Pixels to Centimeters Converter
Convert pixels to centimeters at any resolution. Check the formula, metric print sizes, and what a 1080 px image prints at 96, 150, or 300 PPI.
Metric print work needs centimeters, and the conversion hinges entirely on resolution. This converter takes pixels and a resolution and returns the metric size, so a figure laid out for an A4 page at 300 PPI means the same thing as a photo you are about to print. The reference table covers the pixel counts that A4, A3, and phone photos actually use.
How it works
The formula
Centimeters come from inches, and one inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters. So divide the pixel count by the resolution to get inches, then multiply by 2.54. There is no approximation in that number, which is why the formula is the same for every job.
cm = (pixels / PPI) × 2.54
PPI, DPI, and the 96 pixel CSS reference
Three numbers get mixed together here. PPI counts pixels in one inch of an image, and DPI counts printed dots in one inch, though the two are used interchangeably for this calculation. The 96 figure is separate: it is the resolution CSS assumes, which makes 1 inch of layout equal 96 pixels on any screen. It is a layout convention, not a claim about your display, and using it for a print produces a print that looks soft.
NoteIf you are measuring a CSS layout, use 96 PPI. If you are measuring a print, use the target resolution, usually 300 PPI.
Worked examples in centimeters
These pixel counts show up constantly in design work: phone screenshots, A4 scans, and full resolution camera output. The columns give the metric size at each resolution, so you can match your case.
| Pixel count | At 96 PPI | At 150 PPI | At 300 PPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600 px | 15.88 cm | 10.16 cm | 5.08 cm |
| 1,080 px | 28.58 cm | 18.29 cm | 9.14 cm |
| 1,920 px | 50.80 cm | 32.51 cm | 16.26 cm |
| 2,480 px | 65.60 cm | 41.98 cm | 20.99 cm |
| 3,000 px | 79.38 cm | 50.80 cm | 25.40 cm |
| 3,024 px | 80.01 cm | 51.20 cm | 25.60 cm |
| 3,508 px | 92.75 cm | 59.35 cm | 29.70 cm |
| 4,000 px | 105.83 cm | 67.73 cm | 33.87 cm |
Standard metric paper sizes in pixels
Designers work backwards from the page, not from the photo. A4 is 21 by 29.7 cm and A3 is 29.7 by 42 cm, so at 300 PPI they need 2,480 by 3,508 and 3,508 by 4,961 pixels. A 10 by 15 cm photo needs 1,181 by 1,772 pixels at the same resolution, which is the figure behind most photo booth requirements.
| Print size | Inches | Pixels at 300 PPI |
|---|---|---|
| 10 × 15 cm | 3.94 × 5.91 in | 1,181 × 1,772 px |
| 13 × 18 cm | 5.12 × 7.09 in | 1,535 × 2,126 px |
| 15 × 21 cm | 5.91 × 8.27 in | 1,772 × 2,480 px |
| A5, 14.8 × 21 cm | 5.83 × 8.27 in | 1,748 × 2,480 px |
| A4, 21 × 29.7 cm | 8.27 × 11.69 in | 2,480 × 3,508 px |
| A3, 29.7 × 42 cm | 11.69 × 16.54 in | 3,508 × 4,961 px |
Converting back from a page size
The conversion runs both ways, which matters when a printer or platform gives you a page size instead of a pixel count. A design brief that says A4 at 300 DPI is really asking for 2,480 by 3,508 pixels. Enter the paper width in centimeters, divide by 2.54 to reach inches, then multiply by the target PPI to get the pixels you need to design at.
- To convert a pixel count to centimeters, use the calculator above.
- To find the largest print a photo supports, use the print size calculator.
- To convert a page size to pixels for a layout, divide by 2.54 and multiply by 300 PPI.
Frequently asked questions
How many centimeters is a pixel?
It depends on the resolution. One centimeter is 37.795 pixels at 96 PPI and 118.11 pixels at 300 PPI, so the same pixel count gives a very different centimeter value. The formula is cm = pixels / PPI times 2.54.
How many pixels do I need for an A4 print?
A4 is 21 by 29.7 cm, which is 8.27 by 11.69 inches. At 300 PPI that is 2,480 by 3,508 pixels for a full page print. Use the print size calculator to check other paper sizes.
What is 1080 pixels in centimeters?
At 300 PPI, 1,080 pixels is 9.14 cm. At 150 PPI it is 18.29 cm. At 96 PPI it is 28.58 cm. The resolution decides, which is why the calculator asks for it.
Is there a fixed number of pixels per centimeter?
For printing there is a standard, which is 300 pixels per inch, or 118.11 pixels per centimeter. For screen work, CSS defines 96 pixels per inch, which is 37.795 pixels per centimeter. Beyond those two references, the value is a choice you make based on how the image will be seen.