Anilox conversion calculator
Convert anilox screen ruling between L/cm and LPI, and cell volume between cm³/m² and BCM — with a reference table of common rolls.
Published and maintained by Flexum OÜ
Unit conversion only: this calculator does not recommend an anilox specification. Confirm the ruling, volume and engraving with your supplier for the ink, substrate and press.
Formula and rounding method
Screen ruling
LPI = L/cm × 2.54
L/cm = LPI ÷ 2.54
Cell volume
cm³/m² = BCM × (10 ÷ 6.4516) ≈ BCM × 1.55
BCM = cm³/m² ÷ (10 ÷ 6.4516) ≈ cm³/m² ÷ 1.55
Conversions use the full precision shown in the formulas. Calculator output rounds LPI to the nearest whole line, L/cm to one decimal place, and cell volume to two decimal places. Reference tables round only for display.
Worked conversion examples
How do I convert BCM to cm³/m²?
Multiply by 1.55. A 2.0 BCM anilox is 3.10 cm³/m². The other way, divide by 1.55: a 5 cm³/m² roll is 3.23 BCM.
How do I convert LPI to L/cm?
Divide by 2.54 for L/cm, multiply by 2.54 for LPI. A 1000 LPI anilox is 394 L/cm, and the common European 400 L/cm roll is 1016 LPI.
Anilox conversion table
Screen ruling
| L/cm | LPI |
|---|---|
| 60 | 152 |
| 80 | 203 |
| 100 | 254 |
| 120 | 305 |
| 140 | 356 |
| 160 | 406 |
| 180 | 457 |
| 200 | 508 |
| 240 | 610 |
| 300 | 762 |
| 400 | 1016 |
| 500 | 1270 |
Cell volume
| BCM | cm³/m² |
|---|---|
| 0.8 | 1.24 |
| 1.0 | 1.55 |
| 1.5 | 2.33 |
| 2.0 | 3.10 |
| 2.5 | 3.88 |
| 3.0 | 4.65 |
| 4.0 | 6.20 |
| 5.0 | 7.75 |
| 6.0 | 9.30 |
| 8.0 | 12.40 |
| 10.0 | 15.50 |
| 12.0 | 18.60 |
Typical anilox specs by job type
| Screen ruling | Cell volume | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 60–100 L/cm (152–254 LPI) | 8–12 BCM (12.4–18.6 cm³/m²) | Adhesives, laminating, heavy coatings and varnish |
| 100–160 L/cm (254–406 LPI) | 5–8 BCM (7.8–12.4 cm³/m²) | Opaque white on film, heavy solids, metallics |
| 160–250 L/cm (406–635 LPI) | 3–5 BCM (4.7–7.8 cm³/m²) | Line work and solids, combination jobs |
| 250–400 L/cm (635–1016 LPI) | 1.5–3 BCM (2.3–4.7 cm³/m²) | Process colour, fine text and combination work |
| 400+ L/cm (1016+ LPI) | 0.8–1.5 BCM (1.2–2.3 cm³/m²) | High-line process work and fine highlight dots |
Industry starting points, not product specifications. The right anilox depends on your ink, substrate, plate and press — confirm the spec with your anilox supplier, or ask us.
How this works
Anilox rolls are specified two ways. European presses, suppliers and engravers quote the screen ruling in lines per centimetre (L/cm) and the cell volume in cm³/m². US and imported datasheets quote lines per inch (LPI) and BCM — billion cubic microns per square inch. The roll is the same; only the units differ.
Both conversions are exact. One inch is 2.54 cm, so LPI = L/cm × 2.54. One BCM is 10⁹ cubic microns per square inch, which works out to 1.55 cm³/m² — so cm³/m² = BCM × 1.55.
The volume figure doubles as a film thickness: 1 cm³/m² spread over one square metre is exactly one micron thick, so a 4.0 cm³/m² anilox carries a theoretical 4.0 µm wet film. That is a geometric maximum, not the actual ink film — cells do not release all their ink, and transfer varies with ink rheology, substrate, doctor blade setting, press conditions and cell geometry.
Common questions
How do I convert BCM to cm³/m²?
Multiply by 1.55. A 2.0 BCM anilox is 3.10 cm³/m². The other way, divide by 1.55: a 5 cm³/m² roll is 3.23 BCM.
How do I convert LPI to L/cm?
Divide by 2.54 for L/cm, multiply by 2.54 for LPI. A 1000 LPI anilox is 394 L/cm, and the common European 400 L/cm roll is 1016 LPI.
Does a higher line count mean less ink?
Usually, but line count alone does not set ink laydown — cell volume does. A finer ruling packs more, smaller cells into the same area, which normally lowers total volume, but two rolls with the same line count can carry different volumes depending on cell depth and geometry. Always specify both figures.
Sources and further reading
The unit definitions and selection caveats on this page are grounded in these primary technical sources.