To convert picas to fathoms, multiply by 0.002314814815. That factor is the whole relationship: both units measure length, so the conversion is a proportion with no offset and no substance-specific constant.
Six feet, the traditional depth unit on marine charts. Twelve points, or 1/6 inch — the column-width unit of print layout.
The mil and the millimetre are not the same thing and are out by a factor of about forty. A mil is one thousandth of an inch — 0.0254 mm — and a spec sheet that quotes film thickness in mils means the small unit. British drawings write the same size as "thou". Two tables follow: rounded steps for quick lookup, and a set of real reference quantities converted into fathoms, which is usually more useful than the bare number.
The formula
picas- The amount you are converting, in picas
0.00231481481481- The exact number of fathoms in one pica
fathoms- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Enter the value in picas.
- It is multiplied by 0.00231481481481, the exact factor between the two units.
- The answer is shown in fathoms, with the reverse conversion beneath it.
- Check the reference table if you want a figure of comparable size.
Worked examples
A door height: 480 pica in fathoms
Take a door height, roughly 480 pica. The conversion is a single multiplication — 480 × 0.00231481 — giving 1.11111 ftm. Because the relationship is proportional, doubling the input doubles the answer to 2.22222 ftm.
A marathon: 9.97e+06 pica in fathoms
Take a marathon, roughly 9.97e+06 pica. The conversion is a single multiplication — 9.97e+06 × 0.00231481 — giving 23,078.7 ftm. Because the relationship is proportional, doubling the input doubles the answer to 46,157.4 ftm.
How to read your score
Frequently asked questions
How many fathoms are in one pica?
Exactly 0.00231481481481. Every figure on this page is that one number multiplied by your input, so the only rounding is at the display step.
What is the formula to convert picas to fathoms?
fathoms = picas × 0.00231481481481. Reversed, picas = fathoms ÷ 0.00231481481481, which is the same as multiplying by 432.
Which is the bigger unit, the pica or the fathom?
The fathom. One pica is only 0.00231481 of a fathom, so it takes 432 picas to make one fathom.
What does this quantity actually measure?
Both units measure length. That is why a single factor is enough: there is no temperature offset and no material property involved, unlike conversions that cross between different quantities.
What is a pica?
Twelve points, or 1/6 inch — the column-width unit of print layout.
What is a fathom?
Six feet, the traditional depth unit on marine charts.
Why does my answer differ from another converter?
Almost always because the other tool rounded the factor before multiplying. This page keeps full double precision through the calculation and rounds only for display, and it prints the factor it used so you can see where any difference came from.
Is there a quick way to do pica to ftm in my head?
Plenty of people do this in their head: divide by 430 instead of using the exact factor 0.002314814815. At 100 that shortcut gives 0.23255814 fathoms, off by 0.001077 fathoms or about 0.47%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
Picas to fathoms reference tables
| Picas | Fathoms |
|---|---|
| 0.5 pica | 0.00115741 ftm |
| 1 pica | 0.00231481 ftm |
| 2 pica | 0.00462963 ftm |
| 3 pica | 0.00694444 ftm |
| 5 pica | 0.0115741 ftm |
| 10 pica | 0.0231481 ftm |
| 20 pica | 0.0462963 ftm |
| 25 pica | 0.0578704 ftm |
| 50 pica | 0.115741 ftm |
| 75 pica | 0.173611 ftm |
| 100 pica | 0.231481 ftm |
| 250 pica | 0.578704 ftm |
| 500 pica | 1.15741 ftm |
| 1000 pica | 2.31481 ftm |
| 5000 pica | 11.5741 ftm |
Exact factor: 1 pica = 0.00231481481481 fathoms.
| Quantity | pica | ftm |
|---|---|---|
| A credit card’s long edge | 20.22 pica | 0.04681 ftm |
| A door height | 480 pica | 1.111 ftm |
| An Olympic pool | 1.181e+04 pica | 27.34 ftm |
| The Eiffel Tower | 7.795e+04 pica | 180.4 ftm |
| A marathon | 9.967e+06 pica | 2.307e+04 ftm |
| Earth’s diameter | 3.01e+09 pica | 6.967e+06 ftm |
Published reference values, converted with the same factor this page uses.