Convert Twip to Pica
Convert twips to picas instantly. 1 twip = 0.0041666667 pica — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Pica 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.
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.
Twip to Pica conversion formula
The relationship between twips and picas:
To convert twips to picas, multiply the value in twips by 0.0041666667. To reverse, multiply picas by 239.9999981102.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in picas updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Pica to Twip converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert twips to picas
- Write down the value in twips (twip).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.0041666667.
- The product is the equivalent value in picas (pc).
- To reverse, multiply the pica value by 239.9999981102.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 twip to pc:
1 × 0.0041666667 = 0.0041666667 pc
Example 2 — Convert 100 twip to pc:
100 × 0.0041666667 = 0.4166666699 pc
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 picas aligns the value with the unit most CAD systems and material datasheets prefer.
500 twip × 0.0041666667 = 2.0833333497 pc
Real-world example — Packaging gauge
A 4-twip plastic bag thickness is a common spec for grocery and freezer bags. Converting from twips to picas is what packaging buyers do whenever they bridge US and metric supplier quotes.
4 twip × 0.0041666667 = 0.0166666668 pc
Twip to Pica conversion table
Standard reference values for converting twips to picas:
| Twip [twip] | Pica [pc] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 4.166667e-5 |
| 0.1 | 0.0004166667 |
| 1 | 0.0041666667 |
| 2 | 0.0083333334 |
| 3 | 0.0125000001 |
| 4 | 0.0166666668 |
| 5 | 0.0208333335 |
| 10 | 0.041666667 |
| 20 | 0.083333334 |
| 30 | 0.125000001 |
| 40 | 0.166666668 |
| 50 | 0.208333335 |
| 100 | 0.4166666699 |
| 500 | 2.0833333497 |
| 1000 | 4.1666666995 |
Frequently asked questions
How many picas is 1 twip?
How do I convert twips to picas?
How do I convert picas back to twips?
How many picas 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 = 0.0041666667 pc) 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 Hydrographic Organization — Resolution on the Nautical Mile
International authority that standardised the nautical mile at exactly 1852 m in 1929 — the value adopted worldwide for sea and air navigation.