1.17 Em to Px – Answer and Calculator Tool

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1.17 em equals 18.72 px.

The conversion from em to pixels depends on the base font size of the element, generally 16 pixels in web browsers. Multiplying 1.17 by 16 gives the pixel value, which is 18.72 pixels. This shows how em units scale relative to the base font size, giving flexible sizing options.

Conversion Tool

Conversion Formula

The formula to convert em to pixels is: pixels = em × base font size (px). The base font size is the pixel size the browser uses by default, commonly 16 pixels. Because em is a relative unit, multiplying by the base font size gives the absolute pixel value.

This works because an em unit represents the font size of the current element or its parent. If the base is 16px, then 1 em equals 16px, 2 em equals 32px, and so on.

Example calculation using 1.17 em:

• Base font size: 16 px
• Multiply 1.17 em × 16 px = 18.72 px
• Result: 1.17 em equals 18.72 pixels

Conversion Example

• 2.5 em to px:
  • Multiply 2.5 × 16 = 40 px
  • 2.5 em equals 40 pixels
• 0.75 em to px:
  • Multiply 0.75 × 16 = 12 px
  • 0.75 em equals 12 pixels
• 1.33 em to px:
  • Multiply 1.33 × 16 = 21.28 px
  • 1.33 em equals 21.28 pixels
• 4 em to px:
  • Multiply 4 × 16 = 64 px
  • 4 em equals 64 pixels
• 0.5 em to px:
  • Multiply 0.5 × 16 = 8 px
  • 0.5 em equals 8 pixels

Conversion Chart

The table below shows em values from -23.8 to 26.2 with the equivalent pixel values, assuming a 16px base font size. To use the chart, find the em value in the left column and read across to see the pixel conversion on the right.

Related Conversion Questions

• How many pixels does 1.17 em equal on a webpage?
• What’s the pixel size for a text sized 1.17 em in CSS?
• Can 1.17 em convert to pixels if the base font size changes?
• Why does 1.17 em equal 18.72 pixels in most browsers?
• How to calculate pixels from 1.17 em when base font size isn’t 16px?
• Is 1.17 em bigger or smaller than 18 pixels?
• What happens to 1.17 em in px if the parent element font size changes?

Conversion Definitions

em: Em is a relative CSS unit used for sizing elements, fonts, or spacing. It is based on the font size of the current element or its parent, so 1 em equals the font size in pixels. This relative sizing helps create flexible layouts that adapt to different devices or user settings.

px: Px, or pixel, is an absolute unit in CSS representing a single dot on the screen. It provides precise control over element sizes, independent from other elements. Pixels are fixed and do not scale with user font size settings, making them ideal for exact layout measurements.

Conversion FAQs

Does changing the browser’s default font size affect converting 1.17 em to pixels?

Yes, it does. Em units are relative to the base font size set by the browser or inherited from parent elements. If the default font size changes from 16px to something else, multiplying 1.17 by the new base size will give a different pixel value. So, 1.17 em in pixels depends on that base.

Can em values be negative like -1.17 em?

Technically, CSS allows negative values for some properties, but negative em sizes for font-size usually produce invalid or unexpected results. Negative spacing or positioning might use negative ems, but font-size with negative em is not practical and may be ignored by browsers.

Why might 1.17 em not always equal 18.72 px on a webpage?

Because the em unit relies on the current font size context. If an element inherits from a parent that has a different font size than 16px, then 1.17 em corresponds to 1.17 times that inherited size, not 16px. This leads to different pixel results depending on the CSS cascade.

Is it better to use em or px for font sizing?

Em allows scalable font sizes, adapting better to user preferences and responsive designs. Pixels offer exact control but may not scale well on different devices or user settings. Choosing depends on whether flexibility or precision is more important for your project.

How to convert em to px if the base font size is set in rem units?

If the base font size is in rem, you first need to calculate the pixel value of the rem unit relative to the root element. Once you know that, multiply the em value by the rem’s pixel value to get the final pixel size. Em units are relative to their element, rem always to root font size.