Design and print
Print Size & DPI Calculator
Check whether an image has enough pixels for your intended print, including the effect of cropping to a different shape.
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How to use this tool
1. Enter your own figures below, or choose Load example to try the worked example. Check the units beside each field.
2. Select Calculate to see the result and its breakdown. If you change an input, calculate again before copying or printing.
3. Use Copy summary or Print / save PDF to keep your assumptions and results together. Reset clears the form.
How the calculation works
Convert the requested print dimensions to inches (25.4 mm = 1 inch). Effective PPI when filling the print is the smaller of pixel width ÷ print width and pixel height ÷ print height. Required pixels multiply each print dimension in inches by target PPI and round up. Uncropped maximum dimensions keep the original aspect ratio. Crop percentage measures the original image area removed to fill the requested aspect ratio.
Worked example
A 3,000 × 2,400 pixel image printed at 254 × 203.2 mm (10 × 8 inches) gives 300 PPI with no crop. At a 300 PPI target it needs exactly 3,000 × 2,400 pixels. Printing the same image at 20 × 16 inches gives 150 PPI.
Questions and assumptions
What this estimate includes
PPI describes image pixels; printer DPI describes ink dots and is a different measurement. A 300 PPI target is common for close viewing, but medium and viewing distance matter. This check does not judge focus, compression, colour profile, bleed or a printer-specific quality guarantee. It assumes a crop-to-fill layout; fitting the entire image with borders has a different printed area.
Can I save or share my result?
Copy summary includes the current inputs and results. Print / save PDF creates a local report with the calculation scope and source links. Your figures are not added to the page URL or stored by this tool. Refreshing clears the form.
Sources and further reading
Built and maintained by Custom Logic. Page updated .