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Convert picas to inches instantly. Essential for layout design, column width calculations, and print publishing.
inches = picas ÷ 6
Example: 6 pc = 6 ÷ 6 = 1 inch
| Picas (pc) | Inches (in) |
|---|---|
| 1 pc | 0.166667 in |
| 2 pc | 0.333333 in |
| 3 pc | 0.500000 in |
| 4 pc | 0.666667 in |
| 5 pc | 0.833333 in |
| 6 pc | 1.000000 in |
| 9 pc | 1.500000 in |
| 12 pc | 2.000000 in |
| 18 pc | 3.000000 in |
| 24 pc | 4.000000 in |
| 30 pc | 5.000000 in |
| 36 pc | 6.000000 in |
| 42 pc | 7.000000 in |
A pica (pc) is a traditional unit of measurement in typography and print design, equal to exactly 1/6 of an inch or 12 points in the modern PostScript system. Picas originated in traditional metal typesetting and have remained essential in professional publishing due to their convenient size for measuring larger typographic elements. While points are ideal for font sizes and fine spacing, picas excel at measuring column widths, margins, and overall page dimensions. The pica's relationship to both inches (6 picas = 1 inch) and points (1 pica = 12 points) makes it a versatile bridge unit in typographic measurement. Professional designers and publishers continue to use picas because they provide practical granularity for layout work without the unwieldy decimal values that often result from using inches alone. This measurement system ensures consistency across different publishing platforms and workflows.
Start with the value you want to convert (e.g., 6 picas).
Since there are 6 picas in one inch, divide your pica value by 6.
The result is your measurement in inches. Example: 6 ÷ 6 = 1 inch.
Double-check by multiplying back: 1 inch × 6 = 6 picas confirms your calculation.
Measuring column widths and advertising space in traditional print media.
Setting page margins, text blocks, and overall page dimensions.
Creating grid systems and multi-column layouts with precise measurements.
Establishing consistent spacing and alignment in print projects.
Standardizing layout dimensions across documentation systems.
Communicating specifications between designers and printers.
Picas provide a middle ground between the fine precision of points and the larger scale of inches. They're particularly useful for measuring column widths, margins, and layout elements because they yield cleaner whole numbers than inches would. For example, a 3-pica column width is simpler to work with than 0.5 inches.
The pica originated in traditional metal typesetting, where it represented a specific size of type body. The name likely comes from medieval Latin "pica," referring to a book of ecclesiastical rules. Historically, pica sizes varied slightly between foundries, but the modern digital pica (exactly 1/6 inch or 12 PostScript points) has standardized the measurement since the 1980s.
One pica equals exactly 12 points. This relationship is fundamental to typography: 1 pica = 12 points, 6 picas = 72 points = 1 inch. This makes conversions between these units straightforward and allows designers to work flexibly with different measurement scales.
Yes, especially in print-focused design work. Professional publishing software like Adobe InDesign prominently features picas, and many design standards and style guides specify measurements in picas. While pixels dominate screen design, picas remain essential for any work destined for physical printing.
Measurements are often written as picas and points, separated by a lowercase "p". For example, "6p3" means 6 picas and 3 points (6.25 picas total, or about 1.042 inches). This notation allows for precise measurements while keeping values readable and practical.
Common newspaper columns range from 9 to 14 picas wide. Magazine columns might be 12 to 18 picas. Book text blocks often span 24 to 30 picas. These measurements depend on font size, line spacing, and desired line length for optimal readability, typically aiming for 45-75 characters per line.