16 × 20 photo measures 406.4 × 508 mm. Its pixel dimensions change with PPI; the physical trim size does not.
A 16 × 20 inch print measures 406.4 × 508 mm and needs 4800 × 6000 pixels at 300 PPI. It uses the same 4:5 shape as 8 × 10 and crops about 16.7% of a portrait 2:3 camera image when filled.
300 PPI: 4800 × 6000 px · 28.8 megapixelsPortrait values are rounded to the nearest whole pixel after converting the native physical dimensions.
| PPI | Width | Height | Use context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 1152 px | 1440 px | Layout or screen reference |
| 96 | 1536 px | 1920 px | Layout or screen reference |
| 150 | 2400 px | 3000 px | Print / distance dependent |
| 240 | 3840 px | 4800 px | Print / distance dependent |
| 300 | 4800 px | 6000 px | Detailed print target |
| 600 | 9600 px | 12000 px | Detailed print target |
A 16 × 20 needs 2400 × 3000 px at 150 PPI, 3840 × 4800 px at 240 PPI or 4800 × 6000 px at 300 PPI.
Check your large-print fileWith landscape orientations aligned, a 5:4 print is less wide relative to height than a 3:2 camera image. Position the crop before judging effective PPI because the removed area also removes pixels.
Preview the cropAn image already composed at 4:5 fits both 8 × 10 and 16 × 20 by shape. The larger print still needs twice as many pixels along each edge for equal PPI.
Compare 8 × 10The 16 × 20 is widely used for large portraits, gallery walls and art reproductions. Its 4:5 shape matches 8 × 10, making it convenient when a composition has already been prepared for that ratio.
A portrait 2:3 camera image loses about 16.7% of its area when filled to 4:5. Apply that crop before calculating resolution: the removed long-edge pixels are no longer available to support the enlargement. Protect faces and deliberate negative space rather than relying on a centred default.
At 300 PPI, 16 × 20 requires 4800 × 6000 pixels, or 28.8 megapixels after the final crop. Some providers accept a lower target for wall viewing, but fine portrait detail and close inspection can justify the denser file. Confirm the product and proof it when the job is important.
For this 16 × 20 example, the printer requests 3 mm bleed on every edge and a 5 mm safe margin inside trim. The artwork canvas becomes 412.4 × 514 mm, or 4871 × 6071 pixels at 300 PPI. The protected region is 396.4 × 498 mm. These are example production requirements, not part of the paper standard.
Set the trim before placing the layout, extend the real background into bleed, and keep faces, lettering and other essential content inside the provider’s safe margin. A raster canvas and a PDF with page boxes describe the same physical job differently; do not scale all artwork simply to include an export border.
Recalculate with your printer’s exact margins16 × 20 identifies the final physical format. Bleed expands the artwork beyond that edge; a safe margin moves important content inward. Those extra values depend on the print provider.
Calculate bleed and safe areaUse the source pixels, final orientation and intended crop for large portraits, art prints and gallery frames; then confirm the required PPI with the provider.