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Print Size Calculator

PhotographyImage Size and Print

300 ppi is the usual target for photo prints; 150 is common for posters.

Print size —
Print size in centimetres
—
Megapixels
—
Typical use at this resolution
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Divide each pixel dimension by the print resolution in pixels per inch. A 6000 × 4000 pixel photo printed at 300 ppi comes out 20 × 13.33 inches, or 50.8 × 33.87 cm. Lowering the resolution to 150 ppi doubles both sides, which suits posters seen from a distance but looks soft held in the hand.

About this tool

Photographers ordering lab prints, designers preparing posters and anyone wondering how large a phone picture can go on a wall all face the same question: how many inches do these pixels cover? Enter the image width and height in pixels and the resolution the printer will use, and the calculator returns the physical print size in inches and centimetres, the file's megapixel count and a note on what that resolution is normally used for. The working is shown line by line. One limit: the figure assumes no resampling and no cropping, so if the lab trims the image to a standard paper ratio such as 8 × 10, part of the longer side is cut away.

How to use it

  1. Enter the pixel dimensions

    Type the image width and height in pixels, as listed in your editor or the file's properties.

  2. Set the print resolution

    Use 300 ppi for photo prints, about 240 for inkjet fine art, or 150 for posters viewed from a distance.

  3. Read the print size

    The headline shows inches; the stats add centimetres, megapixels and a typical use for that resolution, with the division shown in the steps.

Examples

6000 × 4000 px at 300 ppi

Image width
6000
Image height
4000
Print resolution
300

Result Print size: 20 × 13.33 in
Print size in centimetres: 50.8 × 33.87 cm
Megapixels: 24
Typical use at this resolution: Photo quality (300 ppi or more)

  1. Width: 6000 px ÷ 300 ppi = 20 in
  2. Height: 4000 px ÷ 300 ppi = 13.33 in
  3. In centimetres: 20 × 2.54 = 50.8 cm, 13.33 × 2.54 = 33.87 cm
  4. Megapixels: 6000 × 4000 ÷ 1,000,000 = 24 MP

A 24-megapixel camera file prints at 20 × 13.33 inches without any resampling at the usual photo-lab resolution.

2400 × 3000 px for an 8 × 10

Image width
2400
Image height
3000
Print resolution
300

Result Print size: 8 × 10 in
Print size in centimetres: 20.32 × 25.4 cm
Megapixels: 7.2
Typical use at this resolution: Photo quality (300 ppi or more)

  1. Width: 2400 px ÷ 300 ppi = 8 in
  2. Height: 3000 px ÷ 300 ppi = 10 in
  3. In centimetres: 8 × 2.54 = 20.32 cm, 10 × 2.54 = 25.4 cm
  4. Megapixels: 2400 × 3000 ÷ 1,000,000 = 7.2 MP

These are exactly the pixel dimensions a lab asks for to print an 8 × 10 inch portrait at 300 ppi.

12 MP phone photo at 150 ppi

Image width
4032
Image height
3024
Print resolution
150

Result Print size: 26.88 × 20.16 in
Print size in centimetres: 68.28 × 51.21 cm
Megapixels: 12.19
Typical use at this resolution: Posters viewed from a few feet

  1. Width: 4032 px ÷ 150 ppi = 26.88 in
  2. Height: 3024 px ÷ 150 ppi = 20.16 in
  3. In centimetres: 26.88 × 2.54 = 68.28 cm, 20.16 × 2.54 = 51.21 cm
  4. Megapixels: 4032 × 3024 ÷ 1,000,000 = 12.19 MP

Dropping to 150 ppi, a common poster setting, stretches a phone photo to almost 27 × 20 inches.

How it is calculated

print width = pixel width ÷ PPI; print height = pixel height ÷ PPI; cm = inches × 2.54

pixel width, pixel height
the image dimensions in pixels
PPI
print resolution, pixels laid down per inch of paper
2.54
centimetres per inch, exact by definition

Resolution says how many image pixels share one inch of paper, so dividing the pixel count along a side by the resolution gives that side's length in inches. Multiplying by 2.54 converts to centimetres. Megapixels are width times height divided by one million and do not change with the print size; only the spread of those pixels over the paper does.

When not to use it

  • Vector artwork such as logos in SVG or PDF has no fixed pixel size, so it scales without this limit.
  • It does not predict how a lab will crop an image to fit a paper ratio that differs from the file's.

Common mistakes

  • Treating the 72 ppi tag in a JPEG's metadata as a limit; only the pixel count matters for printing.
  • Confusing printer dpi (ink droplets, often 1440 or more) with image ppi when setting resolution.
  • Upscaling a small file to reach 300 ppi, which adds pixels but no real detail.

Frequently asked questions

What resolution do photo labs expect?

Most labs ask for 300 pixels per inch for prints viewed in the hand, such as 4 × 6 or 8 × 10 photos. Many accept 240 ppi with little visible difference, and large prints viewed from a few feet away are commonly made at 150 ppi or below.

Is ppi the same as dpi?

Not strictly. PPI counts image pixels per inch of paper; DPI describes how many ink dots a printer places per inch, usually far more than the pixel count. Labs and software often say dpi when they mean ppi, so a request for a 300 dpi file normally means 300 pixels per inch.

How large can I print a 12 megapixel phone photo?

A typical 4032 × 3024 pixel file prints at 13.44 × 10.08 inches at 300 ppi, or 26.88 × 20.16 inches at 150 ppi. The second size suits a wall poster seen from across a room.

Does changing the ppi setting in my editor change the image quality?

No, if resampling is switched off. Changing the ppi value only changes the intended print size; the pixels stay the same. Quality changes only when the editor resamples, adding or removing pixels.

Why does my print come out cropped?

Camera files are often 3:2 while common papers such as 8 × 10 are 4:5. When the ratios differ the lab trims the longer side to fill the paper, so check the aspect ratio before ordering.

How many pixels do I need for an A4 print?

A4 is 210 × 297 mm, which is 8.27 × 11.69 inches. At 300 ppi that needs about 2480 × 3508 pixels; at 200 ppi about 1654 × 2339 pixels.

Cite this tool

Using this tool in an assignment, article or report? Copy a citation, or a link for your website.

APA

Tools Directory Editorial Team. (2026, October 20). Print Size Calculator. Tools Directory. Retrieved October 27, 2026, from https://tools.milunir.com/photography/image-size-and-print/print-size-calculator/

MLA

Tools Directory Editorial Team. “Print Size Calculator.” Tools Directory, 20 Oct. 2026, https://tools.milunir.com/photography/image-size-and-print/print-size-calculator/. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Tools Directory Editorial Team. “Print Size Calculator.” Tools Directory. Last modified October 20, 2026. Accessed October 27, 2026. https://tools.milunir.com/photography/image-size-and-print/print-size-calculator/.

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