DPI Calculator

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Wally, the 4OVER4 mascot

Pixels in, inches out. I promise not to make it blurry.

Enter the pixel size of your image and it tells you the largest it prints sharp, then checks it against every size 4OVER4 prints for this product.

How it will be read

Largest sharp print at 300 DPI

10.00 x 6.67 in

254 x 169 mm from a 3000 x 2000 px image.

Image
3000 x 2000 px
Megapixels
6.0 MP
At 300 DPI
10.00 x 6.67 in
At 150 DPI
20.00 x 13.33 in
At 100 DPI
30.00 x 20.00 in

Enlarging an image does not add detail. If it is short of the size you need, reshoot it, rescan it, or rebuild the artwork as vector. Scaling up in an image editor only makes the same pixels bigger.

Every size 4OVER4 prints for Standard Posters, checked against your image at 300 DPI.
SizePixels neededYou haveVerdict
11 x 17 in3300 x 5100 px39%Too low
12 x 18 in3600 x 5400 px37%Too low
14 x 22 in4200 x 6600 px30%Too low
16 x 20 in4800 x 6000 px33%Too low
18 x 24 in5400 x 7200 px28%Too low
22 x 28 in6600 x 8400 px24%Too low

BetaThis is in beta, so some things may not work yet. We’d love your feedback.Send feedback

What the Standard Posters configurator says about size

Sizes
The configurator offers 6 sizes for this product. Every one of them is listed above, exactly as the configurator lists it.
Custom size
This product takes a custom size. The configurator accepts 11 to 22 in on the width and 17 to 28 in on the height, in steps of 0.1 in.
Press limits
On top of the product limits the press bounds apply: the shorter side must be 1.5 to 22 in and the longer side 1.5 to 28 in. The configurator turns the size the same way round before it checks, so 11 x 2.5 and 2.5 x 11 are the same size to it.
If it is out of range
This custom size is currently not available for this product. Please select a different combination (switch between width and height values) or try selecting another product from the Print Products Menu. Contact us if you have a Custom Order.

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About the print size & dpi calculator

Enter the pixel size of your image and see the largest it prints sharp, checked against the sizes we print.

An image has no DPI until you choose a print size: it is the pixel count divided by the inches. 300 DPI for anything held in the hand, 150 for a poster, 100 for a large banner.

Get the free Posters template

Resolution is a ratio, not a property

An image does not have a DPI until you decide how big to print it. A 3000 x 2000 pixel photo is 300 DPI at 10 x 6.7 inches and 100 DPI at 30 x 20 inches. It is the same file in both cases.

So the only question that matters is the DPI at the finished size, which is the pixel count divided by the inches.

The right number depends on viewing distance

300 DPI is right for anything read in the hand: cards, postcards, flyers, brochures, rack cards and stickers. 150 DPI is right for posters and signs read from several feet. 100 DPI is enough for a large banner read from across a car park.

Printing a 24 x 36 inch poster at 300 DPI makes a 7200 x 10800 pixel file that nobody will ever see the benefit of, and that may be too large to handle.

Common questions

Questions about dpi calculator

What size can I print a 3000 x 2000 pixel image?

10 x 6.67 inches at 300 DPI, 20 x 13.3 inches at 150 DPI, or 30 x 20 inches at 100 DPI. The right one depends on how close people will be.

Is 300 DPI always necessary?

No. 300 DPI matters for anything held in the hand. Posters are fine at 150 DPI and large banners at 100 DPI, because nobody reads them from a foot away.

Can I increase the DPI of an image?

You can resample it, but that invents pixels rather than recovering detail. If an image is short of the size you need, reshoot it or rebuild the artwork as vector.

How many pixels do I need for an 18 x 24 inch poster?

2700 x 3600 pixels at 150 DPI, which is the working standard for posters. At 300 DPI it would be 5400 x 7200.

What DPI should a business card be?

300 DPI at the finished size. With bleed that makes a 3.75 x 2.25 in document 1125 x 675 pixels.

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