Updated July 2, 2026
How many pixels does a print size need?
Required pixel width or height equals the print dimension in inches multiplied by the target DPI: a 20 x 30 in print at 300 DPI needs 6,000 x 9,000 pixels, about 54 megapixels. The table below applies that formula to 8 common print sizes across 150, 200, 300 and 600 DPI so you can look up the number instead of doing the multiplication yourself.
| Print size | 150 DPI (px) | 200 DPI (px) | 300 DPI (px) | 600 DPI (px) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in | 600 × 900 | 800 × 1,200 | 1,200 × 1,800 | 2,400 × 3,600 |
| 5 × 7 in | 750 × 1,050 | 1,000 × 1,400 | 1,500 × 2,100 | 3,000 × 4,200 |
| 8 × 10 in | 1,200 × 1,500 | 1,600 × 2,000 | 2,400 × 3,000 | 4,800 × 6,000 |
| 11 × 14 in | 1,650 × 2,100 | 2,200 × 2,800 | 3,300 × 4,200 | 6,600 × 8,400 |
| 16 × 20 in | 2,400 × 3,000 | 3,200 × 4,000 | 4,800 × 6,000 | 9,600 × 12,000 |
| 20 × 30 in | 3,000 × 4,500 | 4,000 × 6,000 | 6,000 × 9,000 | 12,000 × 18,000 |
| 24 × 36 in | 3,600 × 5,400 | 4,800 × 7,200 | 7,200 × 10,800 | 14,400 × 21,600 |
| 30 × 40 in | 4,500 × 6,000 | 6,000 × 8,000 | 9,000 × 12,000 | 18,000 × 24,000 |
Full table with megapixel counts for all 32 combinations: download the CSV.
Which DPI tier should I use?
Reach for the 300 DPI column when a print gets held or examined closely, portraits, photo books, anything framed on a wall you'll stand in front of. The 150-200 DPI columns cover posters, banners and other large-format work meant to be read from several feet back, where extra pixels would go unnoticed anyway. The 600 DPI column exists for archival scans and fine-art reproduction, cases where someone might inspect the print with a loupe. Check a specific file against these numbers with the Print Size Calculator, or work backward from a print size with the Required Resolution Calculator.
Worked example
A 24 × 36 in poster at 150 DPI needs 3,600 × 5,400 pixels (19.4 MP), well within reach of most modern cameras and phones. The same poster at 300 DPI needs 7,200 × 10,800 pixels (77.8 MP), which most single shots cannot supply without stitching or upscaling. That gap is why large-format prints default to the lower DPI tier: it is not a compromise, it is the tier the viewing distance calls for.
Cite this page
PrintDPI, "Print Resolution Reference (2026): DPI vs Print Size Chart," printdpicalculator.com, published July 2, 2026. https://printdpicalculator.com/dpi-print-size-reference
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