Softonic

Megapixel Calculator

Step 1 / 3 Megapixels
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A megapixel calculator turns a pixel resolution into the two numbers people actually care about: how many megapixels the image holds, and how large you can print it before it looks soft. Type the width and height in pixels, choose a print resolution (300 DPI for crisp photo prints, 150 DPI for posters viewed at arm’s length) and read the total megapixels plus the maximum print size in both inches and centimetres. It works the same for a phone photo, a DSLR raw file or a flatbed scan.

How to size an image for print

  1. 1

    Enter the pixel dimensions

    Put the image width and height in pixels: for example 6000 × 4000 for a 24 MP camera.

  2. 2

    Pick a print resolution (DPI)

    Use 300 DPI for fine prints held close, or 150 DPI for large prints seen from a distance.

  3. 3

    Read megapixels and print size

    The calculator shows the total megapixels and the biggest print size in inches and centimetres.

The formula

Megapixels measure how many pixels an image contains, in millions:

megapixels = (width × height) ÷ 1,000,000

Print size depends on the print resolution you choose, measured in dots per inch (DPI). The higher the DPI, the smaller, and sharper, the print:

print_width_inches  = width  ÷ DPI
print_height_inches = height ÷ DPI
print_size_cm       = inches × 2.54

A worked example

Take a 6000 × 4000 photo from a 24 MP camera:

  • Megapixels: (6000 × 4000) ÷ 1,000,000 = 24.0 MP
  • At 300 DPI: 6000 ÷ 300 = 20 in and 4000 ÷ 300 ≈ 13.33 in → about 20 × 13.3 in (≈ 50.8 × 33.9 cm)
  • At 150 DPI the same file prints twice as large: about 40 × 26.7 in (≈ 101.6 × 67.7 cm)

So the same file is a small gallery print at 300 DPI and a poster at 150 DPI, DPI is a quality choice, not a property of the file.

Resolution and print size at a glance

Megapixels Typical resolution Max print @ 300 DPI Max print @ 150 DPI
2 MP 1600 × 1200 ≈ 5.3 × 4 in ≈ 10.7 × 8 in
8 MP 3264 × 2448 ≈ 10.9 × 8.2 in ≈ 21.8 × 16.3 in
12 MP 4000 × 3000 ≈ 13.3 × 10 in ≈ 26.7 × 20 in
24 MP 6000 × 4000 ≈ 20 × 13.3 in ≈ 40 × 26.7 in
50 MP 8688 × 5792 ≈ 29 × 19.3 in ≈ 58 × 38.6 in

Pitfalls to avoid

  • More megapixels ≠ better photos. Sensor size, lens quality and noise matter more than raw pixel count.
  • Don’t upscale to hit a DPI. Stretching a small file to print larger just spreads the same detail thinner; the table above is the maximum honest size.
  • Viewing distance changes everything. A billboard prints at 10–20 DPI and still looks fine because nobody stands 30 cm away from it.
  • Aspect ratio is separate. Megapixels say nothing about shape, a 24 MP file can be 3:2, 4:3 or square. Crop to your frame first, then check the print size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Multiply the pixel width by the pixel height and divide by one million. A 6000 × 4000 image is (6000 × 4000) ÷ 1,000,000 = 24 megapixels.

Use 300 DPI for photo prints and anything held close, such as books or fine-art prints. Drop to 150 DPI for large posters viewed from a metre or more away, and even lower for banners and billboards.

A 12 MP image (about 4000 × 3000 px) prints sharply up to roughly 13 × 10 inches (33 × 25 cm) at 300 DPI, or around 27 × 20 inches at 150 DPI for prints seen from a distance.

No. This calculator only uses the width, height and DPI numbers you type, no image file is ever uploaded. The maths runs in your browser, so nothing leaves your device.

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