A poster's required pixel dimensions depend on both its physical size and the resolution you intend to print at. A 24×36 inch poster needs 7,200 × 10,800 px at 300 DPI, but only 3,600 × 5,400 px at 150 DPI. For many wall posters, 150–200 DPI is a more realistic target than 300 DPI because the print is viewed from farther away.
Pick a poster preset and change the DPI to see the exact pixel requirement. This is the same print math used throughout YesDPI, shown directly on the guide so you do not need to copy values into a separate calculator.
Print size
| Required pixel dimensions | 2700 × 3600 px |
|---|
| Poster size | 100 DPI | 150 DPI | 200 DPI | 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 10 in | 800 × 1,000 | 1,200 × 1,500 | 1,600 × 2,000 | 2,400 × 3,000 |
| 11 × 17 in | 1,100 × 1,700 | 1,650 × 2,550 | 2,200 × 3,400 | 3,300 × 5,100 |
| 12 × 18 in | 1,200 × 1,800 | 1,800 × 2,700 | 2,400 × 3,600 | 3,600 × 5,400 |
| 16 × 20 in | 1,600 × 2,000 | 2,400 × 3,000 | 3,200 × 4,000 | 4,800 × 6,000 |
| 18 × 24 in | 1,800 × 2,400 | 2,700 × 3,600 | 3,600 × 4,800 | 5,400 × 7,200 |
| 20 × 30 in | 2,000 × 3,000 | 3,000 × 4,500 | 4,000 × 6,000 | 6,000 × 9,000 |
| 24 × 36 in | 2,400 × 3,600 | 3,600 × 5,400 | 4,800 × 7,200 | 7,200 × 10,800 |
| 27 × 40 in | 2,700 × 4,000 | 4,050 × 6,000 | 5,400 × 8,000 | 8,100 × 12,000 |
| ISO size | Physical size | 150 DPI | 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | 1,240 × 1,754 | 2,480 × 3,508 |
| A3 | 297 × 420 mm | 1,754 × 2,480 | 3,508 × 4,961 |
| A2 | 420 × 594 mm | 2,480 × 3,508 | 4,961 × 7,016 |
| A1 | 594 × 841 mm | 3,508 × 4,967 | 7,016 × 9,933 |
| A0 | 841 × 1189 mm | 4,967 × 7,022 | 9,933 × 14,043 |
| Typical situation | Practical starting point | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Small poster viewed closely | 240–300 DPI | More source pixels, strongest close-up detail |
| General wall poster | 150–200 DPI | Good balance of detail and manageable pixel requirements |
| Large poster viewed from farther away | 100–150 DPI | Lower density can still appear sharp at distance |
| Very large signage / banner | Often below 150 DPI | Follow the print provider's specification |
DPI targets are not a substitute for checking your actual file. A sharp, well-focused image at 180 effective DPI can outperform a soft or heavily compressed image that merely contains a 300-DPI metadata tag. For a deeper comparison, see 72 vs. 150 vs. 300 DPI.
Want the calculator on its own page with the full poster preset workflow?
Open Poster Size CalculatorA 24×36 inch poster is 7,200 × 10,800 pixels at 300 DPI, 4,800 × 7,200 pixels at 200 DPI, and 3,600 × 5,400 pixels at 150 DPI.
Usually not. Many posters are viewed from several feet away, so 150–200 DPI can be a practical target. Smaller posters inspected closely can benefit from 300 DPI, while very large signage may use less.
150–200 DPI is a practical range for many 18×24 posters. That means roughly 2,700 × 3,600 pixels at 150 DPI or 3,600 × 4,800 pixels at 200 DPI. Use 300 DPI when close viewing or a print provider requires it.
Yes, but the effective DPI will be lower. Whether that is acceptable depends on poster size, viewing distance, source sharpness, and the print process. Avoid assuming that changing only the DPI metadata will add missing detail.
A-series sizes are the ISO 216 standard used across much of the world. North American print shops also commonly offer inch-based sizes such as 11×17, 18×24, and 24×36 inches.
