| Print size | Aspect ratio | Pixels at 300 DPI | Min. megapixels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in | 3:2 | 1200 × 1800 | 2.2 MP |
| 5 × 7 in | 7:5 | 1500 × 2100 | 3.2 MP |
| 8 × 10 in | 4:5 | 2400 × 3000 | 7.2 MP |
| 8.5 × 11 in | — | 2550 × 3300 | 8.4 MP |
| 11 × 14 in | — | 3300 × 4200 | 13.9 MP |
| 16 × 20 in | 4:5 | 4800 × 6000 | 28.8 MP |
| 20 × 30 in | 3:2 | 6000 × 9000 | 54 MP |
| 24 × 36 in | 3:2 | 7200 × 10800 | 77.8 MP |
| 40 × 60 in | 3:2 | 12000 × 18000 | 216 MP |
| Placement | Pixels | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram square | 1080 × 1080 | 1:1 |
| Instagram portrait | 1080 × 1350 | 4:5 |
| Instagram / TikTok story | 1080 × 1920 | 9:16 |
| Facebook / X landscape | 1200 × 630 | 1.91:1 |
| Pinterest pin | 1000 × 1500 | 2:3 |
| YouTube thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 |
| Website hero | 1920 × 1080 | 16:9 |
Divide the pixel dimension by the print resolution (DPI). Inches = pixels ÷ DPI. A 3000-pixel-wide image at 300 DPI prints 10 inches wide (3000 ÷ 300). To go the other way, pixels = inches × DPI, so a sharp 8×10 at 300 DPI needs 2400 × 3000 pixels.
300 DPI means 300 pixels per printed inch, so the pixel count depends on the print size. A 4×6 needs 1200×1800, a 5×7 needs 1500×2100, an 8×10 needs 2400×3000, and an 11×14 needs 3300×4200. Multiply each inch dimension by 300.
A 24 MP file is roughly 6000×4000 pixels. At the fine-art standard of 300 DPI that prints about 20×13 inches; at 240 DPI, about 25×17 inches; and at 150 DPI (perfectly good for wall art viewed from a few feet away), about 40×27 inches. Larger viewing distance lets you print bigger.
PPI (pixels per inch) describes the image file, how many pixels map to each printed inch. DPI (dots per inch) describes the printer, how many ink dots it lays down. In everyday photo printing the two are used interchangeably, and hitting roughly 300 PPI at your print size is what makes a photograph look sharp.
It depends on viewing distance, not just size. Prints held in the hand want 240-300 DPI; framed wall art viewed from three feet or more looks sharp at 150-180 DPI; and large-format banners and billboards seen from across a room or street can drop to 100 DPI or lower. The bigger and farther away, the fewer pixels per inch you need.