One point is exactly 0.03527777778 centimeters, so converting points to centimeters is a single multiplication. Enter any figure and the result appears as you type — the arithmetic runs in your browser, so nothing is sent anywhere.
The DTP point: exactly 1/72 inch, the unit type size is set in. One hundredth of a metre, and the everyday metric unit for body measurements and paper sizes.
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 centimeters so the number you get has something to be compared against.
The formula
points- The amount you are converting, in points
0.0352777777778- The exact number of centimeters in one point
centimeters- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Enter the value in points.
- It is multiplied by 0.0352777777778, the exact factor between the two units.
- The answer is shown in centimeters, with the reverse conversion beneath it.
- Check the reference table if you want a figure of comparable size.
Worked examples
A door height: 5760 pt in centimeters
At 5760 pt (a door height), the same quantity in centimeters is 5760 × 0.0352778 = 203.2 cm. One point is 0.0352778 centimeters, so the numbers shrink as expected.
An Olympic pool: 1.42e+05 pt in centimeters
At 1.42e+05 pt (an olympic pool), the same quantity in centimeters is 1.42e+05 × 0.0352778 = 5009.44 cm. One point is 0.0352778 centimeters, so the numbers shrink as expected.
How to read your score
Frequently asked questions
How many centimeters are in one point?
Exactly 0.0352777777778. 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 points to centimeters?
centimeters = points × 0.0352777777778. Reversed, points = centimeters ÷ 0.0352777777778, which is the same as multiplying by 28.3464566929.
Which is the bigger unit, the point or the centimeter?
The centimeter. One point is only 0.0352778 of a centimeter, so it takes 28.3465 points to make one centimeter.
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 point?
The DTP point: exactly 1/72 inch, the unit type size is set in.
What is a centimeter?
One hundredth of a metre, and the everyday metric unit for body measurements and paper sizes.
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 pt to cm in my head?
Plenty of people do this in their head: divide by 28 instead of using the exact factor 0.03527777778. At 100 that shortcut gives 3.5714286 centimeters, off by 0.04365 centimeters or about 1.24%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
Points to centimeters reference tables
| Points | Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 0.5 pt | 0.0176389 cm |
| 1 pt | 0.0352778 cm |
| 2 pt | 0.0705556 cm |
| 3 pt | 0.105833 cm |
| 5 pt | 0.176389 cm |
| 10 pt | 0.352778 cm |
| 20 pt | 0.705556 cm |
| 25 pt | 0.881944 cm |
| 50 pt | 1.76389 cm |
| 75 pt | 2.64583 cm |
| 100 pt | 3.52778 cm |
| 250 pt | 8.81944 cm |
| 500 pt | 17.6389 cm |
| 1000 pt | 35.2778 cm |
| 5000 pt | 176.389 cm |
Exact factor: 1 point = 0.0352777777778 centimeters.
| Quantity | pt | cm |
|---|---|---|
| A credit card’s long edge | 242.6 pt | 8.56 cm |
| A door height | 5760 pt | 203.2 cm |
| An Olympic pool | 1.417e+05 pt | 5000 cm |
| The Eiffel Tower | 9.354e+05 pt | 3.3e+04 cm |
| A marathon | 1.196e+08 pt | 4.22e+06 cm |
| Earth’s diameter | 3.612e+10 pt | 1.274e+09 cm |
Published reference values, converted with the same factor this page uses.