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Print size calculator – how big can I print?

Drop a photo and see right away up to which size it prints sharply. If it's too small, AI upscaling helps.

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Step by step

  1. Drop the photo at its original size, straight from the camera or phone. Photos sent via messengers are often downscaled and give a too pessimistic rating.
  2. Check the pixel dimensions and megapixels of your photo at the top. The whole calculation is based on them.
  3. Under “How will the print be viewed?”, choose whether it will be seen up close, such as a photo print or in an album, or from a distance, such as a poster or canvas.
  4. Go through the table from 9 × 13 cm up to A0. For each size you see the dpi reached and a rating from “very good” through “good” and “acceptable” to “too small”.
  5. Below the table you see up to which size the photo prints at least well. If it is only enough for small sizes, the tool offers to upscale the image with AI right away.

What you can use it for

  • Before ordering prints: Before ordering a large print, a poster or a photo book, you see in seconds whether the photo is big enough – and avoid a blurry result.
  • Canvas and wall art: Canvases and large wall pictures are viewed from a distance. With the matching setting you see how large the image may be printed.
  • Flyers and invitations: For flyers, cards or invitations held in the hand, the close-viewing rating shows whether a photo stays sharp up to A5 or A4.
  • Old and scanned photos: For scanned prints or old digital photos with few megapixels, the table quickly shows which size is still realistic.

What does dpi mean?

dpi means dots per inch. For prints held in the hand, 300 dpi is considered very good. Posters and canvases are viewed from a distance – 150 dpi is enough there.

The table calculates the dpi your photo reaches for each size and rates the result, so you don't order a blurry print.

Frequently asked questions

My photo is too small – what now?

Use the “Upscale image” tool to quadruple the resolution with AI. It helps most with small and phone photos.

Is my photo uploaded?

No.

Does it matter whether the photo is portrait or landscape?

No. The calculation compares the long side of the image with the long side of the format, and the short side with the short side. A portrait photo is rated the same as in landscape.

What if the aspect ratio doesn't match the format?

The table assumes the whole photo fits into the format and uses the stricter side. When printing, a photo with a different ratio is usually cropped or gets a border – check your print service's options.

What exactly do the ratings mean?

“Very good” means the target value for the chosen viewing distance is reached. “Good” and “acceptable” are below that; with “too small”, expect visible blur. With 300 dpi as the target, “good” starts at about 200 dpi.

Does cropping the photo first help?

Cropping removes pixels, so the maximum print size gets smaller. Drop the section you actually want to print, and the table shows the right value.

How many megapixels do I need for A4?

Drop your photo and read the A4 row – it shows the exact dpi for exactly this image. In general: the larger the format and the closer the viewer, the more pixels are needed.

How reliable is AI upscaling for printing?

It makes the image larger and often makes edges noticeably sharper. Details that were never in the photo can only be imitated. For prints viewed up close, a photo with enough original pixels is always the better choice.