Pixels to Print Size Calculator
Work out the print size of an image at a given resolution, and the pixels a print needs.
Pixels into inches on paper
How large you can print an image depends on its pixels and the resolution you print at. This works out the print dimensions of an image from its pixel size and a chosen DPI, and the pixels needed for a target print size, so you can tell before printing whether a photo will look crisp at the size you want or come out soft and pixelated.
Enter the pixels and resolution, or the target size, to see the result.
Why 300 DPI is the rule of thumb
The standard for a sharp print you hold in your hand is around three hundred dots per inch — below that, at normal viewing distance, the eye starts to see softness. So a print's quality is really a race between its pixel count and its physical size: the same image looks crisp small and soft blown up large. Large prints viewed from a distance, like posters, can get away with far less, since you stand back from them. Knowing the numbers tells you the biggest size an image will print well before you waste paper and ink finding out.
Questions & answers
What resolution do I need for a sharp print?
Around 300 DPI for a print held at normal distance. Large prints viewed from further away can use much less.
Why does the same image look crisp small and soft large?
Because the pixels spread over a bigger area as you enlarge it, lowering the effective resolution until the eye sees softness.
Is my image uploaded?
No. The calculation happens in your browser.