Photo Print Size Calculator

How viewing distance changes the PPI you need

Effective PPI is the number of original image pixels per inch of the printed photo. Fill uses the pixels inside your crop. Fit uses the whole image and the part of the paper it actually covers. A 300 PPI file can contain less than 300 PPI of source detail if it was enlarged.

We use one arcminute per source pixel as a viewing estimate. Target PPI ≈ 1 ÷ (distance in inches × tan(1 arcminute)). The estimate is about 287 PPI at 12 inches, 144 at 24 inches, and 72 at 48 inches. Eyesight, lighting, and paper affect visible detail. Use your print lab’s file requirements when ordering.

Check the lab’s resolution for your print size

Start with the lab’s requirements for the product you want. For a small print held close, 300 PPI is a practical target. An 8×10 at that density needs 2,400 × 3,000 usable pixels, measured after cropping. Some labs list a recommended pixel count for each product, while others warn you during ordering if the uploaded file is too small. Follow the requirement for the specific paper and finish.

When a lab asks for a 300 DPI image, it often means 300 image pixels per printed inch. The dots a printer lays down are a separate specification. Check both the original photo detail and the file the tool can export. If the lab asks for more pixels than your photo can provide, try a smaller print or use the original from your camera roll. Preview the crop in the order screen before paying.

• Mpix file preparation and ordering guidance

How your camera’s pixels affect photo print size

Open the photo details on your phone or computer and look for dimensions in pixels. A typical 12 MP, 4:3 example has 4,032 × 3,024 pixels and gives a full-image size of about 13.44 × 10.08 inches at 300 PPI. A 24 MP, 3:2 camera example at 6,000 × 4,000 pixels gives 20 × 13.33 inches at the same density. Choose a paper that fits inside those dimensions, then check the crop.

Camera modes can save different resolutions even on the same device. A 48 MP, 4:3 example at 8,064 × 6,048 pixels reaches 26.88 × 20.16 inches at 300 PPI before cropping. A crop made in your photo app, a screenshot, or a copy from a message can be much smaller. Enter the dimensions of the actual file you plan to print. Use the pixel presets to compare possibilities while you look up the original.

• Apple’s guide to supported camera resolutions

Match your print size to a frame and border

Check the size listed for the photo and the size of the mat opening. An 8×10 frame with a mat for a 5×7 photo normally takes a 5×7 print when you use the mat. The opening can be slightly smaller so the mat holds the edges. Measure your opening and leave a little space around important details. Without the mat, confirm the full print size the frame holds.

A white border printed on the paper gives the photo breathing room even without a mat. Inside mode keeps the ordered sheet size. A quarter inch on all sides of a 6×4 sheet leaves a 5.5×3.5 inch box for the photo. Outside mode adds paper around the chosen image area. Check the new total dimensions before ordering, and check whether the lab’s borderless scaling will cut into the white edge.