How this calculator works
PPI describes image pixels per physical inch, while printer DPI describes ink or toner dots. Required pixel counts are rounded upward. Increasing a file’s pixel count by resampling does not create new captured detail.
The formula
Print inches = pixels / PPI. Required pixels = physical inches × PPI. One inch is exactly 2.54 cm.A quick example
A 3,000 × 2,400 pixel image at 300 PPI prints at 10 × 8 inches, or 25.4 × 20.32 cm, and contains 7.2 megapixels.
How to use this calculator
- Choose the settings that match your scenario, using the units shown beside each field.
- Enter image width (pixels in first mode; physical unit in second), image height (same convention as width), target pixel density (ppi).
- Calculate, then review the method and assumptions alongside the results.
A few common questions
Is PPI the same as printer DPI?
No. A printer may use several dots to represent one image pixel.
Can this calculate megapixels?
Yes. The total pixel and megapixel results use the image dimensions, including the rounded requirement in reverse mode.