7.2 pt is equal to 9.6 px.
To convert points (pt) to pixels (px), you multiply the point value by 1.3333 because 1 pt equals 1/72 of an inch, and pixels are based on a 96 DPI standard. So, 7.2 pt times 1.3333 equals 9.6 px.
Conversion Tool
Result in px:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert points (pt) to pixels (px) depend on the screen resolution, which usually is 96 dots per inch (DPI). Since 1 point equals 1/72 inch, you convert pt to inches first, then multiply by 96 to get pixels:
px = pt × (96 ÷ 72)
This works because points measure physical length based on inches, and pixels are based on screen density. You convert points to inches, then scale by screen DPI to get pixels. For example, with 7.2 pt:
- Convert points to inches: 7.2 pt × (1 inch / 72 pt) = 0.1 inch
- Convert inches to pixels: 0.1 inch × 96 px/inch = 9.6 px
Conversion Example
- 12 pt to px:
- 12 pt × (1/72) = 0.1667 inch
- 0.1667 inch × 96 = 16 px
- Result: 12 pt = 16 px
- 5 pt to px:
- 5 pt × (1/72) = 0.0694 inch
- 0.0694 inch × 96 = 6.6667 px
- Result: 5 pt ≈ 6.6667 px
- 15.5 pt to px:
- 15.5 pt × (1/72) = 0.2153 inch
- 0.2153 inch × 96 = 20.6667 px
- Result: 15.5 pt ≈ 20.6667 px
- 9 pt to px:
- 9 pt × (1/72) = 0.125 inch
- 0.125 inch × 96 = 12 px
- Result: 9 pt = 12 px
Conversion Chart
The chart below shows conversion from pt to px for values between -17.8 and 32.2. Negative values represent measurements in the opposite direction, which sometimes used in design offsets or margins. To read the chart, find your pt value in the left column and see the equivalent px value on the right.
| Points (pt) | Pixels (px) |
|---|---|
| -17.8 | -23.7333 |
| -10 | -13.3333 |
| -5 | -6.6667 |
| 0 | 0 |
| 3.5 | 4.6667 |
| 7.2 | 9.6 |
| 12 | 16 |
| 16.8 | 22.4 |
| 20 | 26.6667 |
| 25 | 33.3333 |
| 32.2 | 42.9333 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How many pixels is 7.2 points on a 96 DPI screen?
- What’s the pixel equivalent of 7.2 pt in CSS?
- Does 7.2 pt always convert to 9.6 px regardless of screen?
- How to convert 7.2 pt to px for web design?
- Is 7.2 pt larger than 9.6 px or smaller?
- What formula to use for changing 7.2 pt into pixels?
- Why does 7.2 pt equal 9.6 px on standard displays?
Conversion Definitions
pt (point): A point is a unit of length used in typography and print, equal to 1/72 of an inch. It measures font size and spacing in printed materials, providing a consistent physical size regardless of screen resolution or device. It’s widely used for specifying text size in documents.
px (pixel): A pixel is the smallest unit of a digital image or display, representing a single point of color on a screen. Pixels vary in physical size depending on screen resolution, but in web design, 1 px corresponds to 1/96 of an inch based on standard display density, used to measure digital elements and fonts.
Conversion FAQs
Why does 1 pt equal 1/72 inch?
The point unit originated from traditional printing, where 1 pt was defined as 1/72 of an inch to standardize font sizes and spacing across printed materials. This fixed length helps designers maintain consistent typography regardless of printer or paper.
Can the pt to px conversion change on different devices?
The conversion ratio is based on a 96 DPI standard, common in most screens. However, screens with different dots per inch (DPI) or scaling settings may display sizes differently, causing the px equivalent for a pt value to appear larger or smaller visually, though mathematically the conversion stays fixed.
Is converting pt to px always necessary in web design?
Not always. Web design often uses px directly because it matches screen pixels, but sometimes pt is used for print styles or when aiming for physical measurement consistency. When converting for screen display, px values are preferred for precise control on digital devices.
What happens if I use fractional points like 7.2 pt?
Fractional points are valid and convert smoothly to pixels using the same formula. The resulting pixel value might not be an integer, so browsers round or render sub-pixel values depending on the display technology, sometimes causing slight visual differences.
Are pt and px interchangeable units?
They are not interchangeable because pt is a physical measurement based on inches, while px is a digital measurement based on screen dots. Converting between them requires accounting for screen DPI to approximate physical size on digital devices.