How many pixels does an A4 print need?

300 DPI is the usual print target — but how many pixels is that for the paper size? The conversion is one formula.

Tools used in this guide

The job

A design headed for print needs enough pixels to stay sharp. The target is resolution: 300 DPI for close-up prints, 150 DPI for posters viewed at arm's length, 96 DPI for screen-only work.

How to do it

Pick the paper size — A4, a business card, an L-size photo — or enter custom millimeters. Choose the DPI and convert. The reference table shows every common size at that DPI so you can check alternatives in one glance.

A4 at 300 DPI needs about 2480 × 3508 px; a business card (91 × 55 mm) needs about 1075 × 650 px.
Switch to landscape for the rotated size, or flip the direction to ask "how big can this image print?" — pixels to mm.

Worked example

A 3000 × 2000 px photo at 300 DPI prints 254 × 169 mm — comfortably an L-size print, a bit short for A5. Print it at 220 DPI instead and it covers A5 exactly.

Limits

This is the size math only — DPI is a scaling ratio, not a quality dial, so enlarging a small image to 300 DPI adds no detail. Print drivers often scale output; check the driver's 100% setting, and add bleed (usually 3 mm per side) if the print goes to the paper edge.