Check the DPI of an image
Find out what resolution a file really records before you send it to a printer or a form. Add the image and its DPI, pixel size and print size appear at once.
- Runs in your browser
- Nothing is uploaded
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drag & drop your image here
or tap to browse · you can also paste from the clipboard
JPG · PNG · WebP · up to 50 MB each
Choose an imageBefore
After
Processed image will appear here.
How to use the image DPI checker
Add a JPG, PNG or WebP file and the DPI recorded in it is shown at once, along with where it is stored, the pixel size and the print size in inches, centimetres and millimetres. If the file records no resolution, the report says so plainly.
- Add an imageJPG, PNG or WebP, up to 50 MB. It is not uploaded.
- Read the resultThe recorded DPI, where it is stored, and the size the image prints at.
- Copy or save the reportKeep it as text, or go on to the DPI Converter to change the value.
About this tool
Operating systems make this hard to see. On Windows the value sits in the file's Properties, where a file that records nothing is shown as 96. A phone does not show it at all. This page opens the file itself and reports what is written there, which is sometimes nothing.
A JPG can hold the number in its JFIF header, in its EXIF data and in a block that Photoshop adds, and a PNG holds it in a chunk called pHYs. All of them are read here and listed separately, so a file whose values disagree is easy to spot. The report also converts the pixel size into inches, centimetres and millimetres at the recorded DPI and at the common print resolutions.
What you get
- Reads the JFIF header, EXIF data, Photoshop data and PNG pHYs chunk
- Shows every value found and warns when two disagree
- Print size in inches, centimetres and millimetres
- Print sizes at 72, 96, 150, 200, 300 and 600 DPI for comparison
- Works on files of any pixel size, up to 50 MB
When to use the image DPI checker
Before sending files to a print shop
Confirm that each image says 300 DPI and is large enough for the print size, so the order is not sent back.
Before uploading to an application portal
Portals that require 200 DPI scans read the value from the file. Checking first saves a rejected upload.
After converting or exporting
Editing apps and converters often drop or reset the resolution. A quick check shows whether the export kept it.
When an image is the wrong size in a document
A picture that arrives huge or tiny in a word processor usually has an unexpected DPI value. The report shows the number the program is acting on.
What the result means
| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 300 DPI | The usual print standard is recorded | Check that the print size covers the size you need |
| 72 or 96 DPI | A screen default, written by a camera, phone or editor | Change it with the DPI Converter if a form or printer needs more |
| Not recorded | The file holds no resolution, so programs assume 72 or 96 | Add a value with the DPI Converter |
| Two different values | Two fields in the file disagree | Write one value to all of them with the DPI Converter |
| Unequal, such as 300 × 150 | Horizontal and vertical resolution differ, which is rare outside fax scans | Leave it alone unless the picture looks stretched in print |
How it works
Nothing is decoded to answer the question. The file's bytes are scanned for the places a resolution can be written. In a JPG, the JFIF header holds a horizontal and vertical density with a unit flag: dots per inch, dots per centimetre, or no unit at all, in which case the numbers describe only the shape of a pixel and are not reported as a resolution. EXIF data holds XResolution, YResolution and a unit tag, and Photoshop adds a copy of its own. In a PNG, the pHYs chunk holds pixels per metre, which is divided by 39.37 to give DPI.
WebP has no resolution field, so a WebP file reports one only when it carries EXIF data. Values stored per centimetre or per metre are converted to DPI, which is why a PNG saved at 300 DPI works out as 299.9994 before rounding: a whole number of pixels per metre cannot hit 300 exactly. The print sizes in the report are the pixel dimensions divided by the DPI. Because only the header is read, the megapixel limit on the editing tools does not apply here.
Common problems and how to fix them
- Windows shows 96 DPI and this page says none is recorded
- Windows fills in 96 when a file has no value of its own. This page reports only what is written in the file, so "not recorded" is the accurate answer.
- Another program shows a different number
- Some programs ignore the file and show their own default, and others read only one of the fields. If the report lists two values that disagree, that is the cause: write one value to all of them with the DPI Converter.
- The print size looks far too large
- The file records a low DPI, typically 72, so its pixels are spread thin. That is only a label. The row for 300 DPI in the comparison table shows the size at which it prints sharply.
- My HEIC or TIFF file is refused
- This checker reads JPG, PNG and WebP. Other formats have to be converted first, and most converters drop the resolution, so the copy may not report what the original held.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check the DPI of an image?
Add it above. The resolution recorded in the file is shown immediately, together with the size the image prints at. Nothing is uploaded; the file is read in your browser.
Why does it say no resolution is recorded?
Because the file does not contain one. That is common for images that were converted, compressed or resized online, and for photos passed through messaging apps. Programs then assume a default, usually 72 or 96 DPI. The image is not faulty, and you can add a value with the DPI Converter.
Is my image good enough to print?
Look at the comparison table in the report and find the row for 300 DPI. If the size shown there is at least as big as the print you want, the image has enough pixels for a sharp result. The 150 DPI row gives the largest size that still looks acceptable from a normal viewing distance.
What is the difference between DPI and resolution in pixels?
Pixels are what the image is made of, such as 4000 × 3000. DPI is a separate note saying how many of those pixels go into each printed inch. Pixels decide how much detail there is; DPI only decides how large that detail is spread on paper.
What DPI do I need for printing?
300 DPI at the final print size is the standard for photos and anything read up close. 150 to 200 DPI is enough for posters and large prints seen from further away.
Does DPI matter for images on a website?
No. Browsers ignore it and draw images by their pixel dimensions. Two copies of an image with different DPI values look identical on a web page and take the same time to load.
Can I check the DPI on my phone?
Yes. This page works in a mobile browser: choose the photo from your gallery and the report appears. Phone gallery apps do not show the value themselves.