Enter the pixel size
The width and height of your image, in pixels.
DPI and print size calculator
Enter your image's pixel width and height and a print resolution to see how large it can print while staying sharp. Or enter a target print size to find out how many pixels you need to reach it.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Runs in your browser
100% private — the calculation is done in your browser and nothing is sent to any server.
How it works
Set the DPI
300 is the standard for sharp photo prints; lower works for posters seen from farther away.
Read the print size
See how large it can print, and how many pixels a target size needs.
What DPI actually means for a printed image
DPI, dots per inch, describes how many pixels of your image are packed into each inch of paper when it's printed. The same image file can print sharp and small, or big and blurry, depending only on this number: more pixels per inch means a crisper result, but also a smaller maximum size before the pixels start to show.
How the print size is worked out
The math is simple division: the print width in inches is the image's pixel width divided by the DPI, and the same for height. A 3000×2000 pixel photo printed at 300 DPI comes out to 10×6.67 inches; the same photo at 150 DPI could print at 20×13.3 inches, twice as large, but noticeably softer.
What DPI to use
300 DPI is the standard target for photos and documents viewed up close, like a printed photo held in your hand or a page in a book. Posters, banners and anything viewed from a couple of meters away can get away with much less, often 150 DPI or even lower, since the eye can't resolve as much detail at a distance. Below roughly 100 DPI, pixels usually start to become visible even at arm's length.
Working backwards from a target size
If you already know the size you need to print — say, an 8×10 inch photo — enter that in the target width and height fields to see exactly how many pixels your image needs to have at your chosen DPI. This is the number to check against your image's actual resolution before sending it off to be printed.
Privacy
This is just arithmetic, done instantly in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or sent anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What DPI should I use for printing photos?
300 DPI is the standard for sharp results viewed up close. For posters or banners seen from a distance, 150 DPI or even less is usually fine.
How do I know if my image is big enough to print at a certain size?
Enter your image's pixel dimensions and your target print size in the target width and height fields; the tool tells you exactly how many pixels that size needs at your chosen DPI.
What's the difference between DPI and PPI?
DPI (dots per inch) technically refers to a printer's ink dots, while PPI (pixels per inch) refers to the image itself; in practice, and in this tool, they're used interchangeably for print sizing.
Can I use centimeters instead of inches?
Yes, switch the unit selector to centimeters and every size, including the target size fields, uses that unit.
Why does a lower DPI let me print bigger?
The same number of pixels gets spread over more inches of paper when the DPI is lower, which makes the print larger but also less sharp.
Is this calculation accurate for any printer?
It's the standard formula printers use to relate pixels to physical size; actual sharpness can also depend on the printer, paper and viewing distance.
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