twip Unit Converter

Definition of twip unit

A twip is a typographic and computing unit of length equal to one twentieth of a point, or 1/1,440 of an inch. It measures approximately 0.01764 millimeters and is commonly used for precise layout and positioning.

History of twip unit

The term twip originated as an abbreviation for “twentieth of a point,” reflecting traditional typography’s point system. In that system, one point equals 1/72 of an inch, making a twip equal to 1/1,440 inch. Microsoft popularized the unit in the 1980s through Windows graphical interfaces and document technologies, including Rich Text Format and printer drivers. Twips offered an integer-based coordinate system for consistent screen and print positioning, avoiding the rounding associated with fractional points. Although less visible today, it remains embedded in older Windows layout models and file formats.

Applications of twip unit

Today, twips appear mainly in legacy Microsoft Windows and document-format contexts. They can specify margins, indents, column widths, dialog dimensions, and object positions in word-processing files, desktop-publishing software, and Office automation APIs. For example, a 720-twip margin equals half an inch. Modern responsive interfaces usually favor pixels, points, or device-independent units instead.

Complete list of twip unit conversion