Print Resolution DPI Calculator

Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham. Pixels divided by print inches. Last verified 19 June 2026.

Print quality comes down to how many image pixels land on each inch of paper. This calculator takes your image pixel dimensions and the physical print size in inches and returns the print resolution in DPI for both axes, plus the largest size that still meets a target DPI. Use it to check whether a photo has enough resolution for the print you want, or to work out the biggest sharp print a given file can produce.

Image width (pixels)

Image height (pixels)

Print width (inches)

Print height (inches)

Target DPI

Horizontal DPI

0.00

Vertical DPI

0.00

Max width at target DPI (in)

0.00

Meets target?

Print DPI formula

DPI = image pixels / print inches
Max print dimension = image pixels / target DPI
Meets target when both DPI values are at least the target

The lower of the horizontal and vertical DPI sets the effective quality. The maximum print size is the pixel dimension divided by the DPI you want to keep.

Worked example

A 3,000 by 2,000 pixel image printed at 10 by 6.67 inches: horizontal DPI = 3,000 / 10 = 300.00; vertical DPI = 2,000 / 6.67 = 299.85. For a 300 DPI target the max width is 3,000 / 300 = 10.00 inches. Both axes meet the target, so the print will look sharp.

Print DPI: frequently asked questions

What is DPI in printing?

DPI (dots per inch) is the number of image pixels printed per linear inch of paper. It equals the pixel dimension divided by the print dimension in inches. Higher DPI means finer detail; most photo prints look sharp at 300 DPI and acceptable down to about 150 DPI for larger viewing distances.

How do I calculate print DPI?

Divide the image's pixel width by the print width in inches (and check the height the same way). For example, a 3,000 by 2,000 pixel image printed at 10 by 6.67 inches gives 300 DPI. If the two axes differ, the lower value limits quality.

What DPI do I need for a good print?

300 DPI is the common standard for sharp photographic prints viewed up close. Large prints viewed from a distance, such as posters and banners, can use 150 DPI or less. This calculator flags whether your image meets the target DPI you enter.

Sources

NIST: Office of Weights and Measures (inch definition).
DPI = pixels / inches is the definition of dots per inch; no external figure is required.

Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 19 June 2026. See our methodology.