Start with a photo
Your photo never leaves your device. Everything happens in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
No photo handy? Try a typical size:
How to use the checker
- Choose a photo, or drop or paste one onto the box.
- Posters, mugs and T-shirts are picked to start. Remove any of them and add others, up to 3 at a time. Each size is marked Sharp, OK or Will look blurry.
- Choose a size to see your photo on the product and what gets cut off. Sizes marked Will look blurry also get a close-up of your own photo.
What it does, and what it doesn't
It does
- Works out how many pixels per inch your image has on every size of each product.
- Rates each size Sharp, OK or Will look blurry, for how far away that print is usually seen from.
- Shows how much of the image gets cut off, and lets you fit, fill and move it.
- Shows your image on the product, and a close-up of how soft a blurry size will look.
- Covers photo prints, posters, canvas, cards, calendars, mugs, shirts, pillows and more.
It doesn't
- Upload, store or share your image. It's read in your browser and forgotten when you leave.
- Fix, sharpen or upscale an image. It checks the file you have.
- Judge focus, noise or color. It counts pixels only.
- Design products or take orders. It's a quick check before you design or order anywhere.
- Replace your print service's own preview. Their limits can differ, so check it before you order.
Why we built it
Checking whether an image will print well shouldn't take a full design tool, but that's usually how it goes. You open a product designer on a print site, wait for it to load, get asked to create an account, and click past features built for designing a product, all to answer one question.
So we built a checker that answers just that. Pick an image and within seconds you see which sizes print sharp, what gets cut off and roughly how it looks on the product, with no account and nothing uploaded. It works the same whether you're printing one mug as a present, testing a logo before you order merch, or checking artwork before you sell it.
This is an early version. We plan to add more products and features, and how fast that happens is partly up to you: the more people use it and tell us what they need through our contact form, the sooner we'll get to it.
Pixels you need for each print
ShowHide Pixels you need for each print
The smallest photo, in pixels, for each size to print sharp or OK. A bigger photo is always fine. For prints, posters, canvas, cards and magnets, the two numbers can be in either order. A canvas's numbers include the 2 in of photo that wraps around each edge of its frame.
| Product | Size | Print area | Sharp from | OK from | Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photo print | 4 x 6 in | 10 x 15 cm | 1,000 x 1,500 | 600 x 900 | In the hand |
| Photo print | 5 x 7 in | 13 x 18 cm | 1,250 x 1,750 | 750 x 1,050 | In the hand |
| Photo print | 8 x 10 in | 20 x 25 cm | 2,000 x 2,500 | 1,200 x 1,500 | In the hand |
| Poster or art print | 8 x 10 in | 20 x 25 cm | 2,000 x 2,500 | 1,200 x 1,500 | In the hand |
| Poster or art print | 11 x 14 in | 28 x 36 cm | 2,200 x 2,800 | 1,650 x 2,100 | At arm's length |
| Poster or art print | 12 x 16 in | 30 x 41 cm | 2,400 x 3,200 | 1,800 x 2,400 | At arm's length |
| Poster or art print | 16 x 20 in | 41 x 51 cm | 3,200 x 4,000 | 2,400 x 3,000 | At arm's length |
| Poster or art print | 18 x 24 in | 46 x 61 cm | 3,600 x 4,800 | 2,700 x 3,600 | At arm's length |
| Poster or art print | 24 x 36 in | 61 x 91 cm | 3,600 x 5,400 | 2,400 x 3,600 | Across a room |
