Convert nail (cloth) to pica Online | Free Length Converter

Nail (Cloth)

A nail is a traditional unit of length used in cloth measurement, equal to 2¼ inches or approximately 5.715 centimeters. It was commonly used by tailors and fabric merchants in England to measure small lengths of fabric.

The term “nail” likely originates from the practice of marking lengths on a measuring stick with notches or nails, making it easy to measure fabric quickly. The nail was a convenient subdivision of the yard, with 1 yard = 16 nails.

Though obsolete today, the nail remains an interesting part of historical textile measurement systems.

Summary:

• 
  

  1 nail = 2¼ inches (5.715 cm)

  
  
• 
  

  1 yard = 16 nails

  
  
• 
  

  Used historically in tailoring and fabric trade

  
  
• 
  

  Originates from notches or nails on measuring sticks

  
  

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:

• 
  

  1 pica = 1/6 inch ≈ 4.233 millimeters

  
  
• 
  

  1 pica = 12 points

  
  
• 
  

  Used primarily in graphic design, printing, and typesetting

  
  
• 
  

  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.