Convert Pica (pica) to Mile (US Survey) (mi (US)) instantly.
About these units
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.
Mile (US Survey) (mi (US))
The US Survey Mile equals 5,280 US Survey Feet (~1,609.347 meters). Slightly longer than the international mile due to the use of the US survey foot, it has been essential for mapping, transportation planning, and geodetic calculations in the United States. Surveyors and engineers relied on the US survey mile to ensure precise alignment of property boundaries, railroad tracks, and infrastructure projects. Over long distances, even small differences between the US survey and international mile can accumulate significantly, necessitating care in measurement. Though the international mile is now standard, the US survey mile remains important for interpreting historical maps, legal descriptions, and older engineering plans.