| Canvas print | 8 x 10 in | 20 x 25 cm | 2,400 x 2,800 | 1,800 x 2,100 | At arm's length |
| Canvas print | 12 x 16 in | 30 x 41 cm | 3,200 x 4,000 | 2,400 x 3,000 | At arm's length |
| Canvas print | 16 x 20 in | 41 x 51 cm | 4,000 x 4,800 | 3,000 x 3,600 | At arm's length |
| Canvas print | 24 x 36 in | 61 x 91 cm | 4,200 x 6,000 | 2,800 x 4,000 | Across a room |
| Photo book page | 8 x 8 in | 20 x 20 cm | 2,000 x 2,000 | 1,200 x 1,200 | In the hand |
| Photo book page | 11 x 8.5 in | 28 x 22 cm | 2,750 x 2,125 | 1,650 x 1,275 | In the hand |
| Wall calendar | 11 x 8.5 in | 28 x 22 cm | 2,750 x 2,125 | 1,650 x 1,275 | In the hand |
| Wall calendar | 12 x 12 in | 30 x 30 cm | 3,000 x 3,000 | 1,800 x 1,800 | In the hand |
| Greeting card | 5 x 7 in | 13 x 18 cm | 1,250 x 1,750 | 750 x 1,050 | In the hand |
| Mug | 11 oz, full wrap | 8.5 x 3.5 in, 22 x 9 cm | 2,125 x 875 | 1,275 x 525 | In the hand |
| Mug | 11 oz, one side | 4 x 3.5 in, 10 x 9 cm | 1,000 x 875 | 600 x 525 | In the hand |
| Mug | 15 oz, full wrap | 9 x 4 in, 23 x 10 cm | 2,250 x 1,000 | 1,350 x 600 | In the hand |
| Tumbler | Full wrap | 9.1 x 8.1 in, 23 x 21 cm | 2,275 x 2,025 | 1,365 x 1,215 | In the hand |
| Round ornament | 3 in round | 3 x 3 in, 8 x 8 cm | 750 x 750 | 450 x 450 | In the hand |
| Fridge magnet | 2 x 2 in | 5 x 5 cm | 500 x 500 | 300 x 300 | In the hand |
| Fridge magnet | 3 x 3 in | 8 x 8 cm | 750 x 750 | 450 x 450 | In the hand |
| Fridge magnet | 4 x 6 in | 10 x 15 cm | 1,000 x 1,500 | 600 x 900 | In the hand |
| Coaster | 4 x 4 in | 10 x 10 cm | 1,000 x 1,000 | 600 x 600 | In the hand |
| Phone case | iPhone 15 or 16 | 2.9 x 6 in, 7 x 15 cm | 725 x 1,500 | 435 x 900 | In the hand |
| Mouse pad or desk mat | Mouse pad | 9.25 x 7.75 in, 23 x 20 cm | 1,850 x 1,550 | 1,388 x 1,163 | At arm's length |
| Mouse pad or desk mat | Desk mat 31.5 x 15.5 in | 80 x 39 cm | 6,300 x 3,100 | 4,725 x 2,325 | At arm's length |
| Mouse pad or desk mat | Desk mat 36 x 18 in | 91 x 46 cm | 7,200 x 3,600 | 5,400 x 2,700 | At arm's length |
| Throw pillow | 16 x 16 in | 41 x 41 cm | 3,200 x 3,200 | 2,400 x 2,400 | At arm's length |
| Throw pillow | 18 x 18 in | 46 x 46 cm | 3,600 x 3,600 | 2,700 x 2,700 | At arm's length |
| T-shirt front | Standard front | 12 x 14 in, 30 x 36 cm | 2,400 x 2,800 | 1,800 x 2,100 | At arm's length |
| T-shirt front | Large front | 15 x 18 in, 38 x 46 cm | 3,000 x 3,600 | 2,250 x 2,700 | At arm's length |
| Hoodie front | Front, above the pocket | 12 x 10 in, 30 x 25 cm | 2,400 x 2,000 | 1,800 x 1,500 | At arm's length |
| Tote bag | Standard tote, front | 10 x 12 in, 25 x 30 cm | 2,000 x 2,400 | 1,500 x 1,800 | At arm's length |
What typical photos print sharp on
ShowHide What typical photos print sharp on
The biggest sharp size for some common photos. A photo sent by chat, or a screenshot, has far fewer pixels than the original.
| Photo | Pixels | Sharp poster up to | Sharp photo print up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 MP phone photo | 4,032 x 3,024 | 12 x 16 in (30 x 41 cm) | Every size, up to 8 x 10 in (20 x 25 cm) |
| 24 MP iPhone photo | 5,712 x 4,284 | Every size, up to 24 x 36 in (61 x 91 cm) | Every size, up to 8 x 10 in (20 x 25 cm) |
| Photo sent on WhatsApp | 1,600 x 1,052 | None | 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) |
| iPhone screenshot | 1,179 x 2,556 | None | 4 x 6 in (10 x 15 cm) |
How it decides
ShowHide How it decides
It divides your photo's pixels by the print's size in inches. The more pixels per inch, the sharper the print.
