Free Print Resolution Calculator
Print resolution is the number of pixels per inch in a print — it decides how large you can print a photo before it starts to look soft. The honest answer to "how big can I print?" — based on your camera's real pixel dimensions and the DPI your print lab actually uses.
1 · Your image
2 · Print DPI
Result
| DPI | Print size | Use case |
|---|
Megapixel print size chart
Maximum print dimensions at the three most common DPIs, for typical camera resolutions (3:2 aspect):
| Megapixels | Pixel dimensions | @ 150 DPI | @ 240 DPI | @ 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 MP | 4,288 × 2,848 | 28.6 × 19.0 in | 17.9 × 11.9 in | 14.3 × 9.5 in |
| 20 MP | 5,472 × 3,648 | 36.5 × 24.3 in | 22.8 × 15.2 in | 18.2 × 12.2 in |
| 24 MP | 6,000 × 4,000 | 40.0 × 26.7 in | 25.0 × 16.7 in | 20.0 × 13.3 in |
| 33 MP | 7,008 × 4,672 | 46.7 × 31.1 in | 29.2 × 19.5 in | 23.4 × 15.6 in |
| 45 MP | 8,192 × 5,464 | 54.6 × 36.4 in | 34.1 × 22.8 in | 27.3 × 18.2 in |
| 50 MP | 8,640 × 5,760 | 57.6 × 38.4 in | 36.0 × 24.0 in | 28.8 × 19.2 in |
| 61 MP | 9,504 × 6,336 | 63.4 × 42.2 in | 39.6 × 26.4 in | 31.7 × 21.1 in |
| 100 MP | 11,600 × 8,700 | 77.3 × 58.0 in | 48.3 × 36.3 in | 38.7 × 29.0 in |
What DPI do you actually need?
- 300 DPI — the fine-art standard for prints viewed up close (A4 and smaller).
- 240 DPI — the typical photo-lab ceiling; most labs print at this and it's indistinguishable from 300 in practice.
- 150 DPI — perfectly fine for large wall prints and canvases viewed from arm's length or more. A 24 MP camera prints 40×27 in at 150 DPI.
- Below ~100 DPI — softness becomes visible at normal viewing distances; resize with care.
Related tools & guides
Print Planner
Pixel dimensions and DPI for any print size.
Open →Camera Sensor Sizes
Megapixel and sensor dimension reference.
Open →Field of View Calculator
Angle of view for any lens + sensor.
Open →Print resolution FAQ
Can I print bigger than the calculator says?
Yes — software upscaling (or the lab's own upscaler) can print any size; the calculator shows the size at which every pixel maps cleanly to the DPI grid. Most labs upsample to 300 DPI automatically, and modern AI upscalers make modest enlargements invisible.
Is 300 DPI always better than 150 DPI?
For the same print size, higher DPI means more detail only if the viewing distance is close. A 40-inch print viewed from 6 feet at 150 DPI looks identical to 300 DPI to most eyes. Choose DPI by viewing distance, not by the maximum number.
What DPI should I use for a canvas or metal print?
Canvas: 150 DPI is the norm (the texture hides detail anyway). Metal and acrylic: 240–300 DPI recommended since they're glossy and often viewed close.
How many megapixels a print size needs
Short answer: multiply inches by dots per inch. An 8 x 10 in print at 300 dpi needs 2400 x 3000 pixels, which is 7.2 megapixels. At 150 dpi the same print needs only 1.8 megapixels, and at normal viewing distance that is still sharp.
| Print size | Pixels at 300 dpi | 300 dpi | 240 dpi | 150 dpi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 x 6 in | 1200 x 1800 | 2.2 MP | 1.4 MP | 0.5 MP |
| 5 x 7 in | 1500 x 2100 | 3.2 MP | 2.0 MP | 0.8 MP |
| 6 x 9 in | 1800 x 2700 | 4.9 MP | 3.1 MP | 1.2 MP |
| 8 x 10 in | 2400 x 3000 | 7.2 MP | 4.6 MP | 1.8 MP |
| 8 x 12 in | 2400 x 3600 | 8.6 MP | 5.5 MP | 2.2 MP |
| 11 x 14 in | 3300 x 4200 | 13.9 MP | 8.9 MP | 3.5 MP |
| 16 x 20 in | 4800 x 6000 | 28.8 MP | 18.4 MP | 7.2 MP |
| 20 x 30 in | 6000 x 9000 | 54.0 MP | 34.6 MP | 13.5 MP |
| 24 x 36 in | 7200 x 10800 | 77.8 MP | 49.8 MP | 19.4 MP |
300 dpi is the print industry default for anything held in the hand. Wall prints are viewed from further away, so 240 dpi covers a 16 x 20 and 150 dpi is acceptable at 24 x 36 when the print hangs behind a sofa. What matters is pixels per degree of view, not a fixed number.
Upscaling adds pixels, not detail. If the calculator says you are short by a factor of two, a sharper lens, a longer exposure on a tripod or a stitched panorama will do more than any resize algorithm.