Convert Inch (in) to Pica (pica) instantly.
About these units
Inch (in)
An inch is defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters, a precise metric-based definition that preserves its usefulness within imperial systems. Historically, the inch was based on the width of three barleycorns placed end-to-end, a charming relic of medieval measurement practices. Today, the inch is vital in manufacturing, woodworking, consumer electronics (e.g., screen sizes), and tooling standards across the US and partially in the UK. Its size is small enough to offer usable precision yet large enough to avoid unwieldy fractions for many everyday objects. Even in predominantly metric industries, certain products—such as plumbing parts, bicycle rims, and camera mounts—retain inch-based standards for compatibility. This persistence shows how technological ecosystems can outlive their measurement origins.
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.