Print size calculator
Check whether your photo has enough pixels for the print you want. Enter pixel dimensions to get the print size at your chosen dpi, or enter a paper size to get the resolution it needs.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Choose Pixels → print size to see how big your photo prints, or Print size → pixels to see what resolution a print needs.
- Enter the pixel dimensions or the print size, in inches or centimetres.
- Set the dpi (300 is the photo standard) and read the result.
How it works
- Print size (in) = pixels ÷ dpi
- Print size (cm) = pixels ÷ dpi × 2.54
- Pixels needed = size (in) × dpi, rounded up so the print has no blank edge
- Megapixels = width × height ÷ 1,000,000
The quality hint is a rule of thumb: 300 dpi and up excellent, 200 to 299 good, 150 to 199 fair, below 150 low.
Worked example
A 6000 × 4000 px photo (24 MP) at 300 dpi prints 20 × 13.3 in, or 50.8 × 33.9 cm. For a 10 × 15 cm print at 300 dpi you need 1182 × 1772 pixels, just over 2 megapixels.
Tips
- Crop first: the pixels you keep decide the print size, not the original file.
- Large prints are viewed from further away, so a lower dpi usually looks fine.
- Many labs ask for 300 dpi at the final print size.
Frequently asked questions
Why 300 dpi?
300 pixels per inch is the usual standard for photo prints viewed at hand distance: individual pixels are no longer visible. Posters seen from further away still look fine at 150 dpi or even less.
What is the difference between dpi and ppi?
Strictly, ppi counts pixels of the image per inch and dpi counts ink dots of the printer per inch. In practice most print tools, and this one, use dpi for pixels per inch of the print.
How do I print larger than my photo allows?
Lower the dpi, which makes the print larger but softer, or resize the image up in an editor. Upscaling cannot add detail that was never captured.
How many megapixels do I need for an 8×10 print?
At 300 dpi, 2400 × 3000 pixels, which is 7.2 megapixels. At 200 dpi, 1600 × 2000 pixels, or 3.2 megapixels, is often enough.