Free tool · DPI checker

Check your photo’s DPI before you print.

Drop in a photo, pick a print size, and check its resolution in a second, before you waste a sheet. It's read right in your browser, so nothing gets uploaded.

Print size
×in
Magnets
Photo prints

Drop in a photo to see whether it prints sharp at this size.

Reading the number

What the verdict means.

The result above comes from one bit of maths: pixels divided by print size. Here is what each band tells you.

300 DPI and up
Crisp. Use it for anything someone holds up close, like a photo magnet, a print, or a card.
150–299 DPI
Fine for larger pieces viewed from a step back, like a wall poster. Too soft for fine detail.
Below 150 DPI
Comes out soft or blocky on paper. Drop to a smaller size, or start from a sharper photo.

Want the full rundown? Read what resolution you need to print photos.

Frequently asked

Using the checker.

Do I need to install anything to check DPI?+
No. The checker runs right here in your browser. It is free, there is nothing to download, and you do not need to sign up.
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?+
No. The checker reads your photo size right here in your browser. Nothing gets sent to a server or saved.
What size can I safely print my photo?+
Drop your photo in above and it tells you the biggest size that still lands at 300 DPI, plus the largest size that scrapes by at 150. Past that and the print starts to soften.
How do I work out how many DPI my image has?+
DPI depends on how big you print. Divide the photo’s width in pixels by the print width in inches. A photo 3,000 pixels wide printed 10 inches wide lands at 300 DPI. Print it 20 inches wide and it drops to 150. The checker above does the maths for you.
My photo says 72 DPI. Is that too low to print?+
Not on its own. The 72 or 300 saved in the file is only a label. What counts is how many pixels the photo has and how big you print it. A 3,000 × 2,400 photo tagged 72 DPI still prints crisp at 10 × 8 inches.
What DPI do I need for photo magnets?+
Aim for 300 DPI. People hold magnets in their hand and look up close, so a soft photo shows. A 2 × 3 inch fridge magnet needs 600 × 900 pixels, which almost any phone photo clears.
Is this a printer DPI test?+
No. It checks your photo, not your printer. If your prints come out soft, check the photo here first. A photo with too few pixels for the print size is the usual cause.

Keep going

Related reads.

Print resolution

What resolution to print photos

How much resolution a photo needs to print sharp, how to check your photo’s pixels, and the biggest size you can safely print.

Read more →Free tool · Image splitter

Image splitter

Drop in a photo, pick a grid like 3×3, and download every tile as a ZIP. Great for an Instagram grid or a multi-tile magnet mural. Cut in your browser, nothing uploaded.

Read more →Feature

Print Studio

Lay out your own sheets and export them at 300 DPI.

Read more →

Photo checks out? Lay it out for print.

Print Studio sets your photos on a sheet ready for the press. It's free, with no sign-up. Or run the whole booth on Vixie.

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