How many megapixels for a poster
One of the most common questions asked in photography is “how many megapixels do I need for large blow-ups?” The answer depends on the resolution you choose. Generally, the higher resolution you choose, the better the quality of the printed image. The general rule of thumb is:
- For output to the web use 72 dpi
- For printing high quality photographs use a value of 200 - 300 dpi.
If you wish to send your prints to a print shop, All about Digital Photos has written a fantastic guide explaining what you will need.
If you are printing the images yourself, use the table below as a guide to help you choose the best resolution for your needs.
Paper Size |
in mm |
Pixels at 300 ppi (dpi*) |
Pixels at 150 ppi (dpi*) |
Pixels at 72 ppi (dpi*) |
A0 |
841 x 1189 |
9933 x 14043 |
4967 x 7022 |
2384 x 3370 |
A1 |
594 x 841 |
7016 x 9933 |
3508 x 4967 |
1684 x 2384 |
A2 |
420 x 594 |
4961 x 7016 |
2480 x 3508 |
1191 x 1684 |
A3 |
297 x 420 |
3508 x 4961 |
1754 x 2480 |
842 x 1191 |
A4 |
210 x 297 |
2480 x 3508 |
1240 x 1754 |
595 x 842 |
A5 |
148 x 210 |
1748 x 2480 |
874 x 1240 |
420 x 595 |
A6 |
105 x 148 |
1240 x 1748 |
620 x 874 |
298 x 420 |
A7 |
74 x 105 |
874 x 1240 |
437 x 620 |
210 x 298 |
A8 |
52 x 74 |
614 x 874 |
307 x 437 |
147 x 210 |
A9 |
37 x 52 |
437 x 614 |
219 x 307 |
105 x 147 |
A10 |
26 x 37 |
307 x 437 |
154 x 219 |
74 x 105 |
Source: DIN formate faq
* DPI is short for Dots Per Inch and refers to dots per inch used in a printer. PPI is a measure of how an image is printed to a medium such as paper.
For more information about the difference between DPI and PPI as well as a list of the most common mistakes, click on the link below.
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