To convert picas to microns, multiply by 4233.333333. That factor is the whole relationship: both units measure length, so the conversion is a proportion with no offset and no substance-specific constant.
The older name for a micrometre, still standard in filtration, machining and paint-thickness specifications. 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". Below the calculator there is a step table for the values people look up most, and a second table putting real length figures into microns so the number you get has something to be compared against.
The formula
picas- The amount you are converting, in picas
4233.33333333- The exact number of microns in one pica
microns- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Enter the value in picas.
- It is multiplied by 4233.33333333, the exact factor between the two units.
- The answer is shown in microns, with the reverse conversion beneath it.
- Check the reference table if you want a figure of comparable size.
Worked examples
The Eiffel Tower: 7.8e+04 pica in microns
Take the eiffel tower, roughly 7.8e+04 pica. The conversion is a single multiplication — 7.8e+04 × 4233.33 — giving 3.302e+08 micron. Because the relationship is proportional, doubling the input doubles the answer to 6.604e+08 micron.
A credit card’s long edge: 20.2 pica in microns
At 20.2 pica (a credit card’s long edge), the same quantity in microns is 20.2 × 4233.33 = 85,513.3 micron. One pica is 4233.33 microns, so the numbers grow as expected.
How to read your score
Frequently asked questions
How many microns are in one pica?
Exactly 4233.33333333. 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 microns?
microns = picas × 4233.33333333. Reversed, picas = microns ÷ 4233.33333333, which is the same as multiplying by 0.000236220472441.
Which is the bigger unit, the pica or the micron?
The pica. One pica equals 4233.33 microns.
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 micron?
The older name for a micrometre, still standard in filtration, machining and paint-thickness specifications.
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 micron in my head?
Plenty of people do this in their head: multiply by 4200 instead of using the exact factor 4233.333333. At 100 that shortcut gives 420,000 microns, off by 3333 microns or about 0.79%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
Picas to microns reference tables
| Picas | Microns |
|---|---|
| 0.5 pica | 2116.67 micron |
| 1 pica | 4233.33 micron |
| 2 pica | 8466.67 micron |
| 3 pica | 12,700 micron |
| 5 pica | 21,166.7 micron |
| 10 pica | 42,333.3 micron |
| 20 pica | 84,666.7 micron |
| 25 pica | 105,833 micron |
| 50 pica | 211,667 micron |
| 75 pica | 317,500 micron |
| 100 pica | 423,333 micron |
| 250 pica | 1.05833e+06 micron |
| 500 pica | 2.11667e+06 micron |
| 1000 pica | 4.23333e+06 micron |
| 5000 pica | 2.11667e+07 micron |
Exact factor: 1 pica = 4233.33333333 microns.
| Quantity | pica | micron |
|---|---|---|
| A credit card’s long edge | 20.22 pica | 8.56e+04 micron |
| A door height | 480 pica | 2.032e+06 micron |
| An Olympic pool | 1.181e+04 pica | 5e+07 micron |
| The Eiffel Tower | 7.795e+04 pica | 3.3e+08 micron |
| A marathon | 9.967e+06 pica | 4.22e+10 micron |
| Earth’s diameter | 3.01e+09 pica | 1.274e+13 micron |
Published reference values, converted with the same factor this page uses.