PX to CM converter (pixels to centimeters)
Find how large an image can print at your chosen resolution. Enter its pixel width and height, choose PPI, and get centimeters, millimeters, or inches. A pixel has no fixed physical size without that resolution.
Print size calculator
Convert both dimensions using your chosen print resolution. No image or upload is needed.
PPI means image pixels per printed inch. Print briefs often call this “DPI”; printer dots per inch describe a different device setting.
10.16 × 15.24 cm
Pixel export: 1,200 × 1,800 px. At 300 PPI, this is approximately 10.16 × 15.24 cm. Pixel output is rounded to whole pixels.
The resizer opens with these exact pixel dimensions and Pad mode to preserve the whole image; padding may be added if its aspect ratio differs. Neither this calculator nor the resizer writes your chosen PPI into file metadata. Set the intended physical size in your print dialog and check its scaling preview.
- cm = pixels ÷ PPI × 2.54
- pixels = cm ÷ 2.54 × PPI
- 1 inch = 2.54 cm
- Use the resolution requested by your print service.
- 300 PPI is a common starting point for photos viewed up close.
- For web uploads, meet the required pixel dimensions; changing a PPI number does not add image detail.
Worked example: one photo, three print sizes
A 1200 × 1800 px photo contains the same pixels in every row. Lowering PPI spreads them over a larger print; it does not create more detail.
| Resolution | Centimeters | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| 300 PPI | 10.16 × 15.24 cm | 4 × 6 in |
| 150 PPI | 20.32 × 30.48 cm | 8 × 12 in |
| 96 PPI | 31.75 × 47.625 cm | 12.5 × 18.75 in |
For the first row: 1200 ÷ 300 × 2.54 = 10.16 cm wide, and 1800 ÷ 300 × 2.54 = 15.24 cm tall. The 96 PPI row is a calculation example, not a claim about your monitor’s physical size.
- Enter the image’s pixel dimensions and the print service’s requested PPI.
- Compare the calculated size with the print you need. Switch to “Print size → pixels” to calculate a different target.
- Open the calculated pixels in the resizer if needed, then set the intended physical size in your print dialog. Check the preview: “Fit to page” may change the final size.
The calculator does not inspect or rewrite resolution metadata. The browser resizer changes pixel dimensions and does not embed your chosen PPI. If a print service requires a specific metadata value, set it in an editor that supports resolution metadata.
Why a larger number may still print softly
Resizing a 1200 × 1800 px source to 2400 × 3600 px creates more pixels by interpolation. It does not recover missing texture or sharpness. Start with the highest-resolution original available, and inspect a sample at the intended print size.
Each source applies only to the claim described beside its link.
- Adobe: Printed image resolution — Explains PPI, the relationship between pixel dimensions and physical print size, and why changing resolution without resampling does not add pixels.Source checked:
- Adobe: Resolution specs for printing images — Supports 300 PPI as a common starting point for close-viewed prints and explains why viewing distance affects the resolution needed.Source checked:
Start with a physical print target, calculate the required pixels, and check the size again in your print dialog.
Enter your calculated width and height, then inspect Crop or Pad before exporting. Set the physical size in your printing app.
Apply the calculated pixel dimensions to several photos. Review each crop or padded border before sending the set to print.
If the print service also sets a KB or MB limit, compress the export and inspect the result. File weight is separate from physical print size.