Convert Handbreadth (handbreadth) to Twip (twip) instantly.
About these units
Handbreadth (handbreadth)
The handbreadth, roughly 0.1 meter, represents the width of a human hand with fingers extended. It served as a convenient, body-based subunit for cubits and larger measures. Handbreadths were integral to construction, tailoring, and craftwork, allowing precise division of larger units into manageable increments. In ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Hebrew measurement systems, the handbreadth facilitated scaling and proportioning for artisans and builders. Today, the handbreadth is mainly of historical interest, helping reconstruct ancient architectural plans and understand the human-centered logic of early measurement systems.
Twip (twip)
A twip is a twentieth of a point, equal to 1/1440 of an inch. This extremely small unit originated in computer typography, particularly in early word processors and GUI layout systems developed by Microsoft and Apple. Because digital screens and software-based layout engines require highly precise internal measurements, twips allowed consistent and resolution-independent positioning of graphical objects and text. Even when the actual pixel density of displays varied, twips provided a device-agnostic coordinate system. Twips remain particularly relevant in Microsoft technologies such as Visual Basic, Windows API interfaces, and the formatting of Office documents. Although ordinary users rarely encounter the term, twips form part of the invisible numerical infrastructure that ensures consistent layout across different computers, printers, and operating systems.