My image says 72 DPI. Is that a problem?

Only if there are too few pixels for the size you want to print. Multiply the intended print width in inches by 300; if your image has at least that many pixels, it is fine and the label is irrelevant.

How many pixels do I need for print?

Around 300 per inch of final printed size for something held in the hand. A large poster viewed from a distance is perfectly acceptable at 150 or lower, because viewing distance is part of the calculation.

Can I check the DPI of a TIFF image or a PDF?

No. This checker reads resolution metadata only from JPEG files (JFIF and EXIF) and PNG files (the pHYs chunk), so it does not open TIFF or PDF files. To change the DPI value stored in a JPEG or PNG, use the Image DPI Converter.

Image DPI Checker Online

Check the DPI recorded in an image and the print size that implies, before sending artwork to a printer who will reject it for being too coarse.

Browser tool

Image

Reads the physical-resolution metadata stored in JPEG (JFIF and EXIF) and PNG (pHYs) files. Nothing is modified.

About Image DPI Checker

Reading the DPI an image file declares and the print size that implies, before a printer rejects the artwork. The number itself matters less than what it implies about whether there are enough pixels. Checking is free, and it is done online. The DPI is read from your own copy rather than an uploaded one, nothing is watermarked, and no sign up gets in the way.

How to use Image DPI Checker

Open the imageThe declared resolution is read from the file metadata.
Read the implied print sizePixels divided by DPI gives inches, which is the figure a printer cares about.
Compare against what you needIf the implied size is smaller than the intended print, there are not enough pixels and no setting will create them.

The number in the file is a label

DPI is metadata stating how densely the pixels should be laid down on paper. It does not describe quality and it has no effect at all on screen. An image with 3000 pixels across can print at 10 inches at 300 DPI or 30 inches at 100 DPI — same file, same pixels, different instruction. What determines whether a print looks good is the pixel count against the physical size.

What it does not do

Some formats do not record DPI, in which case there is nothing to read and the printer applies a default.
A declared DPI can be wrong. Software sets it arbitrarily, and 72 is frequently just a default nobody changed.

Image DPI Checker: questions people ask

My image says 72 DPI. Is that a problem?: Only if there are too few pixels for the size you want to print. Multiply the intended print width in inches by 300; if your image has at least that many pixels, it is fine and the label is irrelevant.
How many pixels do I need for print?: Around 300 per inch of final printed size for something held in the hand. A large poster viewed from a distance is perfectly acceptable at 150 or lower, because viewing distance is part of the calculation.
Can I check the DPI of a TIFF image or a PDF?: No. This checker reads resolution metadata only from JPEG files (JFIF and EXIF) and PNG files (the pHYs chunk), so it does not open TIFF or PDF files. To change the DPI value stored in a JPEG or PNG, use the Image DPI Converter.

Questions about ToolsVerse itself — privacy, cost, what happens to your files — are answered in the frequently asked questions.

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