Convert barleycorn to pica Online | Free Length Converter

Barleycorn

A barleycorn is an old English unit of length, traditionally based on the length of a grain of barley. It is defined as exactly 1/3 of an inch or approximately 8.47 millimeters.

Historically, the barleycorn was used for measuring small lengths and was also the basis for the inch, which was originally considered to be three barleycorns long. It played a role in various traditional measurements, including shoe sizing in English-speaking countries, where shoe sizes were sometimes expressed in barleycorn units.

Although obsolete as a formal unit, the barleycorn remains culturally significant, especially in shoe sizing systems.

Summary:

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  1 barleycorn = 1/3 inch ≈ 8.47 mm

  
  
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  Based on the length of a grain of barley

  
  
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  Used historically in small measurements and shoe sizing

  
  
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  Mostly of historical and cultural interest today

  
  

Pica

A pica is a unit of length commonly used in typography and printing to measure font sizes, line lengths, and spacing. It is equal to 1/6 of an inch, or exactly 12 points in the point system.

Key facts:

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  1 pica = 1/6 inch ≈ 4.233 millimeters

  
  
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  1 pica = 12 points

  
  
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  Used primarily in graphic design, printing, and typesetting

  
  
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  Helps standardize the measurement of fonts, columns, and layouts

  
  

The pica remains a fundamental unit in desktop publishing and print design, helping maintain consistency in text and page formatting.