Select Edit > Preferences > Units & Increments (Windows) or InDesign > Preferences > Units & Increments (macOS).
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to use ruler preferences or contextual overrides to adjust measurement display on Adobe InDesign.
Ruler units control how measurements appear on rulers, panels, and dialog boxes in InDesign. The horizontal ruler governs tabs, margins, and indents, while the vertical ruler governs the spread. Changing ruler units affects only how values are displayed. Existing guides, grids, and object positions remain unchanged.
Change units through preferences
In the Ruler Units section, set the options:
Origin: Changes the origin of the zero point.
Horizontal: Changes the horizontal measurement system.
Vertical: Changes the vertical measurement system.
Under Other Units, set your preferred unit for the Stroke.
Under Points/Pica Size, set the value for calculating points in the Points/Inch menu.
In the Keyboard Increments section, set values for the following:
Cursor Key: Controls the increment for the arrow keys when you move objects.
Size/Leading: Controls the increment for increasing or decreasing the point size or leading using keyboard shortcuts.
Baseline Shift: Controls the increment for shifting the baseline using keyboard shortcuts.
Kerning/Tracking: Controls the kerning and tracking increments using keyboard shortcuts.
Select OK.
Tip
Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (macOS) at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical rulers to quickly change both ruler units simultaneously.
Override default units temporarily
Select any measurement field that displays a value.
Type your new value followed by the appropriate unit notation from the following reference table.
Press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS) to apply the override.
Unit notation reference
|
Unit |
Notation |
Example |
Result |
|
Inches |
i, in, inch, " |
5.25i |
5 1/4 inches |
|
Millimeters |
mm |
48mm |
48 millimeters |
|
Centimeters |
cm |
12cm |
12 centimeters |
|
Picas |
p |
3p |
3 picas |
|
Points |
pt, p (before value) |
6pt, p6 |
6 points |
|
Picas and points |
p (between values) |
3p6 |
3 picas, 6 points |
|
Pixels |
px |
5px |
5 pixels |
|
Q (Japanese) |
q |
6q |
6 Q |
|
Ha (Japanese) |
h |
6h |
6 Ha |
|
American points |
ap |
6ap |
6 American points |
|
Ciceros |
c |
5c |
5 ciceros |
|
Agates |
ag |
5ag |
5 agates |
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