Polotno

Print calculator

DPI calculator

Enter your image's pixels and the size you want to print. Get the effective DPI, a sharp/acceptable/pixelated verdict, and the maximum print size at every standard DPI target. Free, no signup, fully client-side.

Quick answer

DPI = pixels ÷ print size in inches. 300 DPI is the print standard; 150 works for large format.

Formula: 3000 px ÷ 10 in = 300 DPI

Units

Effective print resolution

300 DPI

pixels ÷ print size in inches, lower of the two axes

Sharp print

If printed at this size: 300 DPI — exceeds the 300 DPI print standard.

Max print size for 3000 × 2000 px

At 300 DPI (sharp print)

10 × 6.7 in

At 150 DPI (large format)

20 × 13.3 in

At 96 DPI (screen)

31.3 × 20.8 in

Design at this size →

Effective DPI is what decides print quality

A digital image has no inherent size in inches. It has pixels. DPI only exists once you decide how large to print: the same 3000-pixel width is razor-sharp at 10 inches (300 DPI) and visibly pixelated at 40 inches (75 DPI). That’s why the calculator asks for both the pixel dimensions and the intended print size, and why the verdict is about the pair, not the file.

DPI targets that cover real print jobs

TargetUse forViewing distance
300 DPIPhotos, cards, brochures, magazinesReading distance
150 DPIPosters, trade-show graphics, canvas printsA few feet
96–100 DPIBillboards, banners, backdropsAcross a room or street
600 DPIFine offset, line art, tiny textClose inspection

When the number comes up short

If the calculator says 180 DPI and the job needs 300, there are three honest fixes: print smaller, re-export the source at higher resolution (the best option when the design is vector or a larger original exists), or upscale. Upscaling adds pixels by interpolation. Modern AI upscalers do it credibly for photos, less so for text and line art. What never works is editing the DPI tag in the file and hoping.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How do I calculate DPI?

Divide the image's pixel dimension by the print dimension in inches: DPI = pixels ÷ inches. A 3000 px wide image printed 10 inches wide is 300 DPI. If width and height give different values, the lower one is your effective resolution.

Q: What DPI do I need for printing?

300 DPI is the standard for sharp print viewed at reading distance: photos, brochures, business cards. 150 DPI is acceptable for posters and large-format graphics viewed from a few feet. Below ~150 DPI, pixels become visible up close.

Q: How large can I print my photo?

Divide the pixel dimensions by your target DPI. A 4000 × 3000 px photo prints up to 13.3 × 10 in at 300 DPI, or 26.7 × 20 in at 150 DPI for wall art viewed from a distance. The calculator shows all three targets for any pixel size.

Q: Does changing DPI in a file change quality?

No. DPI metadata alone doesn't add pixels. Changing a file's DPI tag just re-labels how big it prints; the pixel count is what determines quality. To print larger at the same DPI you need more pixels, which means re-exporting or upscaling.

Q: Is DPI the same as PPI?

In print preparation they're used interchangeably: pixels of the digital file per printed inch. Strictly, PPI describes the file and DPI describes printer dots, but every print vendor asking for '300 DPI images' means pixels per inch.

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