Point (Typography) to Mil/Thou Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert points to mils with our free online length converter.
Point (Typography) to Mil/Thou Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Point (Typography)).
- The converted value in Mil/Thou will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Point (Typography) to Mil/Thou
Converting Point (Typography) to Mil/Thou involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Point (Typography) = 13.8889 milsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 points: 10 × 13.8889 = 138.889 mils
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Point (Typography) and a Mil/Thou?
A point is a unit of length used in typography. The desktop publishing point (DTP point or PostScript point) is defined as 1/72 of an international inch (approximately 0.3527 mm).
A mil (also known as a thou) is a unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch (0.001 inches or 25.4 micrometers).
Note: The Point (Typography) is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Mil/Thou belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Point (Typography) and Mil/Thou
Typographic points evolved from historical printing practices. The DTP point standardized previous variations for digital use.
The unit originates from precision engineering and manufacturing where small tolerances are critical.
Common Uses for points and mils
Explore the typical applications for both Point (Typography) (imperial/US) and Mil/Thou (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for points
- Specifying font sizes
- Measuring line spacing (leading) and other typographic elements
Common Uses for mils
- Measuring thickness of materials (e.g., paper, plastic film, coatings)
- Specifying manufacturing tolerances
- Electronics (e.g., PCB trace widths)
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Point (Typography) (pt)
How many points are in an inch?
In modern desktop publishing, there are exactly 72 points (pt) in 1 inch (in).
What is the difference between a point and a pixel?
A point (pt) is a unit of physical length (1/72 inch), typically used for print. A pixel (px) is a unit of digital display resolution and its physical size can vary depending on the screen's pixel density (PPI).
What does 12 pt font mean?
It means the height of the font characters (specifically, the 'em square', which includes space above and below the letters) is 12 points, or 12/72 = 1/6th of an inch.
About Mil/Thou (mil)
Is a mil the same as a millimeter?
No, a mil (0.001 inches) is much smaller than a millimeter (0.001 meters). 1 millimeter is approximately 39.37 mils.
Is 'mil' short for millimeter?
No, 'mil' is short for the Latin 'mille', meaning thousandth (of an inch). It is not an abbreviation for millimeter (mm).
What does 'thou' mean in this context?
'Thou' is another common name for a mil, also meaning one thousandth (of an inch). It is frequently used in engineering and machining.
Conversion Table: Point (Typography) to Mil/Thou
| Point (Typography) (pt) | Mil/Thou (mil) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 13.889 |
| 5 | 69.445 |
| 10 | 138.889 |
| 25 | 347.222 |
| 50 | 694.445 |
| 100 | 1,388.89 |
| 500 | 6,944.449 |
| 1,000 | 13,888.898 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Light Year (ly)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- Parsec (pc)
- Angstrom (Å)
- Fathom (fath)
- Furlong (fur)
- Link (Gunter's) (li)
- Pace (pace)
- Span (span)
- Digit (digit)
- Cable Length (cb)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- Roman Mile (m.p.)
- Stadion (stadion)
- Chi (Chinese) (chi)
- Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
- Li (Chinese) (li)
- Toise (toise)
- Bolt (bolt)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)