16px → REM

16px to REM — 1rem at 16px Base

At the default browser root size of 16px, 16px equals 1rem. Formula: rem = px ÷ 16.

Last reviewed: June 28, 2026

CSS snippet

.example {
  font-size: 1rem; /* 16px at 16px root */
  padding: 1rem;
}

PX to REM formula

rem = px ÷ root font size

16px ÷ 16px = 1rem

Worked example: To convert 16px at a 16px root, divide 16 by 16. 16 ÷ 16 = 1. Write font-size: 1rem; instead of font-size: 16px; so text scales when users enlarge their browser default font size.

Common use cases at 16px (1rem)

Category	Tailwind / design use	CSS property example
Font size	text-base (1rem)	`font-size: 1rem;`
Spacing	p-4, gap-4, m-4	`padding: 1rem;`
Gap / margin	p-4, gap-4, m-4	`gap: 1rem;`

  
Nearby pixel conversions
    8px
 
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Also see  14px to rem
 
and  18px to rem
.
 
 
 16px to REM FAQ
How do you convert 16px to rem?
Divide 16 by the root font size. At the default 16px base: 16 ÷ 16 = 1rem. Formula: rem = px ÷ root font size.
What is 16px in rem at 16px base?
At a 16px root font size, 16px equals exactly 1rem. This is the browser default unless your project or the user changes html { font-size }.
Should I use 1rem or 16px in CSS?
Use 1rem for typography and spacing that should scale with the user's root font-size preference — important for accessibility. Reserve 16px for fixed values like 1px borders or bitmap image dimensions.
How do I convert 1rem back to pixels?
Multiply 1rem by 16: 1 × 16 = 16px. Reverse formula: px = rem × root font size.
Where is 16px commonly used in web design?
16px (1rem) maps to text-base (1rem) in typical design systems. For Tailwind spacing, see p-4, gap-4, m-4. Check the use-case table on this page for CSS property examples.
    Full converter
 
PX to REM Converter — any value, custom base
  
   Cheat sheet
 
PX to REM cheat sheet — 12px through 64px