Applies to: Pixel dimensions and intended print sizes. The calculations do not evaluate focus, noise, sharpening, paper or printer quality.
Divide the image’s pixel width and height by the desired pixels per inch. A 3000 × 2400 image can print at 10 × 8 inches at 300 PPI, or 15 × 12 inches at 200 PPI.
Use pixel dimensions, not file size
Megabytes do not directly tell you how large an image can print. Compression, file type, and image detail affect file size. The useful starting point is the width and height in pixels.
Find pixel dimensions in the file properties or image editor. Then divide each dimension by the target PPI.
Choose a realistic PPI target
Around 300 PPI is a common target for close-viewed photos. Larger prints are often viewed from farther away and can look good at a lower effective resolution. Image sharpness, subject detail, paper, and printer quality also matter.
Do not increase the PPI number in metadata and expect new detail. Resampling software can add pixels, but it must estimate what those pixels should contain.
Calculate an example
For a 4032 × 3024 pixel image at 300 PPI, divide both numbers by 300. The result is 13.44 × 10.08 inches. At 240 PPI, the same file covers 16.8 × 12.6 inches.
Use our pixel-to-print calculator for other sizes, then crop to the print’s aspect ratio before ordering.
Allow for cropping and bleed
A camera image and a print size may have different proportions. A 3:2 photograph does not fill an 8 × 10 print without cropping. Preview the crop and keep faces, text, and important details away from the edge.
Labs that print borderlessly may enlarge the image slightly. Ask for the lab’s safe-area guidance when edge placement matters.
Crop before calculating the final resolution
A 3000 × 2000 pixel image has a 3:2 shape. To fill a 10 × 8 inch print without stretching, crop it to a 5:4 shape: keep the 2000-pixel height and use 2500 pixels of width. The resulting 2500 ÷ 10 and 2000 ÷ 8 both equal 250 PPI.
Calculating 3000 ÷ 10 alone would incorrectly suggest 300 PPI for that fill crop. Alternatively, preserve all pixels and accept borders. The subject’s position determines whether the crop is acceptable.
Sources and further reading
Vendor instructions and background references are linked below. Worked examples are our explanatory calculations, not vendor performance claims. Check the instructions for your current software and device.
Report a correction with this page’s title and the step or result that needs attention.