Convert Twip to Millimeter
Convert twips to millimeters instantly. 1 twip = 0.0176388889 millimeter — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Millimeter to Twip converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
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.
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.
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.
Adopted by Microsoft in the 1980s for screen-typography APIs; remains in use in legacy Windows GDI and Visual Basic code.
Millimeter
A millimeter is a metric unit of length equal to one thousandth of a meter (1/1000 m). It is the standard small-scale unit in the SI system and is widely used wherever sub-centimeter precision matters.
The millimeter was defined alongside the meter when France adopted the metric system in 1795, using the standard SI prefix milli- (from Latin mille, "thousand") to denote one-thousandth.
Millimeters are used in engineering drawings, machining, manufacturing, paper sizes, rainfall measurement, and any context where dimensions below one centimeter need to be specified clearly. Most rulers worldwide are marked in millimeters.
Adopted in 1795 in France as part of the original metric system; standardized internationally by the Metre Convention in 1875 and confirmed in the SI in 1960.
Twip to Millimeter conversion formula
The relationship between twips and millimeters:
To convert twips to millimeters, multiply the value in twips by 0.0176388889. To reverse, multiply millimeters by 56.6929133858.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in millimeters updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Millimeter to Twip converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert twips to millimeters
- Write down the value in twips (twip).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0176388889.
- The product is the equivalent value in millimeters (mm).
- To reverse, multiply the millimeter value by 56.6929133858.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 twip to mm:
1 × 0.0176388889 = 0.0176388889 mm
Example 2 — Convert 100 twip to mm:
100 × 0.0176388889 = 1.7638888889 mm
Real-world example — Packaging gauge
A 4-twip plastic bag thickness is a common spec for grocery and freezer bags. Converting from twips to millimeters is what packaging buyers do whenever they bridge US and metric supplier quotes.
4 twip × 0.0176388889 = 0.0705555556 mm
Real-world example — Plastic film and laminate thickness
A 500-twip sheet is a typical spec for ID-card laminates and film overlays. Converting to millimeters aligns the value with the unit most CAD systems and material datasheets prefer.
500 twip × 0.0176388889 = 8.8194444444 mm
Twip to Millimeter conversion table
Standard reference values for converting twips to millimeters:
| Twip [twip] | Millimeter [mm] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0001763889 |
| 0.1 | 0.0017638889 |
| 1 | 0.0176388889 |
| 2 | 0.0352777778 |
| 3 | 0.0529166667 |
| 4 | 0.0705555556 |
| 5 | 0.0881944444 |
| 10 | 0.1763888889 |
| 20 | 0.3527777778 |
| 30 | 0.5291666667 |
| 40 | 0.7055555556 |
| 50 | 0.8819444444 |
| 100 | 1.7638888889 |
| 500 | 8.8194444444 |
| 1000 | 17.6388888889 |
Frequently asked questions
How many millimeters is 1 twip?
How do I convert twips to millimeters?
How do I convert millimeters back to twips?
How many millimeters is 100 twips?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Twip 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 twip = 0.0176388889 mm) 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.