Photo Print Size Calculator
Check the pixels a photo print needs, the DPI it can reach and the largest size it can be printed at.
Photo Print Size Calculator
Check whether a photo has enough pixels for the print size you want, how large it can be printed, and how much a crop changes the result.
All figures are planning estimates. Real output also depends on the print shop’s equipment, paper and sharpening.
Your photo and print settings
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Every change recalculates at once. There is no submit button.
Results
Minimum pixels needed
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Achievable DPI
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Largest print at target DPI
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Pixels after cropping
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Verdict
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If the crop ratio differs from the paper ratio, the shop will either crop again or leave white margins.
DPI and viewing distance
DPI only matters together with viewing distance. The closer people stand, the more detail the eye can resolve.
| DPI | Typical use | Comfortable viewing distance |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | Large posters and display boards | 1 m or more |
| 200 | Everyday prints and postcards | About 50–100 cm |
| 300 | Albums, ID photos, close viewing | About 25–50 cm |
| 600 | Fine reproduction and scanned artwork | About 10–25 cm |
Common print sizes
The pixel column assumes 300 DPI. A 300 DPI print looks sharp when held in the hand.
| Size | Inches | Millimetres | Pixels needed at 300 DPI | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 inch | 3.50 × 2.36 | 89 × 60 | 1051 × 709 | Wallet prints and small cards |
| 4 inch | 4.02 × 2.99 | 102 × 76 | 1205 × 898 | Postcards and small everyday prints |
| 5 inch | 5.00 × 3.50 | 127 × 89 | 1500 × 1051 | The most common everyday print |
| 6 inch | 5.98 × 4.02 | 152 × 102 | 1795 × 1205 | Photo albums, desk frames and gifts |
| 7 inch | 7.01 × 5.00 | 178 × 127 | 2102 × 1500 | Desk frames and small enlargements |
| 8 inch | 7.99 × 5.98 | 203 × 152 | 2398 × 1795 | Small wall frames and enlarged group photos |
| A4 | 11.69 × 8.27 | 297 × 210 | 3508 × 2480 | Posters, wall prints and framing |
Five common misconceptions
- More pixels are always better
Pixels only set the ceiling. Once the target DPI is met, extra pixels add file size and slow down sharing, while sharpness still depends on focus, lens and noise. - Phone photos cannot be enlarged
Most phones already have enough pixels for 6 or 8 inch prints. The real limit is detail and noise, not the pixel count on the label. - DPI is the same as file size
DPI is an output-density instruction; file size depends on pixel count and compression. Raising the DPI number alone cannot add detail to a photo. - A white border does not change pixels
A border keeps the paper size but shrinks the image area, so the photo needs slightly fewer pixels and the printed subject becomes smaller. - Cropping does not lose quality
Cropping throws pixels away. If the cropped file is stretched back to the same paper size, the effective DPI falls and the image can look soft.