Tool
DPI / pixel calculator
Find the right pixel dimensions for a physical print, or the print size you can get from an existing image at a given DPI. Useful for sizing photographs, posters and scanned documents.
Result
- Width (px)
- 2,480
- Height (px)
- 3,508
- DPI
- 300
Common DPI presets: 72 (screen), 96 (typical monitor), 150 (good office print), 300 (commercial print standard), 600 (fine print, very small text).
How many pixels for a print? Common sizes at 150 and 300 DPI
300 DPI is the usual target for photos and anything seen close up; 150 DPI is enough for posters and office prints seen from a step back. An image with at least these pixel dimensions prints sharp at that size.
| Print size | At 300 DPI | Megapixels | At 150 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in photo | 1,200 × 1,800 | 2.2 MP | 600 × 900 |
| 5 × 7 in photo | 1,500 × 2,100 | 3.1 MP | 750 × 1,050 |
| 8 × 10 in photo | 2,400 × 3,000 | 7.2 MP | 1,200 × 1,500 |
| US Letter, 8.5 × 11 in | 2,550 × 3,300 | 8.4 MP | 1,275 × 1,650 |
| A4, 210 × 297 mm | 2,480 × 3,508 | 8.7 MP | 1,240 × 1,754 |
| 11 × 14 in print | 3,300 × 4,200 | 13.9 MP | 1,650 × 2,100 |
| A3, 297 × 420 mm | 3,508 × 4,961 | 17.4 MP | 1,754 × 2,480 |
Frequently asked questions
What does DPI actually mean?
DPI stands for "dots per inch". It describes how many printer dots (or screen pixels, in a related sense called PPI) are packed into each printed inch. A higher DPI means each part of the image holds more detail.
Is 300 DPI always enough?
For most flyers, brochures, magazines and business cards, 300 DPI gives crisp results when viewed at normal reading distance. For very large prints viewed from far away (billboards, banners), much lower DPI is acceptable because the eye is further from the image. For fine-art prints viewed at close range, 600 DPI may be preferred.
Why does my "high-resolution" image still look blurry when printed?
Pixel count alone is not enough. A 2,000-pixel-wide image looks sharp when printed at 6.7 inches wide at 300 DPI, but soft when stretched to 15 inches at 133 DPI. Always check the relationship between pixel size, print size and DPI together.
Difference between DPI and PPI?
PPI (pixels per inch) describes digital images; DPI describes the physical dots a printer puts down. In everyday usage the two terms are often used interchangeably, and most print software treats them the same way.