What's the difference between PX and EM units?

PX units are fixed and don't scale with their container, while EM units are relative to their parent element's font size and automatically adjust when the parent size changes. EM units are perfect for creating scalable, context-aware components.

Why should I use EM instead of pixels for components?

EM units scale with their parent element's font size, making components automatically adapt to different contexts. They're essential for creating flexible, reusable components that work consistently across different parent sizes and themes.

What's the standard conversion rate for PX to EM?

With the default 16px parent font size, 1em = 16px. So 24px = 1.5em, 32px = 2em, 48px = 3em, etc. This ratio changes based on the parent element's font size, making EM units context-dependent.

How do I set a custom parent font size for EM calculations?

Set the parent element's font size: .parent { font-size: 18px; } for an 18px parent, or .parent { font-size: 1.2em; } to inherit from a grandparent. The PX to EM converter lets you test different parent sizes instantly.

Can EM units be used for spacing and layout within components?

Absolutely! EM units work excellently for padding, margins, and any spacing within components. This creates harmonious, consistent component layouts where all sizing scales together when the component's font size changes.

How do EM units work with component composition?

EM units work perfectly with component composition. Child components automatically scale with their parent's font size, creating flexible, reusable UI elements that adapt to different contexts and themes without manual recalculation.

PX to EM Converter

Convert pixel values to EM units for scalable component styling with parent font size context and inheritance calculation. Perfect for fluid typography and component-based design with precise unit conversions.

css

Share this tool:

Quick Presets

Common pixel values for quick conversion

Input & Settings

Enter a pixel value and parent font size to convert to EM

Pixels (px)

Parent Element Font Size (px)

EM is relative to the parent element's font size

How it works: Divides the pixel value by the parent element's font size to calculate the EM value. Unlike REM (which is relative to the root), EM units are relative to the nearest parent element's font size, making them useful for component-scoped scaling.

Continue Your Code Journey

More tools you might find useful

PX to REM Converter

Change pixels to REM for responsive design

CSS Units Converter

Transform between CSS length units precisely

PX to Percent Converter

Transform pixels to percentages for fluid layouts

PX to VH Converter

Convert pixels to viewport height units

🌈 Browse More Tools

All Code Tools All Tools

Complete Guide: PX to EM Converter

Everything you need to know about using PX to EM Converter effectively

Related Tools

More tools you might find useful

Featured

SQL to JSON Converter

Convert SQL SELECT results to JSON format

Generate Linux file permission codes with visual editor

chmod

permissions

linux

PX to Picas Converter

Convert pixels to picas for typography

picas

PX to Points Converter

Change pixels to points for print design

points

URL Encoder/Decoder

Encode or decode URL strings safely

Format and beautify SQL queries with proper indentation

sql

format

beautify

cURL to Fetch Converter

Convert cURL commands to JavaScript Fetch API code instantly

curl

fetch

api

Text to Binary Converter

Convert text to binary code and back with ASCII encoding

text

binary

encoding

Related Collections

Collections that include this tool - discover more tools in these curated collections

CSS Unit Converter Tools

Convert between all CSS units instantly. Transform pixels to REM, EM, viewport units, percentages, and print units for responsive design and cross-device compatibility.

View collection