Plan a canvas before you create a photo print, illustration or US Letter layout. This inches to pixels calculator converts the finished size and target PPI into the pixel dimensions your file should contain.
Build a canvas from a US print specification
- Choose 4 × 6, 5 × 7, 8 × 10 inches or US Letter, or type a custom finished width and height.
- Set the target PPI supplied by the print service.
- Copy the required pixels or send them to Image Resizer after choosing an original image.
One inch needs PPI pixels
At a chosen density, one inch contains PPI pixels. Multiply each edge: px = in × PPI. For an 8 × 10 inch illustration at 300 PPI, the target is 2400 × 3000 pixels. This is a canvas requirement, not a measurement of a file you already have.
Check whether the order describes trim size or a size including bleed. Use the intended orientation: 4 × 6 and 6 × 4 require the same pixel count but put the long edge in different directions. Cropping can remove detail even when the uncropped source meets the requested dimensions.
Inches to pixels at 300 DPI / PPI
The familiar phrase “inches to pixels at 300 DPI” uses 300 as the image density. The arithmetic uses pixels per inch, not the printer’s hardware dots per inch.
| Finished size | Pixels at 300 PPI | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in | 1200 × 1800 | Photo print |
| 5 × 7 in | 1500 × 2100 | Portrait frame |
| 8 × 10 in | 2400 × 3000 | Illustration or enlargement |
| 8.5 × 11 in | 2550 × 3300 | US Letter |
Round only after multiplying
A custom edge such as 2.333 inches at 300 PPI gives 699.9 pixels. The calculator rounds to the nearest whole pixel. If your supplier requires a strict minimum density, check the exact value and round upward in the final production specification when necessary.
An existing small image does not acquire original detail merely because a new canvas has enough pixels. Work from the largest useful source, decide crop or padding, and inspect the exported file.
Image pixels and CSS pixels
CSS defines 96 CSS pixels per CSS inch for layout. That relationship is not the physical density of every screen, nor a required density for a printed image. Here, PPI is your explicit print assumption; browser zoom does not change the file’s stored pixels.
Frequently asked questions
What canvas do I need for an 8 × 10 inch print at 300 PPI?
Use 2400 × 3000 pixels before adding any required bleed. Confirm the composition and output orientation.
Is a Letter page always 2550 × 3300 pixels?
Only when the full 8.5 × 11 inch page is calculated at 300 PPI. A different density or printable area changes the answer.
Should I include margins in the image dimensions?
Determine whether the delivered image fills the page or sits inside a smaller layout area. Calculate the image’s intended placement, and keep page margins separate.