Embedded DPI or PPI
JPEG may store density in JFIF or EXIF metadata, PNG can store pixels per meter in a pHYs chunk, and WebP can carry EXIF metadata. The checker names the source it found.
Embedded density metadata
Image DPI Checker
Has a print shop, journal, or application form asked for 300 DPI? Check the DPI or PPI stored in a JPEG, PNG, or WebP image, then compare its pixel dimensions with a practical print size. Everything runs privately in your browser.
Drop an image here
or paste one from your clipboard
JPEG, PNG, or WebP up to 100 MB. TIFF, HEIC, and PDF are not supported.
Private: your image stays in this browser tab.
Your DPI result appears here
We will distinguish embedded metadata from a print-size estimate.
Image density details
Embedded density—
Metadata source—
Pixel dimensions—
Horizontal—
Vertical—
Format—
Print size in inches—
Print size in centimeters—
What this DPI checker actually reads
DPI is often used loosely. This tool keeps embedded metadata, pixel dimensions, and calculated print size separate so the result is easier to trust.
Pixel dimensions
Width and height in pixels describe the real image grid. These values matter for screens and determine how large the image can print at a chosen pixel density.
Estimated print size
Print width equals pixel width divided by PPI. Use 300 PPI for a compact high-detail print, or a lower value when the image will be viewed from farther away.
Important: editing a DPI field alone does not increase resolution. A 1200 × 800 image still contains 960,000 pixels whether its metadata says 72 DPI or 300 DPI.
How to check image DPI online
The file is inspected locally, so you can verify density metadata without creating an account or sending the image to a server.
1. Choose an image
Select, drop, or paste a JPEG, PNG, or WebP file. A supported file is decoded in the current browser tab.
2. Read the source
Review the horizontal and vertical density values and whether they came from JFIF, EXIF, or PNG pHYs metadata.
3. Test a print target
Choose 72, 96, 150, or 300 PPI, or enter your own target, to calculate the matching physical print size.
When you need to check an image's DPI
Most people check DPI because someone else set a requirement. These are four common cases and what to look at in each one.
Before sending a photo to print
A print shop asking for 300 DPI means 300 pixels for every printed inch. Check the pixel dimensions, then set the print-size estimate to 300 PPI: a 3000 × 2400 pixel photo covers 10 × 8 inches. If your print is larger than the estimate, it will look softer, whatever the DPI tag says. To find the pixels a specific print size needs, use the inches to pixels converter. If the file itself must carry a 300 DPI tag for a journal or portal, follow the 300 DPI guide.
Journal and thesis figures
Author guidelines often ask for 300 DPI for photographs and 600 DPI or more for line art, measured at the final printed width. A figure printed 3.5 inches wide needs 1050 pixels at 300 DPI and 2100 pixels at 600 DPI. If the pixels are sufficient but the file is tagged 72 or 96 DPI, you can set the tag to 300 DPI. Always follow your journal's own guidelines.
Passport, visa, and ID photo uploads
Application forms usually specify a pixel size, a file-size limit, or a print size, and sometimes a DPI value. A 2 × 2 inch photo at 300 DPI is 600 × 600 pixels, and a 35 × 45 mm photo at 300 DPI is about 413 × 531 pixels. Check your photo's pixel dimensions and DPI tag here, then compare them with the official instructions for your application.
Files from a designer or client
A logo or product photo tagged 72 DPI can still be print-ready if it has enough pixels, and a file tagged 300 DPI can still be too small. Check both values before you forward the file: the tag shows what was saved, and the pixel dimensions show what you can actually print.
Other ways to check image DPI on your device
Computers can show the DPI tag with built-in tools. Phones usually show pixel dimensions but not DPI.
Windows 10 and 11
Right-click the image file, choose Properties, and open the Details tab. Horizontal resolution and Vertical resolution show the stored DPI, next to the pixel dimensions.
