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Print Resolution Checker

A photo that looks sharp on screen can print soft on a poster. Enter the pixel size of your image and the size you want to print and see the real resolution before you pay for the print.

Resolution of the print

250 DPI

Good

250 DPI across, 250 DPI down. The lower one limits the print.

  • Largest print at 300 DPI: 13.3 × 10 in
  • Largest print at 150 DPI: 26.7 × 20 in
  • Pixels needed for 300 DPI at this print size: 4,800 × 3,600

How it works

  1. Enter the width and height of your image in pixels (see the file's properties).
  2. Choose inches, centimetres or millimetres and enter the print width and height.
  3. Read the DPI in each direction, the verdict and the lowest value, which is the one that counts.
  4. Check the largest print the image supports at 300 and 150 DPI, or the pixels you would need.

What people use it for

  • Before ordering a poster

    Find out whether a phone photo will hold up at A2 or whether you need a bigger original.

  • Photo books and cards

    Check each picture against the size of its frame on the page.

  • Printing a logo or artwork

    Work out the pixel size to ask a designer for at the size you need.

Questions

How is the DPI calculated?
Pixels divided by inches, for each direction. 3,000 pixels printed 10 inches wide is 300 DPI. Centimetres are divided by 2.54 and millimetres by 25.4 first. If the two directions differ, the lower one is the limit.
What is a good DPI?
These are common rules of thumb, not a standard: 300 or more is sharp when viewed up close, 200 to 299 is good, 150 to 199 is fair and fine for large prints seen from a distance, 100 to 149 looks soft, and below 100 shows pixels. A billboard seen from far away can be well under 100.
What if the proportions do not match?
A 3:2 photo does not fit a square print. The checker warns you when the shapes differ by more than 1 %: part of the picture will be cropped or left blank, and the numbers assume the image fills the print area.
Can I get more DPI by enlarging the image?
Resizing in an editor adds pixels but not detail, so the print looks the same or slightly softer. The real fix is a higher-resolution original, or printing smaller. Some printers also ask for a specific DPI, so check their guide.