Convert Fathom (US Survey) (fath (US)) to Pica (pica) instantly.
About these units
Fathom (US Survey) (fath (US))
The US Survey Fathom is defined as 6 US Survey Feet (~1.8288 meters), identical in proportion to the traditional fathom but scaled to the US Survey Foot. Maritime surveys, early river navigation, and hydrographic measurements relied on this unit for determining depths and plotting charts. In terrestrial applications, the fathom occasionally served as a practical measure for large structures or obstacles. Although less relevant in contemporary usage, understanding the US survey fathom is crucial for interpreting historical navigation data, nautical charts, and engineering projects using older measurement systems.
Pica (pica)
A pica is another typographic unit, equal to 12 points, or 1/6 of an inch, making it larger and more suited to structural layout than to fine detail. Picas are commonly used to measure text blocks, column widths, margins, and line lengths in print and digital page design. The pica originated alongside the point in printing traditions stretching back to the 18th and 19th centuries. It offered a convenient intermediate scale—small enough for precise adjustments but large enough for practical page design. When newspapers became widespread, picas helped designers rapidly calculate column grids and organize dense printed pages. Even as publishing tools evolved into software like Adobe InDesign and LaTeX, picas remain deeply integrated into the workflow of book designers, typographers, and professional printers. They are part of a system that allows page elements to be arranged with precision, ensuring that every visual aspect of a document aligns harmoniously.