Converters
REM to Point Converter
Transform REM units to point (pt) values for print and cross-platform compatibility.
.element {
font-size: pt; /* 1rem with 16px root */
}| REM | Point (pt) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75rem | 9pt | Small text, footnotes |
| 1rem | 12pt | Base body text |
| 1.25rem | 15pt | Large text, subheadings |
| 1.5rem | 18pt | H3 headings |
| 2rem | 24pt | H2 headings |
| 3rem | 36pt | H1 headings |
Converting REM units to point (pt) values is useful when working with designs that need to be consistent across both web and print media. This converter helps you quickly transform REM values to their equivalent point values based on the root font size.
What are REM Units?
REM (Root EM) is a unit of measurement in CSS that represents the font size of the root element (typically the <html> element). By default, browsers set the root font size to 16px, so 1rem equals 16px unless otherwise specified.
What are Point Units?
Point (pt) is an absolute unit of measurement traditionally used in print design. In CSS, 1pt is defined as 1/72 of an inch, which is approximately 0.35mm. Points are commonly used in print stylesheets and when precise control over physical size is needed.
Conversion Formula
To convert from REM to points:
points = (rem × root_font_size) ÷ 1.333333
Where:
- rem is the REM value you want to convert
- root_font_size is the font size of the root element (default: 16px)
- 1.333333 is the conversion factor (1pt ≈ 1.333333px)
When to Use Point Units
Point units are most appropriate for:
- Print stylesheets (using @media print)
- Creating designs that need to match print specifications
- Working with PDF generation from web content
- Cross-media publishing where both web and print outputs are needed
Limitations of Point Units for Web
While points are useful for print, they have limitations for web design:
- They don't scale well with user preferences
- They may render inconsistently across different devices
- They don't adapt to viewport changes like relative units do
- For responsive web design, relative units like rem, em, or % are generally preferred
Browser Support
Both REM and point units have excellent browser support across all modern browsers. However, the exact rendering of point units may vary slightly between browsers and operating systems due to differences in screen resolution and DPI handling.