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How many pixels do you need to print a photo?

For a sharp print, aim for about 300 pixels per inch: 1200 × 1800 pixels for a 4×6, 1500 × 2100 for a 5×7 and 2400 × 3000 for an 8×10. Most modern phone photos have more than enough.

Updated October 20, 2026

Pixels needed for common print sizes

Print (inches)	Sharp (300 PPI)	Good (180 PPI)	Lowest (125 PPI)
4 × 6	1200 × 1800	720 × 1080	500 × 750
5 × 7	1500 × 2100	900 × 1260	625 × 875
8 × 10	2400 × 3000	1440 × 1800	1000 × 1250
11 × 14	3300 × 4200	1980 × 2520	1375 × 1750

Pixels = inches × pixels per inch (PPI). Matches the chart published by Nations Photo Lab, checked October 2026. Your print service may set its own minimum.

How to check your photo’s size

iPhone: open the photo in Photos and swipe up, or tap the ⓘ button. The pixel size is shown under the camera details.
Windows: right-click the file → Properties → Details, and look at Dimensions.
Mac: select the file in Finder and press Command-I. Dimensions appear under More Info.

A typical 12-megapixel phone photo measures 4032 × 3024 pixels, enough for a sharp 8×10. Photos saved from social media or messaging apps are often much smaller, so print the original when you can.

Why phone photos get cropped

Most phones take photos in a 4:3 shape. Print sizes come in other shapes: a 4×6 is 3:2, a 5×7 is 7:5 and an 8×10 is 5:4. When the shapes don’t match, the lab trims the edges. On a 4×6 from a phone, you lose a strip from the long sides; on an 8×10, a bit from the short ends.

To decide the crop yourself, use the crop tool in your phone’s photo editor and pick the print shape (often listed as 3:2, 5:7 or 4:5) before you upload.

Do you need to resize before printing?

Usually not. Upload the full-size photo and the lab scales it. Resizing helps when a print site caps the file size, or when you want a smaller copy for sharing. Our resize image tool can set an exact width and height for a whole batch. By default it won’t enlarge a photo, because a bigger copy would not print any sharper.

Frequently asked questions

Is 300 DPI required for printing?

No. 300 pixels per inch is the usual target for prints you will hold close, but Nations Photo Lab, for example, says photos print well from 125 pixels per inch. Large prints seen from across a room can use even less.

Can I make a small photo bigger for a large print?

You can enlarge it, but that only stretches the pixels you have. It won’t add real detail, so a small photo stays soft when printed big.

Why did my print cut off part of the photo?

Phone photos are a different shape from most print sizes, so the lab crops the edges to make it fit. Crop it yourself before ordering to choose what gets cut.

Does the DPI number saved in the file matter?

Hardly ever. Print services look at the pixel width and height. A photo marked 72 DPI with 3000 × 2400 pixels prints an 8 × 10 just as sharply as one marked 300.