05 / CSS / 2026-04-17
Print Dimensions
Every major print size in inches and pixels. Copy any value in one click. Live-tuned by dpi and bleed.
How it works
// 01 DPI and pixel density
DPI stands for dots per inch. It is the density of ink or pixel information packed into one linear inch of the finished print. A 4 by 6 photo at 300 dpi requires a file that is 1200 by 1800 pixels. Below 250 dpi, printed edges visibly soften on close inspection. Above 400 dpi, the eye cannot see the difference at a normal viewing distance.
// 02 Bleed and cut tolerance
Commercial cutting tolerances are typically plus or minus 0.0625 inch. A 0.125 inch bleed per side gives the cutter twice the slack it needs to avoid leaving a white hairline at the trim edge. For a business card with a finished size of 3.5 by 2 inches, the bleed-expanded canvas is 3.75 by 2.25 inches. Export the bleed-expanded dimensions, not the finished trim size.
// 03 Safe zone and trim accuracy
Trim accuracy works in both directions. A cut can land 0.0625 inch inside the intended line, which means any type or logo within that band can lose its edge. Keep critical content 0.125 inch inside the trim on small formats, 0.25 inch on posters and banners. Bleed is how you keep color off the paper. Safe zone is how you keep type on it.
// why this exists
the reference app I wanted for myself. 79 sizes, ISO 216 exact, USPS-aware.
Print dimensions live in two worlds at once. Inches at the shop. Pixels at the designer's desk. This page keeps both in sync for 79 sizes, live-tuned by dpi and bleed, so you can stop re-deriving the math every time a print vendor sends back a template.
Every row in the table below shows the finished print size in inches, the pixel dimensions your file actually needs at 72, 150, 300, or 600 dpi, and the bleed-expanded canvas size for prepress. The data is pulled from ISO 216 (for A and B series), the USPS Domestic Mail Manual (for postcard class maximums), ANSI/ASME Y14.1 (for US Letter, Legal, Tabloid), and the conventions commercial US print shops actually use. Pixel values are computed at render time from the source unit, never hand-typed, so the arithmetic cannot drift.
The common question is "what dpi do I need for print." The short answer is 300 dpi for anything someone will hold in their hands (business cards, postcards, photo prints, brochures, book interiors) and 150 dpi for anything viewed from more than a few feet away (posters, retractable banners, trade show graphics). 72 dpi is web only. 600 dpi is reserved for fine art reproductions or hairline line work.
Bleed is the second question. Bleed is the extra canvas area that extends past the finished trim edge so that small cutting inaccuracies do not leave a white hairline on the printed piece. The US commercial default is 0.125 inch (one eighth) per side. Some shops require 0.25 inch, especially for large format or saddle-stitched books. Use the toggle above to switch bleed presets or enter a custom value, then copy the bleed-expanded pixel dimensions directly into your export dialog.
Frequently asked questions
What DPI do I need for print?
300 dpi for anything handheld (cards, postcards, photo prints, brochures, books). 150 dpi for large format viewed from several feet away (posters, banners). 72 dpi is web only. 600 dpi is reserved for fine art and hairline line work.
Why does a 4 by 6 photo have 1200 by 1800 pixels at 300 dpi?
Pixel dimension equals inches times dpi. 4 inches at 300 dpi is 1,200 pixels. 6 inches at 300 dpi is 1,800 pixels. Any 4 by 6 photo file smaller than 1200 by 1800 will soften on print.
What is bleed and why is 0.125 inch the default?
Bleed is extra canvas past the trim edge that absorbs cutting tolerance, which is typically plus or minus 0.0625 inch per cut. A 0.125 inch bleed per side gives the blade twice its margin, so no white hairline sneaks in at the edge.
What is the difference between trim size, bleed size, and safe zone?
Trim size is the finished piece after cutting. Bleed size is the exported file, which extends past the trim. Safe zone is an interior margin (0.125 to 0.25 inch) that keeps critical content away from the cut.
Is A4 the same as US Letter?
No. A4 is 210 by 297 mm (ISO 216). US Letter is 8.5 by 11 inches (ANSI). A4 is slightly narrower and taller. Templates built for one will not fit the other without reflow.
What pixel dimensions does a US business card need?
Finished size is 3.5 by 2 inches. At 300 dpi with 0.125 inch bleed, export at 1125 by 675 pixels (3.75 by 2.25 inches).
What is the largest USPS postcard that still mails at the postcard rate?
Under USPS Domestic Mail Manual rules, 4.25 by 6 inches is the upper limit for the postcard rate. Above that, the piece mails at the letter rate.
Why do my exported CMYK colors look different than the screen?
Screens display RGB. Print uses CMYK, which has a narrower gamut, especially in cyan and fluorescent tones. Convert the file to CMYK in your design tool before export and soft-proof against the print shop's ICC profile when possible.
Can I print at 72 dpi if the file is large in pixel count?
Yes, but the finished print size will be huge. A 3000 pixel image at 72 dpi is 41.7 inches wide. For a 6 inch print, resample to 300 dpi first.
Do I need bleed on a print that has a white border by design?
No. If the design's edge is white and stops before the trim, bleed is not required. Bleed only matters when ink, imagery, or color extends to the finished edge.