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Drop your image here

or click to select — JPG, PNG, WEBP, TIFF, BMP up to 20MB

💡 JPEG and TIFF have embedded DPI tags. PNG uses the pHYs chunk. Other formats will use 72 DPI as a screen default.

What this tool checks

Instant · Browser-only

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DPI / PPI

From EXIF · JFIF · pHYs

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Resolution

Width × Height in px

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Print Size

Inches & Centimetres

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File Info

Size, Format, MP

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Print Check

7 common paper sizes

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Custom DPI

Preview at any DPI

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Print Quality

DPI / PPI

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Width

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Height

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Megapixels

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Format

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Calculated Print Size at Current DPI

Width

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Height

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📐 Custom DPI Calculator

Enter a target DPI to preview how large your image would print at that resolution.

Print Size Compatibility at Current DPI

Paper Size	Dimensions	Required Pixels	Quality

How the DPI Checker Works

No upload, no server. Everything happens locally in your browser.

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Read Binary Tags

The File API reads the binary image data. For JPEGs, the tool parses the JFIF APP0 segment and EXIF APP1 XResolution tag. For PNG, it reads the pHYs chunk. For TIFF, it reads IFD0.

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Extract DPI

Resolution values are decoded from RATIONAL (num/den) or UINT16 fields and converted to DPI (dots per inch). If no DPI is embedded, 72 PPI is used as the standard web/screen default.

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Calculate Print Size

Print width = pixel width ÷ DPI. Print height = pixel height ÷ DPI. Results shown in both inches and centimetres (1 inch = 2.54 cm). Use the custom DPI input to simulate different print resolutions.

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Print Size Check

The tool checks 7 common paper sizes (4×6 to A2) and tells you if your image has enough pixels to print at quality at the current DPI — Good (≥ required), Excellent (≥ 1.5× required), or Too small.

DPI Guide — What Resolution Do You Need?

Use this reference table to understand the right DPI for your use case.

Use Case	Recommended DPI	Notes
Web / Screen display	72 – 96 PPI	Standard monitor resolution. Higher DPI not visible on most screens.
Basic home printing	150 PPI	Acceptable quality for A4 or smaller prints viewed at arm's length.
Quality photo print	200 – 240 PPI	Good for framed prints, photo books. Noticeably sharper than 150.
Professional print (standard)	300 PPI	Industry standard for magazines, brochures, and fine art prints.
Fine art / retina	400 – 600 PPI	Maximum quality for close-inspection prints, high-end galleries.
Large format banner	72 – 150 PPI	Viewed from distance — lower DPI acceptable for large banners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything about DPI, PPI, and image resolution for printing

What is DPI and why does it matter for printing?

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DPI (dots per inch) describes how many ink dots a printer places per inch of paper. For digital images, PPI (pixels per inch) is the equivalent concept — how many image pixels are mapped to each inch when printed. Higher DPI/PPI means sharper, more detailed prints. 300 DPI is the professional printing standard.

What's the difference between DPI and PPI?

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DPI (dots per inch) refers to the physical output of a printer — how many ink dots it can place per inch of paper. PPI (pixels per inch) refers to the digital image — how many pixels exist per inch. When discussing image resolution for printing, the terms are often used interchangeably. This tool displays both terms.

My image shows 72 DPI — is that wrong?

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Not necessarily. Many images — especially those edited in Photoshop or exported from web tools — have a 72 DPI tag, which is a screen default. The actual pixel dimensions matter more for print. Use the custom DPI calculator to see your print size at 300 DPI regardless of the embedded tag.

How do I increase my image's DPI?

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Simply changing the DPI tag in an editor without adding pixels is called "resampling" and does not add real detail — it only changes the metadata number. To genuinely increase print quality, you need more pixels: use our AI Image Upscaler to add real pixels via AI super-resolution, then set the DPI to 300 in your design tool.

Does this tool upload my image?

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No. The DPI checker runs entirely in your browser. Your image is read using the HTML5 File API and processed locally in JavaScript. Nothing is ever transmitted to a server — making it completely private and works offline after the initial page load.