DPI Checker
Read the true DPI and print size stored inside an image file.
Quick answer: An image's DPI is read from its metadata: the PNG pHYs chunk, the JPG JFIF header or EXIF. Many web images record no DPI at all - and that's fine, because pixel dimensions decide print quality: pixels / DPI = print inches. Drop a file below to read its real stored values.
This tool reads the resolution metadata actually stored in your file — the PNG pHYs chunk, JPG JFIF density or EXIF resolution — and tells you honestly when the file simply doesn't record a DPI (many web images don't).
It also calculates the largest clean print size your pixel dimensions support at 300 DPI (professional print) and 150 DPI (large format).
How it works
- Drop an image — it is parsed locally, byte by byte, in your browser.
- See the pixel dimensions, embedded DPI (if any) and where that DPI value came from.
- Check the print-size table to see how large the image can go at common resolutions.
Good to know
- DPI metadata is just a label — 72 vs 300 DPI on the same pixels changes nothing about the image itself, only the default print size. Pixel dimensions are what actually matter.
Frequently asked questions
My image says 72 DPI — is it low quality?
Not necessarily. DPI is only a printing instruction, not a quality measure. A 3000×3000 pixel image labelled 72 DPI still prints a razor-sharp 10-inch square at 300 DPI. Judge images by pixel dimensions, not the DPI label.
What DPI do I need for embroidery digitizing?
Embroidery doesn't use DPI at all — a digitizer manually recreates your design as stitch commands. What matters is that the artwork is clear enough to see every detail. Any legible logo can be digitized.
Why does this tool say 'no DPI recorded'?
Many files — especially images saved from the web, screenshots and WEBP files — simply contain no resolution metadata. Tools that report '72 DPI' for those files are showing you a default, not a fact.