Pixels needed for a print
That print needs 3,000 px by 2,400 px, about 7.2 MP, at 300 ppi.
Result
Pixels needed, width
px
Pixels needed, height
px
| Print width in inches | 0.8 ft |
|---|---|
| Print height in inches | 0.7 ft |
| Pixels per inch used | 300.0 ppi |
| Width times pixels per inch | 3,000.0 px |
| Height times pixels per inch | 2,400.0 px |
How it works
The number of pixels a print needs is its size in inches times the pixels per inch you want. For the pixels per inch you can pick a quality level, from a print held in the hand to one hung on a wall, or enter your own figure. Or give the distance the print is viewed from: the eye resolves about one minute of arc, so the pixels per inch that matter fall as the viewer steps back. A large poster seen from across a room needs far fewer pixels than the same size held in the hand. Enter print sizes such as 8x10 or 24x36 (8 × 10 or 24 × 36 inches), then pick a quality level or a viewing distance.
Formula
ppi: basis quality -> hand 300, close 200, arm 150, far 100, or custom_ppi (constants.ppi_tier_*); basis distance -> ppi = 1 / (d x tan(1 arcmin)) with d = distance / 0.0254 inches. pw = print_w / 0.0254 and ph = print_h / 0.0254 inches. px_w = pw x ppi, px_h = ph x ppi, megapixels = px_w x px_h, returned in px (the MP display unit divides by 1,000,000). tan(1 arcmin) = tan(pi / 10800). viewing_distance = 1 / (ppi x tan(1 arcmin)) x 0.0254 m. The warning w_above_300 appears when ppi > 300.
Worked example
The tool opens with this example; the result above is computed from it.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Print width | 10 in |
| Print height | 8 in |
| Start from | A print quality level |
| Print quality | Held in the hand (three hundred ppi) |
| Pixels needed, width | 3,000 px |
| Pixels needed, height | 2,400 px |
Common cases
| Case | Starting values | Pixels needed, width | Pixels needed, height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eight by ten print held in the hand | Print width 10 in; Print height 8 in | 3,000 px | 2,400 px |
| Poster seen from six feet | Print width 36 in; Print height 24 in; Viewing distance 6 ft | 1,719 px | 1,146 px |
| Canvas seen at arm's length | Print width 40 in; Print height 30 in | 6,000 px | 4,500 px |
Questions and answers
How many pixels do I need for an 8 × 10 print?
A 10 in by 8 in print held in the hand needs 3,000 px by 2,400 px, about 7.2 MP, at 300 ppi. Fewer pixels are enough if it hangs further away.
What resolution do I need for a 24 × 36 poster?
The eye cannot separate pixels much finer than one minute of arc, so a 36 in by 24 in poster seen from 6 ft needs only 48 ppi: 1,719 px by 1,146 px, about 2.0 MP.
How many pixels do I need for a 30 × 40 canvas?
A 40 in by 30 in canvas seen at arm's length needs 6,000 px by 4,500 px, about 27.0 MP, at 150 ppi.
Assumptions and limits
- The distance rule assumes eyesight that resolves one minute of arc, the usual definition of normal vision.
- The quality levels are guide values for how far away a print is viewed, not limits of a printer.
- Pixel counts are shown rounded to a whole pixel.
The result is an estimate for planning, not professional advice.
Sources
- DPI to pixels reference table and viewing-distance guidanceretrieved 2026-10-13
- Visual acuity (Wikipedia): one minute of arc, about 1.75 mm at 6 mretrieved 2026-10-13
- Dots per inch (Wikipedia): PPI is the input resolution of an imageretrieved 2026-10-13
Last updated:
Method in depth: Pixels per inch, viewing distance and print size
Cite this page: Frame Kit, “Pixels needed for a print”, https://frame-kit.pages.dev/photo-print/pixels-needed-for-a-print/ (updated 13 October 2026).
Found a mistake? Email handycalc.sites+framekit@gmail.com.