OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Megapixel Calculator
Convert Pixel Dimensions to Megapixels and Back
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How the Megapixel Calculator works
This megapixel calculator converts an image's width and height in pixels into megapixels and shows how large it prints at 300 and 150 PPI. Enter a target megapixel count and aspect ratio to get the pixel dimensions a camera of that resolution produces.
How the megapixel calculator works
A megapixel is one million pixels. The formula is megapixels = width × height ÷ 1,000,000. Going the other way, width = √(megapixels × 1,000,000 × aspect ratio) and height = width ÷ aspect ratio. Print size is pixels divided by pixels per inch: 300 PPI is the usual standard for close-up photo prints, and 150 PPI is fine for posters seen from a few feet away.
First example. A 6000 × 4000 image is 24,000,000 pixels, or 24 MP, at a 3:2 aspect ratio. It prints at 20 × 13.33 in (50.8 × 33.9 cm) at 300 PPI and takes 72 MB uncompressed as 8-bit RGB.
Second example. A phone photo of 4032 × 3024 pixels is 12.19 MP at 4:3 and prints at 13.44 × 10.08 in at 300 PPI. A target of 12 MP at 4:3 gives exactly 4,000 × 3,000 pixels.
How many megapixels do I need for a print? Multiply each print side in inches by 300 and multiply the results. An 8 × 10 in print needs 2400 × 3000 pixels, 7.2 MP; an A3 print needs about 17 MP.
Doubling the megapixels raises the linear resolution by only about 41%, so a 48 MP camera gives images about 1.4 times wider than a 24 MP one, not twice as wide.
Pixel dimensions and 300 PPI print size for common megapixel counts
| Megapixels | 3:2 pixels | 4:3 pixels | 16:9 pixels | 3:2 print at 300 PPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 MP | 1,732 × 1,155 | 1,633 × 1,225 | 1,886 × 1,061 | 5.77 × 3.85 in (14.7 × 9.8 cm) |
| 3 MP | 2,121 × 1,414 | 2,000 × 1,500 | 2,309 × 1,299 | 7.07 × 4.71 in (18 × 12 cm) |
| 5 MP | 2,739 × 1,826 | 2,582 × 1,937 | 2,981 × 1,677 | 9.13 × 6.09 in (23.2 × 15.5 cm) |
| 8 MP | 3,464 × 2,309 | 3,266 × 2,450 | 3,771 × 2,121 | 11.55 × 7.7 in (29.3 × 19.5 cm) |
| 10 MP | 3,873 × 2,582 | 3,651 × 2,738 | 4,216 × 2,372 | 12.91 × 8.61 in (32.8 × 21.9 cm) |
| 12 MP | 4,243 × 2,829 | 4,000 × 3,000 | 4,619 × 2,598 | 14.14 × 9.43 in (35.9 × 24 cm) |
| 16 MP | 4,899 × 3,266 | 4,619 × 3,464 | 5,333 × 3,000 | 16.33 × 10.89 in (41.5 × 27.7 cm) |
| 20 MP | 5,477 × 3,651 | 5,164 × 3,873 | 5,963 × 3,354 | 18.26 × 12.17 in (46.4 × 30.9 cm) |
| 24 MP | 6,000 × 4,000 | 5,657 × 4,243 | 6,532 × 3,674 | 20 × 13.33 in (50.8 × 33.9 cm) |
| 26 MP | 6,245 × 4,163 | 5,888 × 4,416 | 6,799 × 3,824 | 20.82 × 13.88 in (52.9 × 35.2 cm) |
| 30 MP | 6,708 × 4,472 | 6,325 × 4,744 | 7,303 × 4,108 | 22.36 × 14.91 in (56.8 × 37.9 cm) |
| 33 MP | 7,036 × 4,691 | 6,633 × 4,975 | 7,659 × 4,308 | 23.45 × 15.64 in (59.6 × 39.7 cm) |
| 36 MP | 7,348 × 4,899 | 6,928 × 5,196 | 8,000 × 4,500 | 24.49 × 16.33 in (62.2 × 41.5 cm) |
| 40 MP | 7,746 × 5,164 | 7,303 × 5,477 | 8,433 × 4,744 | 25.82 × 17.21 in (65.6 × 43.7 cm) |
| 42 MP | 7,937 × 5,291 | 7,483 × 5,612 | 8,641 × 4,861 | 26.46 × 17.64 in (67.2 × 44.8 cm) |
| 45 MP | 8,216 × 5,477 | 7,746 × 5,810 | 8,944 × 5,031 | 27.39 × 18.26 in (69.6 × 46.4 cm) |
| 48 MP | 8,485 × 5,657 | 8,000 × 6,000 | 9,238 × 5,196 | 28.28 × 18.86 in (71.8 × 47.9 cm) |
| 50 MP | 8,660 × 5,773 | 8,165 × 6,124 | 9,428 × 5,303 | 28.87 × 19.24 in (73.3 × 48.9 cm) |
| 60 MP | 9,487 × 6,325 | 8,944 × 6,708 | 10,328 × 5,810 | 31.62 × 21.08 in (80.3 × 53.6 cm) |
| 61 MP | 9,566 × 6,377 | 9,018 × 6,764 | 10,414 × 5,858 | 31.89 × 21.26 in (81 × 54 cm) |
| 100 MP | 12,247 × 8,165 | 11,547 × 8,660 | 13,333 × 7,500 | 40.82 × 27.22 in (103.7 × 69.1 cm) |
| 102 MP | 12,369 × 8,246 | 11,662 × 8,747 | 13,466 × 7,575 | 41.23 × 27.49 in (104.7 × 69.8 cm) |
| 150 MP | 15,000 × 10,000 | 14,142 × 10,607 | 16,330 × 9,186 | 50 × 33.33 in (127 × 84.7 cm) |
| 200 MP | 17,321 × 11,547 | 16,330 × 12,248 | 18,856 × 10,607 | 57.74 × 38.49 in (146.7 × 97.8 cm) |
FAQ
How do I convert pixels to megapixels?
Multiply the width by the height and divide by one million. A 4000 × 3000 image has 12,000,000 pixels, which is 12 MP. The calculator also gives the aspect ratio and print sizes at the same time.
How many pixels is 12 megapixels?
Twelve million pixels. At 4:3, the usual phone shape, that is 4000 × 3000. At 3:2 it is about 4243 × 2828, and at 16:9 about 4619 × 2598 pixels, with the same total spread differently.
Are more megapixels always better?
No. More megapixels allow larger prints and tighter crops, but on the same sensor size each pixel is smaller, collecting less light. Beyond the print size or screen you use, extra pixels add file size.
How big can I print a 24 megapixel photo?
At 300 PPI, a 6000 × 4000 image prints at 20 × 13.3 in (51 × 34 cm). At 150 PPI, which looks fine on a wall from a normal viewing distance, the same image stretches to 40 × 26.7 in.
What megapixel count does 4K video have?
A 4K UHD frame is 3840 × 2160 pixels, which is 8.29 MP. 8K UHD at 7680 × 4320 is 33.2 MP, so a still frame grabbed from 8K video matches a mid-range stills camera.
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