
The Inches to Picas converter is a specialized tool for professional print designers, layout artists, and publishers who work with traditional typographic measurements. A pica is a unit equal to 12 points or 1/6 of an inch, making it ideal for measuring larger page elements like column widths, margins, and gutters. Picas have been the standard unit in professional publishing for centuries, offering a convenient middle ground between the small point unit and the larger inch.
Formula
Examples
Reference
- • 1 inch = 6 picas (exactly)
- • 1 pica = 12 points = 1/6 inch
- • Standard for print page layout and column widths
- • Used in InDesign, QuarkXPress
Frequency Asked Questions
What is a pica used for?
Picas are primarily used for measuring column widths, margins, line lengths, and other larger page layout elements in print design and publishing.
How do picas relate to points?
1 pica equals exactly 12 points. So if something is 3 picas wide, it's also 36 points wide (3 × 12 = 36).
Why use picas instead of inches?
Picas provide a convenient scale for page layout - they're larger than points but smaller than inches, making them ideal for typical page measurements.
Are picas still relevant in digital design?
While less common in web design, picas remain essential in professional print publishing and are standard in software like Adobe InDesign.