Mac
Open the image in Preview and choose Tools > Show Inspector. The General Info tab lists Image DPI together with the pixel size.
iPhone and iPad
The Photos app shows pixel dimensions and file size when you tap the info button, but not DPI. Open this page in Safari and choose the photo instead. iPhone may convert a HEIC photo to JPEG when you choose it, so the tag you see belongs to that converted copy.
Android
Gallery apps such as Google Photos show pixel dimensions and file size in the photo details, but usually not DPI. Open this page in Chrome and choose the image to read the tag.
TIFF, HEIC, and PDF: this checker reads JPEG, PNG, and WebP only. For a TIFF file, use Properties on Windows or Preview on a Mac as described above.
DPI, PPI, and pixels are not interchangeable
The terms are related, but each answers a different question.
PPI describes pixel density
Pixels per inch connects a digital pixel grid to a physical size. A 3000-pixel-wide image printed at 300 PPI is 10 inches wide. The same pixels at 150 PPI produce a 20-inch-wide print.
DPI describes printer output
Dots per inch technically describes how a printer places ink or toner. Image files often label density metadata as DPI, so consumer tools commonly use DPI and PPI in the same conversation.
Image DPI checker FAQ
Short answers to the questions that commonly appear after checking an image.
How do I check the DPI of an image?
Choose a JPEG, PNG, or WebP image above. The checker reads the DPI or PPI value stored in the file, names the metadata source, and shows the pixel dimensions. It runs in your browser, so you do not need Photoshop or any other software.
How do I know if my image is 300 DPI for printing?
Check two things. The embedded density shows whether the file is tagged 300 DPI. The print-size estimate at 300 PPI shows how large the image can print at that density. If the estimate is at least as large as your print, the image has enough pixels.
My image says 72 DPI but it is 4000 pixels wide. Is that too low for printing?
No. 72 DPI is only the tag saved in the file. A 4000-pixel-wide image prints about 13.3 inches wide at 300 PPI. Judge print quality by pixel dimensions and print size, not by the tag alone.
Why does my image show no DPI value?
Many images, especially ones downloaded from websites or messaging apps, are saved without density metadata. That is common and does not mean the image is broken. Pixel dimensions still describe the image, and you can enter a target PPI to estimate a print size.
Does changing DPI from 72 to 300 improve image quality?
No. Changing only the metadata does not create pixels or detail. To support a larger high-quality print, you need more real pixel information or a smaller physical output.
How can I change my image to 300 DPI for journal or print submission?
If your manuscript or print vendor strictly requires a 300 DPI file, use the Convert Image to 300 DPI tool on this site. For JPEG and PNG files it updates the density tag without re-compressing the image or uploading any data.
How do I check a figure against a journal's 300 or 600 DPI requirement?
Check the figure here, then divide its pixel width by the width it will be printed at in inches. A figure 2100 pixels wide printed 3.5 inches wide is 600 DPI. Requirements differ between journals, so confirm the numbers in the author guidelines.
How do I check the DPI of a passport or visa photo?
Choose the photo above to see its pixel dimensions and DPI tag, then compare them with the official instructions for your application. As a reference, a 2 × 2 inch photo at 300 DPI is 600 × 600 pixels. The photo is not uploaded.
Can I check image DPI on my iPhone or Android phone?
Yes. Open this page in your phone's browser and choose the image. The built-in photo apps usually show pixel dimensions but not DPI. iPhone may convert a HEIC photo to JPEG when you choose it.
Which image formats does the DPI checker support?
JPEG, PNG, and WebP, up to 100 MB. TIFF, HEIC, and PDF files are not supported. You can read a TIFF file's DPI in Properties > Details on Windows, or in Preview > Tools > Show Inspector on a Mac.
Why can horizontal and vertical DPI differ?
Some files contain separate X and Y density fields. They are usually equal, but exports, scanners, or metadata editing can produce different values. The tool displays both rather than hiding the mismatch.
Are my images uploaded?
No. Supported files are decoded and inspected locally in your browser and are not sent to Image Size Check.
Check image DPI without uploading
Use the checker for real metadata, then choose a practical PPI target to understand the image's print size.
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