1.5 em equals 24 pixels (px) when the base font size is 16px.
Table of Contents
The conversion from em to px depends on the root font size of the document, commonly 16px in browsers. Multiplying 1.5 em by 16px gives the pixel equivalent: 1.5 × 16 = 24px.
Conversion Tool
Result in px:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert em to px is:
Pixels (px) = em value × Root font size (px)
This works because an em unit is relative to the font size of the parent element or the root element. If the root font size is 16px, then 1em equals 16px. Therefore, multiplying the em value by 16 gives the equivalent pixel size.
Example:
- Given: 1.5 em and root font size = 16px
- Calculation: 1.5 × 16 = 24 px
- Result: 1.5 em equals 24 pixels
Conversion Example
- 2 em to px:
– Start with 2 em
– Multiply by 16 (root font size): 2 × 16 = 32px
– So, 2 em equals 32 pixels - 0.75 em to px:
– 0.75 em × 16 = 12 px
– Therefore, 0.75 em is 12 pixels - 3.25 em to px:
– 3.25 × 16 = 52 px
– 3.25 em converts to 52 pixels - 0 em to px:
– 0 × 16 = 0 px
– Zero em is zero pixels - -1 em to px:
– -1 × 16 = -16 px
– Negative em results negative pixel value
Conversion Chart
| Value (em) | Converted (px) |
|---|---|
| -23.5 | -376 |
| -20.0 | -320 |
| -15.0 | -240 |
| -10.5 | -168 |
| -5.25 | -84 |
| -1.0 | -16 |
| 0 | 0 |
| 1.0 | 16 |
| 3.5 | 56 |
| 7.0 | 112 |
| 12.0 | 192 |
| 18.5 | 296 |
| 23.0 | 368 |
| 26.5 | 424 |
This chart shows em values in the left column and their px equivalents on the right, assuming a root font size of 16px. To find the px value, multiply the em number by 16. Negative values produce negative pixel sizes, useful for offsets or shrink effects.
Related Conversion Questions
- How many pixels are in 1.5 em if the base font size changes?
- What is the pixel equivalent of 1.5 em on mobile devices?
- Can 1.5 em be converted to pixels without knowing the root font size?
- How does 1.5 em compare to px in responsive design?
- Why does 1.5 em equal 24 px in standard browsers?
- What happens when converting 1.5 em to px with a custom font size?
- Is 1.5 em the same as 24 px in all CSS contexts?
Conversion Definitions
em: An em is a relative unit in typography, based on the font size of the parent or root element. It scales up or down according to the font size, allowing responsive and flexible text sizing. 1 em equals the current font size, making it useful for scalable layouts and designs.
px: Pixels (px) are absolute units representing a single dot on the screen. They provide fixed sizing, unaffected by parent elements or user settings. Pixels are common in digital design to specify exact sizes, but they lack flexibility compared with relative units like em or rem.
Conversion FAQs
Can the conversion from em to px vary between browsers?
The conversion depends on the root font size, which browsers default to 16px unless changed by user settings or CSS. If a browser or webpage modifies the base font size, the px equivalent of 1.5 em will change accordingly. So, the conversion isn’t always consistent across all environments.
Why would someone use em instead of px for font sizes?
Using em units allows text and elements to scale relative to their container or root font size, making designs more flexible and accessible. Pixels provide fixed sizing, which can cause problems on different screen sizes or user preferences. Em units help create responsive layouts that adapt better to varying conditions.
How do you find the root font size if it’s not 16px?
You can inspect the root element (usually <html>) styles using browser developer tools to see what font size is set. If none is explicitly set, most browsers default to 16px. Some websites redefine this value, so checking it is necessary for accurate conversions.
Does converting negative em values to px have practical uses?
Yes, negative em values can be used for positioning elements or creating offsets relative to the font size. When converted to px, they produce negative pixel values that move elements in the opposite direction, useful in advanced layout or animation scenarios.
If the root font size changes dynamically, how does it affect em to px conversion?
Since em units depend on the root font size, any change to that size will immediately affect all em-based measurements. This can cause layouts or fonts to resize dynamically, which is helpful for responsive designs but requires careful calculation to maintain consistent appearance.