Print Size Planner — How Many Megapixels Do I Need?
Print resolution is the number of pixels per inch in a print — it decides how large you can print before a photo starts to look soft. This planner works the way photographers actually think: start with the print size and quality you want, and it tells you the pixels and megapixels required, then checks it against your camera.
Your print
Result
How to use this print planner
Enter the print dimensions you're aiming for, pick the quality your viewing distance demands, and choose your camera from the database (48 bodies — or just read the required number and compare your own). The planner returns the minimum pixels and megapixels, and tells you whether your camera prints it natively or needs upscaling.
Worked example
A 40×60 cm gallery print at 300 DPI: 40 cm ≈ 15.7 in and 60 cm ≈ 23.6 in, so you need 15.7×300 × 23.6×300 = 4724 × 7087 px — about 33.5 MP. A 24 MP camera prints it at ~253 DPI — perfectly sharp at arm's length. The same 40×60 cm at 150 DPI (viewed from a metre) needs only 8.4 MP, which is why phone photos make fine large prints.
Print resolution FAQ
How many megapixels do I need for printing?
It depends on print size and viewing distance. A 10×8-inch print held in the hand needs about 7 MP (300 DPI); a 40×60 cm wall print viewed from a metre away needs only about 3 MP (150 DPI). More pixels than needed only add file size, not visible quality.
What DPI should I print at?
300 DPI for small prints viewed up close, 240 for typical wall prints, 150 is plenty for large prints viewed from a metre or more. Viewing distance is the real driver — beyond about a metre the eye can't resolve 300 DPI.
Can I print larger than my camera's megapixels allow?
Yes — modern upscaling (including AI upscalers) handles +50% gracefully for large prints, and the viewing-distance rule means large prints are forgiving. The planner shows exactly how far above native resolution you'd be.