Print size · US

8.5×11 in (US Letter) print size

Exactly how many pixels a 8.5×11 in (US Letter) print needs — and how much your camera's frame gets cropped.

8.4 MP

Needed at 300 DPI

3.7 MP

Needed at 200 DPI

27.9×21.6 cm

Size in cm

1.29:1

Aspect ratio

21 in

Typical viewing distance

Pixels needed for a 8.5×11 in (US Letter) print#

At normal viewing distance (≈1.5× the diagonal, 0.5 m) about 200 DPI is indistinguishable from 300 DPI for most viewers.

Resolution	Quality	Pixel dimensions	Megapixels
360 DPI	Exceptional (close inspection)	3,960 × 3,060 px	12.1 MP
300 DPI	Photo-lab standard	3,300 × 2,550 px	8.4 MP
240 DPI	Fine-art inkjet	2,640 × 2,040 px	5.4 MP
200 DPI	Large wall print	2,200 × 1,700 px	3.7 MP
150 DPI	Poster, viewed from 1 m+	1,650 × 1,275 px	2.1 MP
100 DPI	Billboard / banner	1,100 × 850 px	0.9 MP

Cropping from your camera#

Camera aspect ratio	What happens	Image kept
3:2 (full frame, APS-C)	Crop the long side	86%
4:3 (MFT, phones)	Crop the long side	97%
16:9	Crop the long side	73%
1:1	Crop the short side	77%

Print size calculator#

Image width px Image height px Print resolution

Maximum print size—

In centimetres—

Megapixels · aspect ratio—

Will my camera be enough?#

A 24 MP camera (6000 × 4000 px) prints 545 DPI on the long side at 8.5×11 in (US Letter) — more than enough. A 12 MP phone (4032 × 3024) gives 367 DPI. See the 8 megapixel guide.

Home-printer letter paper.

Frequently asked questions#

How many megapixels do I need for a 8.5×11 in (US Letter) print?

8.4 MP for 300 DPI photo-lab quality, 3.7 MP at 200 DPI, and 2.1 MP at 150 DPI.

What resolution is 8.5×11 in (US Letter) at 300 DPI?

3,300 × 2,550 pixels.

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources