Print Size Calculator
Find the largest sharp print size for any pixel resolution and DPI target, in inches and centimeters. Free, instant, private in your browser.
Every print size question has a ceiling, and that ceiling is set by your pixel count rather than by the paper you can buy. This calculator finds it: enter both dimensions and a target resolution, and it returns the largest width and height that still looks sharp, in both units, so you can check it against a standard frame before ordering.
How it works
The calculation
Divide each pixel dimension by the target resolution. The result is the largest print that still looks sharp at that resolution, in both units. Lowering the resolution target gives a bigger number, because the same pixels are spread over more paper.
inches = pixels / DPI centimeters = inches × 2.54
Sharp print sizes for common camera resolutions
These are the pixel counts that phone and camera photos actually produce. The table gives the sharp print size at 300 DPI and at 150 DPI, so you can see the difference a lower resolution target makes.
| Resolution | Sharp size at 300 DPI | Size at 150 PPI | Fits these frames |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 × 1,800 px | 4 × 6 in | 8 × 12 in | 4×6 |
| 1,500 × 2,000 px | 5 × 6.67 in | 10 × 13.3 in | 5×7, 4×6 |
| 1,800 × 2,400 px | 6 × 8 in | 12 × 16 in | 5×7, 8×10 |
| 2,000 × 3,000 px | 6.67 × 10 in | 13.3 × 20 in | 8×10, A4 |
| 3,000 × 4,000 px | 10 × 13.33 in | 20 × 26.7 in | A3, 20×30 |
| 3,024 × 4,032 px | 10.08 × 13.44 in | 20.2 × 26.9 in | A3, 20×30 |
| 4,000 × 6,000 px | 13.33 × 20 in | 26.7 × 40 in | A2, 24×36 |
| 6,000 × 8,000 px | 20 × 26.67 in | 40 × 53.3 in | 24×36, A1 |
Standard frame and paper sizes in both units
Frame sizes are sold in inches and paper sizes in metric, so checking whether a photo fits usually means comparing both. The short edge is what decides: a frame needs your photo to be at least that tall after any cropping the shop does.
| Size | Inches | Centimeters | Pixels at 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in | 4 × 6 in | 10.2 × 15.2 cm | 1,200 × 1,800 px |
| 5 × 7 in | 5 × 7 in | 12.7 × 17.8 cm | 1,500 × 2,100 px |
| 6 × 9 in | 6 × 9 in | 15.2 × 22.9 cm | 1,800 × 2,700 px |
| 8 × 10 in | 8 × 10 in | 20.3 × 25.4 cm | 2,400 × 3,000 px |
| 8 × 12 in | 8 × 12 in | 20.3 × 30.5 cm | 2,400 × 3,600 px |
| 11 × 14 in | 11 × 14 in | 27.9 × 35.6 cm | 3,300 × 4,200 px |
| A3 | 11.7 × 16.5 in | 29.7 × 42 cm | 3,508 × 4,961 px |
| A2 | 16.5 × 23.4 in | 42 × 59.4 cm | 4,961 × 7,024 px |
Fitting a photo to a frame without losing the subject
When a photo is close to a frame size but not an exact match, the shop crops. Cropping is not random, so check the result: a portrait photo forced into a landscape frame loses head and feet. The safer route is to crop yourself, where you can see the frame, using the image cropper, then resize to the target dimensions.
- Compare the long edge first, then the short edge. The short edge is usually the problem.
- If the aspect ratio differs, crop to the frame ratio before resizing, so you decide what is lost.
- To get an exact size, use a print preset such as 4 by 6 rather than a free resize.
NoteThe number this calculator returns is the largest sharp size, not the only size you can print. Printing larger is possible and often looks fine for posters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest I can print a photo?
Divide the pixel width by 300 for a sharp print. A 4,000 pixel wide photo prints sharply up to 13.33 inches wide, which is larger than any standard frame size, so the frame is usually the limit rather than the file.
Can I print larger than the calculator suggests?
Yes, and most people do. A print at 150 DPI still looks good at poster size because you view it from further away. The calculator gives you the sharp size, not the maximum possible size, and those are different numbers.
What print sizes do common resolutions support?
At 300 DPI, 1,200 by 1,800 pixels prints 4 by 6 inches, 2,400 by 3,000 prints 8 by 10, and 3,000 by 2,000 prints 10 by 6.67. At 150 DPI each of those doubles.
Does the calculator include a border or margin?
No. It gives the maximum size of the image itself. If you are framing it, the visible area will be smaller, and print shops often crop a small amount from each edge to remove white borders.
What if my photo is not square?
Print sizes are named by their long and short edges, so a 3:2 photo fits 4 by 6, 5 by 7, or 8 by 10 frames. A 4:3 photo fits 5 by 7 and 8 by 10 but not 4 by 6, because the short edge would have to be cropped. The ratio decides which sizes work.