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1.5 em is equal to 24 pixels (px).
To convert 1.5 em to pixels, you multiply the em value by the base font size in pixels. Assuming the default base font size is 16px, 1.5 times 16 equals 24 pixels.
Conversion Tool
Result in px:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert em to pixels is: pixels = em × base font size. The base font size is often set by the browser or CSS, usually 16px by default.
This works because “em” units are relative to the font size of the element they’re used on. If the base font size is 16 pixels, then 1 em equals 16 pixels; thus multiplying the em value by 16 gives the equivalent pixels.
Example:
- Given: 1.5 em
- Base font size: 16 px
- Calculation: 1.5 × 16 = 24 px
- Result: 24 pixels
Conversion Example
- 2 em to px:
- Base font size is 16 px.
- Multiply 2 by 16: 2 × 16 = 32 px.
- So, 2 em equals 32 pixels.
- 0.75 em to px:
- Multiply 0.75 by 16: 0.75 × 16 = 12 px.
- Therefore, 0.75 em equals 12 pixels.
- 3.2 em to px:
- Calculate 3.2 × 16 = 51.2 px.
- This means 3.2 em is 51.2 pixels.
- 1 em to px:
- 1 × 16 = 16 px.
- So, 1 em equals 16 pixels.
- 4.5 em to px:
- Multiply 4.5 by 16: 4.5 × 16 = 72 px.
- This converts 4.5 em to 72 pixels.
Conversion Chart
This chart shows values from -23.5 em to 26.5 em converted into pixels. You can find the pixel equivalent by multiplying the em value by 16, the assumed base font size. Negative values indicate sizes smaller than the base, positive values larger.
em | px |
---|---|
-23.5 | -376 |
-22.5 | -360 |
-21.5 | -344 |
-20.5 | -328 |
-19.5 | -312 |
-18.5 | -296 |
-17.5 | -280 |
-16.5 | -264 |
-15.5 | -248 |
-14.5 | -232 |
-13.5 | -216 |
-12.5 | -200 |
-11.5 | -184 |
-10.5 | -168 |
-9.5 | -152 |
-8.5 | -136 |
-7.5 | -120 |
-6.5 | -104 |
-5.5 | -88 |
-4.5 | -72 |
-3.5 | -56 |
-2.5 | -40 |
-1.5 | -24 |
-0.5 | -8 |
0.5 | 8 |
1.5 | 24 |
2.5 | 40 |
3.5 | 56 |
4.5 | 72 |
5.5 | 88 |
6.5 | 104 |
7.5 | 120 |
8.5 | 136 |
9.5 | 152 |
10.5 | 168 |
11.5 | 184 |
12.5 | 200 |
13.5 | 216 |
14.5 | 232 |
15.5 | 248 |
16.5 | 264 |
17.5 | 280 |
18.5 | 296 |
19.5 | 312 |
20.5 | 328 |
21.5 | 344 |
22.5 | 360 |
23.5 | 376 |
24.5 | 392 |
25.5 | 408 |
26.5 | 424 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How many pixels equal 1.5 em in CSS with default font size?
- If my base font size changes, what is 1.5 em in pixels then?
- Does 1.5 em always convert to 24 px regardless of device?
- How do browsers calculate 1.5 em in pixels when font size is inherited?
- What is the difference between 1.5 em and 24 px in responsive design?
- Can 1.5 em be smaller than 24 px if user changes browser settings?
- Why does 1.5 em sometimes not equal 24 px in some web pages?
Conversion Definitions
em: A CSS unit relative to the current font size of the element. If the font size of the element is 16 pixels, then 1 em equals 16 pixels. The em unit scales with the font size, affecting layout and spacing dynamically across different screen sizes and user settings.
px: A fixed unit in CSS that represents one pixel on the screen. Pixels are absolute measures and do not scale with font size or user preferences. Using px gives precise control over sizes but can lack flexibility in responsive or accessible designs.
Conversion FAQs
Can the base font size be different than 16px?
Yes, the base font size is not always 16 pixels. It can be set by CSS or browser defaults, and when it changes, the pixel value for 1 em changes accordingly. For example, if the base is 20px, then 1.5 em equals 30 pixels.
Why does 1.5 em sometimes not equal 24 px on some websites?
Because em units are relative, if the font size of the parent or root element differs from 16px, the conversion changes. Also, nested elements can inherit font sizes, which affects em calculation, making 1.5 em not always equal to 24 pixels.
Is using em better than px for responsive design?
Using em units allows elements to scale based on font size, improving adaptability on different devices or user settings. Pixels are fixed and could cause layout issues on zoom or accessibility settings, so em units provide flexibility but require careful management.
How does browser zoom affect em to px conversion?
When zooming, browsers scale the entire page, including pixel size. Since em is relative to font size, which scales too, the pixel equivalent of em adjusts accordingly. This means 1.5 em might appear larger or smaller depending on zoom level.
Can em values be negative and what does that mean?
Negative em values are allowed but rare. They represent negative spacing or positioning relative to the font size. For example, -1.5 em would be -24 px if base size is 16 px, often used for overlapping elements or special effects.