How many pixels do you need to print at 300 DPI?

Updated 3 November 2026

Short answer: multiply each side in inches by 300. An 8 × 10 print needs 2,400 × 3,000 pixels; a 24 × 36 poster needs 7,200 × 10,800.

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The table

Print size (in)	Pixels at 300 DPI	Pixels at 150 DPI
4 × 6	1,200 × 1,800	600 × 900
5 × 7	1,500 × 2,100	750 × 1,050
8 × 10	2,400 × 3,000	1,200 × 1,500
8 × 12	2,400 × 3,600	1,200 × 1,800
11 × 14	3,300 × 4,200	1,650 × 2,100
12 × 16	3,600 × 4,800	1,800 × 2,400
12 × 18	3,600 × 5,400	1,800 × 2,700
16 × 20	4,800 × 6,000	2,400 × 3,000
18 × 24	5,400 × 7,200	2,700 × 3,600
24 × 36	7,200 × 10,800	3,600 × 5,400

Is 300 DPI always needed?

300 DPI is the standard for prints looked at up close. Large posters seen from a few steps away often look fine at 150 DPI. For a file you sell, 300 DPI is safer, because you don't know how the buyer will print it.

DPI in the file vs pixels

What matters is the number of pixels. The DPI value saved in a file only tells the printer how large to print by default. PrintRatios writes 300 DPI into every file, so print shops read the size correctly.

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Questions people ask

How many pixels is 8x10 at 300 DPI?

2,400 by 3,000 pixels.

Does changing DPI in Photoshop make an image sharper?

No. Only more pixels add detail. Changing the DPI value without resampling only changes the default print size.