Choosing measurement and type units
Last updated: October 5, 2026 · 2 min read
Work with rulers, position and size fields in millimetres or points, and set type in points.
The document is always stored in pixels; the unit only changes how measurements are shown and typed. The conversion is fixed: 96 px, 25.4 mm and 72 pt are the same length, and for type 16 px is 12 pt. Your choice is stored in your browser, is not written to the catalog and does not change what other people on your team see.
Follow these steps
- 1
Choose the unit from a ruler
EditorRuler
Right-click a ruler, or click the box where the two rulers meet, and choose Pixels (px), Millimetres (mm) or Points (pt). The corner box shows the current unit.
- 2
Choose the unit in the Canvas panel
CanvasRulers & GuidesMeasurement unit
With nothing selected, the Properties panel shows the Canvas settings. Under Rulers & Guides, click px, mm or pt in the Measurement unit row.
- 3
Type values in the current unit
PropertiesX, Y, W, H
With mm selected, the X, Y, W and H fields show millimetres and read what you type as millimetres: type 50 and you get 50 mm. Arrow keys change a field by one unit. Guide positions and the spacing labels on the canvas use the same unit.
Stroke width, corner radius and shadow fields stay in pixels.
- 4
Choose the type size unit
CanvasRulers & GuidesType size unit
If you set type in points for print, choose Points (pt) in the Type size unit row. The size field in the Text panel, the preset size list and the other type size fields then show points. This preference is separate from the measurement unit.
- 5
Switch from the command palette
EditorCommand Palette
Open the command palette with Cmd/Ctrl+K, type unit and choose one of the Measurement unit or Type size unit commands.
Unit preferences
| Control | Where? | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement unit | Canvas | Pixels, millimetres or points for the rulers, position and size fields, guide positions and spacing labels. |
| Type size unit | Canvas | Pixels or points for type size fields. |
Result
Your unit stays the same across catalogs and sessions. Values are saved to the catalog in pixels, so the same design has the same size for everyone.