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Calculate Image PPI for Printing

Calculate the effective pixels per inch of an image at a specific physical print size and see which dimension limits quality.

Quick answer

Effective image PPI is the number of source pixels assigned to each printed inch. Width and height are calculated separately; the lower value is the limiting result when the image fills the print.

effective PPI = lower of width PPI and height PPI
Interactive calculator
effective PPI = lower of width PPI and height PPI

Effective PPI at final print size

Quick targets
Limited200 effective PPICompared with the selected 300 PPI target
Calculated resultsUpdates as you change the inputs
Width densityResult
375 PPI
Height densityResult
200 PPI
Crop needed to fillResult
46.7%
How to use it

A result you can reproduce.

  1. Enter the image's true pixel width and height.
  2. Enter the final print dimensions and unit.
  3. Use the lower of the horizontal and vertical PPI values for a fill-to-size print.

Every result is calculated in the page from the displayed inputs. Your printer's written production specification remains the final authority.

Worked example

See the numbers in context.

A 3000 × 2400 px file printed at 10 × 8 inches has 300 PPI on both axes. At 20 × 16 inches it has 150 PPI.

Understand DPI vs PPI →
Related calculationsPrint readiness checker →Pixels to print size →Print size to pixels →
Check before you print

Use the image, not a guess.

Run the source pixels against the exact size you plan to order.

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