Convert Pica to Foot
Convert picas to feet instantly. 1 pica = 0.0138888888 foot — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Foot to Pica converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Pica
A pica is a typographic unit equal to exactly 12 points, or 1/6 inch (about 4.233 mm). It is used for measuring column widths and large typographic elements.
The PostScript pica of 12 points = 1/6 inch was standardised in 1984 alongside the PostScript point. Traditional pre-1984 picas varied slightly (e.g., the American pica was 0.166 inch, very close but not identical).
Picas are used for column widths in newspaper and magazine layout (typical column is 11–15 picas), line spacing in book design, and large typographic measurements. Mostly used by professional typesetters.
Modern PostScript pica defined in 1984 at 12 points = 1/6 inch; older typographic systems used slightly different pica values.
Foot
A foot is an Imperial and US customary unit of length equal to 12 inches or exactly 0.3048 meters. It is the most commonly used unit of length in everyday measurement in the United States.
The foot's origin is literally the length of a human foot, used as a measurement standard since antiquity. The English foot was standardized at various points in history; the modern international foot (0.3048 m exactly) was fixed by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Feet are used in the US for body height, building dimensions, room sizes, road sign clearances, aviation altitude (feet above sea level), and most everyday distance estimation. The UK uses feet informally for height despite officially being metric.
Used since antiquity; standardized to 0.3048 m exactly by the International Yard and Pound Agreement of 1959. Aviation worldwide uses feet for altitude despite metric adoption elsewhere.
Pica to Foot conversion formula
The relationship between picas and feet:
To convert picas to feet, multiply the value in picas by 0.0138888888. To reverse, multiply feet by 72.0000005669.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in feet updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Foot to Pica converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert picas to feet
- Write down the value in picas (pc).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0138888888.
- The product is the equivalent value in feet (ft).
- To reverse, multiply the foot value by 72.0000005669.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 pc to ft:
1 × 0.0138888888 = 0.0138888888 ft
Example 2 — Convert 100 pc to ft:
100 × 0.0138888888 = 1.388888878 ft
Real-world example — Children's height milestones
A 150-pica-tall child measures a value in feet that's commonly used for theme-park ride height requirements when travelling between countries that use different measurement units.
150 pc × 0.0138888888 = 2.0833333169 ft
Real-world example — Body height conversion
You enter your height as 180 picas into an international job or visa application. The form then asks for the same value in feet — converting between these adjacent units is one of the most-used length conversions globally.
180 pc × 0.0138888888 = 2.4999999803 ft
Real-world example — Furniture and large objects
A 72-pica piece of furniture converts to a value in feet that's easier to mentally compare with room dimensions. This is the typical workflow when shopping internationally and product specs use a different unit than your room measurements.
72 pc × 0.0138888888 = 0.9999999921 ft
Pica to Foot conversion table
Standard reference values for converting picas to feet:
| Pica [pc] | Foot [ft] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0001388889 |
| 0.1 | 0.0013888889 |
| 1 | 0.0138888888 |
| 2 | 0.0277777776 |
| 3 | 0.0416666663 |
| 4 | 0.0555555551 |
| 5 | 0.0694444439 |
| 10 | 0.1388888878 |
| 20 | 0.2777777756 |
| 30 | 0.4166666634 |
| 40 | 0.5555555512 |
| 50 | 0.694444439 |
| 100 | 1.388888878 |
| 500 | 6.9444443898 |
| 1000 | 13.8888887795 |
Frequently asked questions
How many feet is 1 pica?
How do I convert picas to feet?
How do I convert feet back to picas?
How many feet is 100 picas?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Pica to other length units
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (4 units)
Typographic (2 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 pc = 0.0138888888 ft) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Astronomical Union — System of Astronomical Constants
The IAU defines astronomical units including the AU (149597870700 m exactly) light-year and parsec used in astronomy and astrophysics.