Megapixel calculator
Calculate megapixels
Calculate (file) size
Print sizes (m2)
| dpi | max dim (m) | max surface |
|---|---|---|
| 10 dpi billboard | 3.00m x 3.00m | = 9.01m2 |
| 72 dpi newspaper | 41.7cm x 41.7cm | = 1739cm2 |
| 96 dpi minimum | 31.3cm x 31.3cm | = 978.1cm2 |
| 150 dpi magazine | 20.0cm x 20.0cm | = 400.6cm2 |
| 240 dpi inkjet printer | 12.5cm x 12.5cm | = 156.5cm2 |
| 300 dpi inkjet printer | 10.0cm x 10.0cm | = 100.2cm2 |
| 600 dpi laser printer | 5.0cm x 5.0cm | = 25.04cm2 |
| 1200 dpi high-end printer | 2.5cm x 2.5cm | = 6.26cm2 |
Compare to
4K TV (16:9) • 8K TV (16:9) • HDCAM • NTSC DVD • NTSC SVCD • NTSC TV • NTSC VCD • PAL DVD • PAL SVCD • PAL VCD • Quicktime HD 1080p • Quicktime HD 720p • Quicktime SD 480p •
Background
References
Photo calculators & converters
Image Width x Height → aspect ratio
Fit an image on a screen
Focal length, distance, crop factor → image composition
Aperture, focal length, distance, crop → depth-of-field
Print Width x Height and dpi → megapixels
Image Width x Height JPG/RAW/PNG → bytes
Aperture, shutter time, ISO → Exposure Value
Image Width x Height → megapixels
See megapixels in different aspect ratios
portrait distance, composition, crop factor, focal length
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate megapixels from resolution?
Multiply width × height and divide by 1,000,000. For example: 1920×1080 = 2,073,600 pixels = 2.07 megapixels. A 4K display (3840×2160) is 8.3 megapixels, while a 24MP camera produces 6000×4000 pixel images.
How many megapixels do I need for printing?
For quality prints at 300 DPI: 8×10 inch requires 7.2MP, 11×14 inch requires 14MP, 16×20 inch requires 29MP. For billboards viewed from distance, 10-72 DPI suffices, so even 2MP can work for large format prints.
What is the file size of a megapixel image?
Uncompressed: 1MP = 3MB (24-bit RGB). JPEG at 90% quality: roughly 300KB-500KB per megapixel. RAW files: 1.5-2MB per megapixel. A 24MP camera produces ~25MB RAW files or ~8MB high-quality JPEGs.
Does more megapixels mean better quality?
Not necessarily. Sensor size, lens quality, and pixel size matter more for image quality. A 12MP full-frame sensor often outperforms a 48MP smartphone sensor in low light. More megapixels help for cropping and large prints but can increase noise on small sensors.
What resolution is 1 megapixel?
A 1 megapixel image is exactly 1,000,000 pixels total. Common dimensions include 1154×867 (4:3 ratio), 1188×842 (√2 ratio), or 1000×1000 (square). HD video at 1280×720 is 0.92MP, while 1280×960 equals 1.23MP.
How do megapixels relate to print DPI?
Print size = pixels ÷ DPI. A 12MP image (4000×3000) at 300 DPI prints at 13.3×10 inches. At 150 DPI (magazine quality), the same image prints at 26.7×20 inches. Higher megapixels allow larger prints at the same quality.
