Convert Hand (hand) to Point (pt) instantly.
About these units
Hand (hand)
The hand is a traditional unit of length equal to 4 inches, historically used to measure the height of horses. Its origins go back thousands of years, when people commonly relied on body-based measurements. While early hands varied from culture to culture, the modern standardized hand—set at exactly 4 inches—was adopted to bring uniformity to equine measurement worldwide. When measuring a horse, the height is taken at the withers, the ridge between the shoulder blades, because this location provides a stable and consistent point unaffected by head movement. Horse heights are often written in a mixed-unit style: for example, "15.3 hands" means 15 hands plus 3 inches, not 15.3 × 4 inches. Though rarely used outside the world of horsemanship, the hand has become deeply embedded in equestrian culture. It provides a system that is intuitive, easy to visualize, and respectful of longstanding tradition. In modern times, even highly scientific equine breeding and veterinary studies continue to quote measurements in hands.
Point (pt)
A point is a typographic unit traditionally equal to 1/72 of an inch (in digital typography) or 0.352777 mm. Historically, however, the point system varied widely across regions and printing houses. In the era of metal movable type, each foundry often produced its own proprietary sizes, making typefaces and point values incompatible between printers. The modern point was standardized largely due to the demands of the publishing industry and later digital systems, especially PostScript and desktop publishing software. The point became essential because typography requires extremely fine control over letter height, line spacing, and layout—far beyond what conventional measurement systems could easily express. Designers and typesetters rely on points to specify the sizes of fonts, the spacing between lines (leading), and the thickness of rules or strokes. In digital environments, the point remains foundational even though screen resolutions vary. Software uses points as virtual units that are converted into pixels depending on display density. Thus, the point bridges the traditional world of print with modern digital rendering, maintaining continuity in the long history of written communication.