What counts as sharp depends on how far away the print is seen from. A mug or a 4 x 6 in print is held close, so it needs about 250 pixels per inch. Mid-size posters, canvas and shirts are seen at arm's length, so 200 is enough. A 24 x 36 in poster is seen from across a room, so 150 is enough.
The photo is scaled to fill the whole print, so any part that doesn't fit the print's shape is cut off. A mug wrap is long and thin, so a normal photo loses a lot.
It counts pixels only. It can't tell if a photo is out of focus, or was enlarged in an app, which adds pixels but no detail.
These are guides, not guarantees. Print services set their own limits, so always check the print service's preview before you order. The numbers come from the file guidelines that print labs and print services publish, checked in October 2026.
Questions people ask
Is my photo uploaded anywhere?
Your photo never leaves your device. Everything happens in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Is the checker free? Do I need an account?
It's free, with no account, email or app needed. Open the page, choose a photo and the answer is there in seconds.
Which files can I check? Does it work for a logo or design?
Any image saved as JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, HEIC or AVIF, whether it's a phone photo, a scan, a logo or a design you made. Every one gets its numbers, and the picture on the product shows wherever your browser can display the file (for HEIC, usually Safari). On a computer you can also paste a copied image or a screenshot. Vector files (SVG, PDF, AI or EPS) aren't read. A true vector prints sharp at any size, so check the PNG or JPEG you'll actually upload.
What resolution do I need to print a photo?
For a print you hold, aim for 250 to 300 pixels per inch: a 4 x 6 in print looks sharp from 1,000 x 1,500 pixels, an 8 x 10 in from 2,000 x 2,500. Mid-size posters, canvas and shirts look sharp from 200 pixels per inch. A 24 x 36 in poster looks sharp from 150 and OK from 100.
How big can I print a 12 MP phone photo?
A 12 MP (12 megapixel) photo, 4,032 by 3,024 pixels, prints sharp as a poster up to 12 x 16 in (30 x 41 cm) and looks OK up to 24 x 36 in (61 x 91 cm). As a canvas, which wraps around its frame, it's sharp up to 8 x 10 in (20 x 25 cm) and OK up to 24 x 36 in (61 x 91 cm). A 24 MP photo prints sharp as a poster even at 24 x 36 in (61 x 91 cm).
Why does my printed photo look blurry?
Most often the photo has too few pixels for the print size. Screenshots and photos sent by chat apps or social media lose pixels, and this checker shows how many yours has. A photo that's already blurry on screen, from shake or focus, prints blurry at any size, and no pixel count can show that.
Can it fix a blurry or low-resolution photo?
No. It tells you how big a photo can print and still look good, but it doesn't change the photo. Enlarging or upscaling a photo in an app adds pixels, not the real detail of the original, so the best fix is the original, full-size file.
How do I get the original photo?
Many chat apps shrink photos when they share them, and a screenshot only keeps what fit on the screen. Ask the person who took the photo to send the file itself. In WhatsApp, that means attaching it as a Document instead of a photo, which sends the file as it is. Choosing HD quality helps, but it still isn't the original. If it's your own photo, pick it from your photo library, not from a chat or a screenshot. Then check the new file here.
What's the difference between DPI and PPI?
PPI is pixels per inch in your photo. DPI is the dots per inch a printer lays down. When a print service asks for 300 DPI, it means your photo should have about 300 pixels for every inch of the print.
Why does part of my photo get cut off?
Every print has its own shape. When your photo's shape is different, the edges are trimmed so the photo fills the print. A canvas also wraps about 2 in of the photo around each edge of its frame, so less of it shows on the front and it needs more pixels than its front size suggests. The checker shows how much is cut off and what is kept.