Photo Print Size Calculator
Find the maximum high-quality print size for any megapixel count, and check if a specific print size will look sharp.
The question I get most from clients and photography students is whether their camera can make a specific print size. The answer is almost always yes for anything under 16x20, and often yes for much larger sizes depending on viewing distance. Understanding the math removes the guesswork and helps you advise clients accurately.
300 PPI is the standard for gallery-quality prints viewed close up. At normal viewing distances (2+ feet for large prints), 200 PPI is typically indistinguishable from 300. A 24 MP camera can produce a sharp 16x20 at 300 PPI. A 45 MP camera can go to 20x30 at 300 PPI.
PPI vs DPI
PPI (pixels per inch) describes digital image resolution. DPI (dots per inch) describes printer resolution. A printer printing at 1200 DPI can produce a print that looks like 300 PPI to the human eye because it uses multiple ink dots to render each pixel. The practical standard for lab-quality prints is 300 PPI in the digital file. Many professional labs accept 240 PPI files with no visible quality difference in the final print.
Large format printing
Billboard, wall mural, and large-format trade show graphics are typically printed at 75-150 DPI because they are viewed from several feet away. The perceived sharpness at 3-meter viewing distance at 72 DPI is equivalent to a 300 DPI print viewed at 12 inches. For any print larger than 24x36, calculate the intended viewing distance before deciding whether you have enough resolution.
Cropping and resolution
Cropping reduces effective resolution proportionally. Cropping 50% of the frame quarters the pixel count, halving the maximum print size at a given PPI. If you regularly crop aggressively, factor this into your camera selection if large prints matter. A 45 MP camera with 50% crop still produces 22 MP, which is more than most 24 MP cameras uncropped.
Frequently asked questions
What size can a phone camera print?
Modern flagship phones shoot 12-50 MP depending on the model. A 12 MP image (4032x3024) can produce a sharp 13x10 print at 300 PPI. At 200 PPI it reaches 20x15. For 8x10 prints that are the most common client order, any modern phone is entirely sufficient.
Does JPEG compression affect print quality?
At moderate compression levels (quality settings 85-95%), JPEG compression is invisible in prints. Maximum or high-quality JPEG from most cameras is indistinguishable from uncompressed TIFF in standard prints. For large format fine art printing where you will view the print very close, TIFF or RAW-derived TIFF is preferred. For standard lab prints, high-quality JPEG is fine.