A hand is four inches, often used for horse height.
Hands to Picas Converter — hh to pc
Convert Hand (hh) to Pica (pc) using the exact conversion factor (1 hand = 24 pica). See the formula, worked examples, and conversion table.
Hands to Picas converter
Converter
Length Converter
Convert SI, imperial, US customary, astronomical, scientific, and historical length units.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
A pica is 12 points.
Result = input x 0.1016 / 0.004233333333.
Length uses the meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Hands to Picas
Hand and Pica both measure length. Specifically: A hand is four inches, often used for horse height, and a pica is 12 points.
Formula
picas = hands × 24.0000000019
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 hand equals 0.1016 base units, and 1 pica equals 0.004233333333 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct hand-to-pica factor of 24.0000000019.
Simple example
1 hh × 24 = 24 pc
1 hand = 24 picas.
Real-world example
10 hh × 24 = 240 pc
10 hands = 240 picas.
Conversion table
| Hand (hh) | Pica (pc) |
|---|---|
| 1 hh | 24 pc |
| 5 hh | 120 pc |
| 10 hh | 240 pc |
| 21.0975 hh | 506.34 pc |
| 42.195 hh | 1,012.68 pc |
| 100 hh | 2,400 pc |
Reverse conversion: Pica to Hand
24 pc × 0.04166666666 = 0.9999999999 hh
24 picas = 0.9999999999 hands.
hands = picas × 0.0416666666634
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Pica to Hand.
Understanding the Hand (hh)
A hand is four inches, often used for horse height.
Understanding the Pica (pc)
A pica is 12 points.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many picas are in 1 hand?
1 hand equals 24 picas, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert hand to pica?
Multiply the hand value by 24. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert pica back to hand?
Use the reverse factor: 1 pica equals 0.0416666667 hands. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a hand?
Hand (hh) is a unit of length.
What is a pica?
Pica (pc) is a unit of length.
Is the hand to pica conversion exact?
Yes. Both hand and pica are defined by fixed standards rather than physical artifacts, so the factor of 24 used above is exact to as many digits as you choose to display.