Typography / cm → pt
Convert Centimeters to DTP points
Convert absolute CSS lengths and desktop-publishing points. Convert Centimeters (cm) to DTP points (pt). Find the formula, worked examples, unit definitions, and practical guidance below.
Reverse: DTP points to Centimeters →
How to convert centimeters to DTP points
These use CSS definitions: 1 inch = 96 CSS pixels = 72 points = 6 picas. A CSS pixel is not a physical screen pixel. Relative em, rem, and viewport units need a rendering context and are excluded.
Use x for the value in cm, b for the intermediate value in in, and y for the result in pt.
pt = cm × 0.39370078740157477 ÷ 0.013888888888888888
Worked examples
10 cm ≈ 283.464566929 pt
Step 1: (10 × 0.393700787402) ≈ 3.93700787402 in.
Step 2: 3.93700787402 ÷ 0.0138888888889 ≈ 283.464566929 pt.20 cm ≈ 566.929133858 pt
Step 1: (20 × 0.393700787402) ≈ 7.87401574803 in.
Step 2: 7.87401574803 ÷ 0.0138888888889 ≈ 566.929133858 pt.
Results are rounded to 12 significant digits. Converting units does not increase the precision of the original measurement. Very large or small values outside JavaScript’s finite numeric range are rejected.
About Centimeters
Centimeters (cm) measures typography under the conventions above. The base value in in is (x × 0.393700787402), where x is the numerical value in cm. Factors shown here are rounded for display; calculations use the stored factor.
About DTP points
DTP points (pt) measures typography under the conventions above. The base value in in is (x × 0.0138888888889), where x is the numerical value in pt. Factors shown here are rounded for display; calculations use the stored factor.
Definitions and sources
Keep these unit conventions consistent when using measurements in construction calculations.
Centimeters to DTP points reference table
| Centimeters (cm) | DTP points (pt) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 28.3464566929 |
| 5 | 141.732283465 |
| 10 | 283.464566929 |
| 25 | 708.661417323 |
| 50 | 1417.32283465 |
| 100 | 2834.64566929 |
| 1000 | 28346.4566929 |
Browse every typography conversion →