Image resolution for print: the 300 DPI rule
For print, an image should be about 300 DPI (dots per inch) at its finished size, which means roughly 300 pixels for every inch it will be printed. Below that, print starts to reveal the pixels and the image looks soft or blocky. A screen only shows about 72 to 96 pixels per inch, which is why an image that looks sharp on your monitor can still print poorly: print packs far more detail into the same space.
The bleed calculator checks this for you: drop a raster image, enter the finished print size, and it tells you the effective DPI and whether it will look crisp.
How to work out the pixels you need
The math is simple: multiply the print size in inches by 300. For millimeters, multiply by about 11.8 (that is 300 divided by 25.4). Here are common sizes at 300 DPI.
| Print size | Pixels needed at 300 DPI |
|---|---|
| Business card (3.5 × 2 in / 85 × 55 mm) | ~1050 × 600 px |
| A6 postcard (105 × 148 mm) | ~1240 × 1748 px |
| A5 flyer (148 × 210 mm) | ~1748 × 2480 px |
| A4 (210 × 297 mm) | ~2480 × 3508 px |
| US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) | ~2550 × 3300 px |
Effective DPI: the number that actually matters
DPI is not a fixed property of a file; it depends on the size you print. The same 1500 × 1000 pixel image is 300 DPI on a 5 × 3.3 inch print and only 150 DPI blown up to 10 × 6.7 inches. The useful figure is effective DPI: your pixel dimensions divided by the print size in inches. As a rule of thumb, 300+ is crisp, 150 to 300 is usable but soft, and below 150 will look pixelated for anything viewed up close.
When lower resolution is fine
Viewing distance changes the rules. A billboard is often 15 to 30 DPI because nobody stands with their nose against it, and roll-up banners are commonly 100 to 150 DPI. The 300 DPI rule is for things held in the hand: cards, flyers, brochures, packaging and book pages. Match the resolution to how close the print will be viewed.
Vector versus raster
Resolution only applies to raster images (photos and anything made of pixels). Vector art, logos, type and line art in PDF, SVG, EPS or AI, has no resolution and stays perfectly sharp at any size. Whenever a logo or text is involved, keep it vector. Reserve raster for photographic content, and make sure it clears 300 DPI at final size. This is also why the bleed tool preserves true scale for dropped PDF and SVG files, but asks for the finished size on raster images so it can check the resolution.
Related reading
See what is bleed in printing, bleed size for business cards, and can a digital proof represent print color.
Print resolution, answered
Short, straight answers to the questions we are asked most. If yours is not here, ask.
Ask us anythingWhat resolution do I need for print?
The standard for print is 300 DPI (dots per inch) at the finished size. That means an image should have about 300 pixels for every inch it will be printed. Large-format prints viewed from a distance can use less (100 to 150 DPI), but 300 DPI is the safe default for anything held in the hand.
How many pixels is 300 DPI?
Multiply the print size in inches by 300. A 3.5 × 2 inch business card needs about 1050 × 600 pixels. An A4 page (8.27 × 11.69 in) needs about 2480 × 3508 pixels. In millimeters, multiply by about 11.8 pixels per mm.
Why does my image look pixelated when printed?
Because it has too few pixels for the size it is printed at. A 600 × 400 pixel image looks fine on screen but is only about 170 DPI on a 3.5 inch card, so print reveals the pixels. Enlarging a small image does not add detail; it just makes the existing pixels bigger.
Can I increase the DPI of an image?
You can change the DPI number, but that alone does not add real detail. The only true fixes are to use a higher-resolution original, reshoot or rescan at higher resolution, or print smaller. Upscaling tools can help modestly but cannot invent detail that was never captured.
Is vector better than raster for print?
For logos, type and line art, yes. Vector art (in PDF, SVG, EPS or AI) has no fixed resolution and stays crisp at any size. Use raster (photos) only where you need photographic detail, and make sure it is 300 DPI at final size.