What DPI do you need for printing? A plain-English guide

"Please send a 300 DPI file" is probably the most common thing printers say, and the least explained. Here's what DPI for printing really means, how to check your file, and what resolution each kind of print needs.

DPI and PPI, simply

DPI (dots per inch) is how densely a printer lays down ink. PPI (pixels per inch) is how many image pixels fit into each printed inch. People use "DPI" for both, so we will too.

The number on its own means nothing. What matters is pixels compared with print size:

pixels needed = print size in inches × DPI

A 10 × 8 in print at 300 DPI needs an image of 3,000 × 2,400 pixels. A 72 DPI image with 3,000 × 2,400 pixels is exactly the same file; only the label differs.

How much DPI do you need?

It depends on how close people will look:

• Business cards, flyers, labels, stickers, packaging: 300 DPI

• DTF, DTG and sublimation: 300 DPI at the print size (DTF artwork guide)

• Posters viewed from a few feet: 150–200 DPI

• Roll-up and vinyl banners: 100–150 DPI

• Large banners and building wraps: 50–100 DPI

• Billboards: 15–30 DPI, because they're seen from far away

The rule: the farther the viewing distance, the lower the DPI you can get away with.

How to check your file

1. Find the pixel dimensions (in your image viewer's info panel or Photoshop's Image Size)

2. Divide by the print size in inches

3. Compare with the table above

Example: a logo that's 600 pixels wide, printed 10 inches wide, is 60 DPI. Fine for a far-away banner; blurry on a T-shirt.

Why you can't just "increase the DPI"

Typing 300 into Photoshop's resolution box without resampling only changes the label; the print size shrinks to match. Resampling up invents new pixels by blending the old ones, so you get a bigger, softer image. AI upscalers do better on photos but often warp logos and text.

The best fix: use vector artwork

Vector files don't have a DPI. They're drawn with math, so they print razor-sharp at any size, and you can export a raster at exactly the resolution any printer asks for. For logos, text and graphics, redrawing the art as a vector is the real fix for low resolution.

Quick reference: pixels you need

• Business card, 3.5 × 2 in at 300 DPI: 1,050 × 600 px (plus bleed)

• Postcard, 6 × 4 in at 300 DPI: 1,800 × 1,200 px

• Flyer, 8.5 × 11 in at 300 DPI: 2,550 × 3,300 px

• Poster, 11 × 17 in at 300 DPI: 3,300 × 5,100 px

• DTF print, 12 × 16 in at 300 DPI: 3,600 × 4,800 px

• Poster, 24 × 36 in at 150 DPI: 3,600 × 5,400 px

Does DPI matter on screens?

No. Screens show pixels, and the DPI number stored in an image file is ignored by browsers and apps. For websites and social media, think in pixel dimensions instead: a full-width banner is usually exported around 2,400 px wide so it stays sharp on high-density displays.

Common DPI mistakes

• Taking images from websites. Web images are sized for screens and are usually far too small for print.

• Screenshots. They capture screen pixels, not the original artwork.

• Placing a JPG in a PDF. It's still a low-res image, just inside a PDF.

• Forgetting bleed. Print files need extra artwork past the edge. See our PDF guide.

Get a print-ready file

If your artwork is too small or blurry, we'll redraw it as a vector and deliver print-ready files at the exact size and resolution your printer needs. Print-ready file prep starts at $25, and vector tracing fixes low-res logos for good.