Pixels to Inches Converter
Why "Pixels" Don't Have a Size
This is the most common confusion in digital imaging. People ask: "How many inches is 1000 pixels?"
The answer is: It depends on the density.
A pixel is just a colored dot. It doesn't have a physical width until you display it on a screen or print it on paper. The "tightness" of these dots is determined by DPI (Dots Per Inch) or PPI (Pixels Per Inch).
- 100 Pixels at 10 DPI = 10 inches (Huge blurry dots).
- 100 Pixels at 100 DPI = 1 inch (Sharp dots).
Web vs. Print: The 72 vs. 300 Rule
If you are a designer, you live by two numbers.
1. Screens (72 or 96 PPI)
Computer monitors historically displayed 72 pixels per inch (Mac) or 96 pixels per inch (Windows). While modern "Retina" screens have much higher densities (400+ PPI), 72 is still the standard setting for web images to ensure they load fast.
2. Print (300 DPI)
Paper requires much higher quality. If you print a web image (72 DPI) on paper, it will look "pixelated" (blocky). To get crisp, photo-quality prints, you need to pack 300 dots into every inch.
If you download a 1920x1080 wallpaper and want to print it:
1920 px ÷ 300 dpi = 6.4 inches.
That large wallpaper will only make a small photo print!
Common Resolution Reference
Trying to figure out how many pixels you need for a project? Use this cheat sheet for 300 DPI (High Quality) printing.
| Paper Size | Physical Size | Pixels Needed (300 DPI) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 6 Photo | 4" x 6" | 1200 x 1800 px |
| A4 / Letter | 8.5" x 11" | 2550 x 3300 px |
| Poster | 18" x 24" | 5400 x 7200 px |
| Business Card | 3.5" x 2" | 1050 x 600 px |
What happens if I stretch an image?
If you take a small image (low pixels) and force it to print at a large size (high inches), the DPI drops. This is called Upscaling.
Software can guess what the missing pixels should look like (interpolation), but it usually results in a blurry or "soft" image. It is always better to start with a higher resolution than you need and scale down.