Tobias Reed Production Knowledge Lead at 4OVER4.COM
Tobias is our voice for cutting, binding and large format, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.
Question
What DPI for printing do I need for a poster?
Answer
The DPI you need scales with how close people will stand. Small posters viewed up close need more detail. Large posters seen from across a room can use less.
| Poster size | Viewing distance | Target DPI |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 24 x 36 in | 3+ feet away | 200 DPI |
| Small / desk print | Close range | 300 DPI |
| 36 x 48 in and up | Across the room | 150 DPI is acceptable |
- When in doubt, start higher. You can always downscale but not add detail.
- Vector art and text stay sharp at any size, so keep type as vectors when you can.
To check a file, multiply the print size by the target DPI: an 18 x 24 in poster at 200 DPI needs 3,600 x 4,800 pixels.
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