What is a Em (em)?

An em is a CSS unit relative to the font size of the parent element, making it useful for scalable component design.

Definition

Symbol

em

Category

CSS Units

System

Digital

1 {unit} = {value} {otherUnit}

1 Em = 16 Pixel (px)

1 Em = 1 Rem (rem)

1 Em = 12 Point (pt)

1 Em = 1 Pica (pc)

Common Uses

  • Relative font sizing
  • Component-level spacing
  • Responsive padding

Em Conversions

Related Units