Print Size Calculator Calculators
How large you can print an image before it looks soft.
Print Size Calculator is a free online tool that how large you can print an image before it looks soft. It runs entirely in your web browser using plain JavaScript, so files are processed on your own device and never uploaded to a server. There is no sign-up, no file size limit imposed by the site, no watermark and no paid tier.
- Price
- Free — no account, no quota, no watermark
- Category
- Calculators
- Where it runs
- In your browser, on your device
- Files uploaded
- None
- Technology
- plain JavaScript
- Settings
- 3
- Works offline
- Yes, after the first visit
About Print Size Calculator
Print size is simply pixels ÷ DPI. 300 DPI is the traditional standard for photographic prints held at reading distance; large posters viewed from two meters look fine at 150 DPI or less, because your eye cannot resolve the difference at that range. Bigger prints need proportionally fewer dots, not more.
How to use it
- Enter image width (px), image height (px) and print resolution.
- Results update the moment anything changes.
The 3 settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Image width (px) | A numeric value. | 4000 |
| Image height (px) | A numeric value. | 3000 |
| Print resolution | Choose from 4: 150 DPI — posters, viewed far, 200 DPI — acceptable, 300 DPI — photo quality, 600 DPI — fine art. | 300 DPI — photo quality |
Under the hood
| Runs on | plain JavaScript — runs the whole thing |
| Controls | Image width (px), Image height (px), Print resolution |
Questions
How many megapixels do I need for an A3 print?
A3 at 300 DPI is roughly 3508×4961 pixels — about 17 megapixels. At 200 DPI, which is perfectly acceptable for a framed print, around 8 megapixels does it.
What does the print resolution option change?
It offers 4 choices — 150 DPI — posters, viewed far, 200 DPI — acceptable, 300 DPI — photo quality and 600 DPI — fine art. The default is 300 DPI — photo quality, which suits most cases; change it when your input or your destination calls for something specific.
Is the arithmetic exact?
It uses double-precision floating point — about 15 significant figures, far more than the inputs justify. Displayed rounding is cosmetic; the underlying numbers are not rounded between steps, so chained results do not drift.