Length · Unit Converter

Convert Twip to Kilometer

Convert twips to kilometers instantly. 1 twip = 1.763889e-8 kilometer — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Kilometer to Twip converter for the reverse conversion.

Written by Sunith Babu L, Ph.D., Lead Engineer Reviewed by Girish V Kulkarni Ph.D.
Length category 2 min read Published Last reviewed Updated

Units explained

Typographic

Twip

What is a twip?

A twip is a typographic unit equal to 1/1440 of an inch (about 17.64 µm). It is used in legacy Microsoft Windows graphics APIs and PostScript typography.

Origin of the twip

The name twip is a contraction of 'twentieth of a point' (point being 1/72 inch). Adopted in Microsoft's GDI and OLE specifications for screen-resolution-independent measurement.

Where it is used

Twips appear in Visual Basic, legacy Windows API code, and some PostScript-derived typesetting systems. They allow whole-number arithmetic at sub-pixel precision for typographic layout.

When and where it was developed

Adopted by Microsoft in the 1980s for screen-typography APIs; remains in use in legacy Windows GDI and Visual Basic code.

Metric / SI

Kilometer

What is a kilometer?

A kilometer is a metric unit of length equal to one thousand meters. It is the standard unit for measuring road distances, geographic distances, and other large-scale measurements in metric countries.

Origin of the kilometer

The kilometer was defined alongside the meter in 1795 using the standard SI prefix kilo- (from Greek chilioi, "thousand"), denoting one thousand units.

Where it is used

Kilometers are used worldwide (except the United States and a few others) for road signage, geographic distance, athletic events, and scientific distances at planetary scale. Speed limits in most countries are given in km/h.

When and where it was developed

Adopted 1795 in France as part of the original metric system; the kilometer became the global standard for road and geographic distance through the 19th and 20th century metric adoption.

Twip to Kilometer conversion formula

The relationship between twips and kilometers:

1 twip = 1.763889e-8 km
1 km = 5.669291e+7 twip

To convert twips to kilometers, multiply the value in twips by 1.763889e-8. To reverse, multiply kilometers by 5.669291e+7.

How to use this converter

Type a value into the calculator. The result in kilometers updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Kilometer to Twip converter for the reverse direction.

Step-by-step: convert twips to kilometers

  1. Write down the value in twips (twip).
  2. Multiply that value by the factor 1.763889e-8.
  3. The product is the equivalent value in kilometers (km).
  4. To reverse, multiply the kilometer value by 5.669291e+7.

Worked examples

Example 1 — Convert 1 twip to km:
1 × 1.763889e-8 = 1.763889e-8 km

Example 2 — Convert 100 twip to km:
100 × 1.763889e-8 = 1.763889e-6 km

Real-world example — Fiber-optic link lengths

Converting from microscale twips to the kilometers of a long-haul fiber link is the conversion an optical engineer performs when calculating attenuation per kilometre of fiber.

1e+9 twip × 1.763889e-8 = 17.6388888889 km

Real-world example — Feature-scale to long-haul

One billion twips equals exactly one kilometer — the conversion an optical-network engineer performs when totalling feature-level path lengths into a single long-haul fiber-link distance.

1e+9 twip × 1.763889e-8 = 17.6388888889 km

Twip to Kilometer conversion table

Standard reference values for converting twips to kilometers:

Twip [twip]Kilometer [km]
0.011.763889e-10
0.11.763889e-9
11.763889e-8
23.527778e-8
35.291667e-8
47.055556e-8
58.819444e-8
101.763889e-7
203.527778e-7
305.291667e-7
407.055556e-7
508.819444e-7
1001.763889e-6
5008.819444e-6
10001.763889e-5

Frequently asked questions

How many kilometers is 1 twip?
1 twip equals 1.763889e-8 kilometer.
How do I convert twips to kilometers?
Multiply the value in twips by 1.763889e-8 to get kilometers.
How do I convert kilometers back to twips?
Multiply the value in kilometers by 5.669291e+7, or use the Kilometer to Twip converter.
How many kilometers is 100 twips?
100 twips equals 1.763889e-6 kilometers, because 100 × 1.763889e-8 = 1.763889e-6.

Convert Twip to other length units

Show all Twip conversions

Sources & references

Conversion factor (1 twip = 1.763889e-8 km) verified against the following authoritative sources:

Results are provided for general reference. Verify critical measurements against an authoritative standard.