Pixels you need for common print sizes
The DPI label only works if the file has enough pixels. At 300 DPI you need:
- 5 x 7 in: 1500 x 2100 px
- 8 x 10 in: 2400 x 3000 px
- 11 x 14 in: 3300 x 4200 px
- 16 x 20 in: 4800 x 6000 px
- A4 (8.27 x 11.69 in): 2480 x 3508 px
- US Letter (8.5 x 11 in): 2550 x 3300 px
A workflow for a shop with many sizes
Make the largest file first, because a big file can be printed at a smaller size but not the other way round. A 4800 by 6000 pixel file at 300 DPI covers 16 x 20, and also works for 8 x 10 and 4 x 5 if the buyer scales it down.
Export each ratio you sell (2:3, 4:5, 3:4, 5:7, A sizes). Put them all in the tool, choose 300, and download one zip. The files are named with the DPI, which makes it easy to spot a file that was missed.
Check before you list
The row for each file shows its print size at 300 DPI. If the size is smaller than the size you advertise, the buyer will get a soft print. Fix the file first. Changing the label cannot add detail.
Keep the files in your own library as well. The tool never uploads them, so there is no copy anywhere else.
Questions
- Does Etsy check the DPI of my files?
- Not automatically. Your buyers and their print shops see the value, and a wrong value can lead to questions, so it is better to set it correctly.
- Should I upload PDF or JPG?
- Many sellers use high quality JPEG for images and PDF for multi-page files. This tool handles the JPEG and PNG files.
- Do I need 300 DPI for every product?
- Use 300 DPI for anything people print at home or in a shop. Wall art that is very large and viewed from far away can use 150 DPI.