Print size · 16 × 20 in
What resolution
for a 16 × 20 in print?
At 300 DPI, what the print shop asks for
4,800 × 6,000 px
40.6 × 50.8 cm · 16.0 × 20.0 in
Three densities, three files. A 16 × 20 in print hung on a wall and seen from two metres does not need what a 16 × 20 in print held in the hand needs.
| Density | Pixels required | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 300 DPI | 4,800 × 6,000 | fine art, close viewing |
| 200 DPI | 3,200 × 4,000 | framed poster |
| 150 DPI | 2,400 × 3,000 | large format, seen from afar |
What each AI resolution gives on a 16 × 20 in print
Cropping is taken into account: the image is fitted to the 16 × 20 in aspect ratio, and the short side decides the density. The last column is the enlargement that brings the file to a true 300 DPI.
| Image | Comes from | Density | Verdict | Enlargement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 512 × 512 | Stable Diffusion 1.5, square | 25 | too small | ×12.0 |
| 768 × 768 | Stable Diffusion 1.5, upscaled once | 38 | too small | ×7.9 |
| 1024 × 1024 | Midjourney v6 and SDXL, square | 51 | too small | ×5.9 |
| 1456 × 816 | Midjourney 16:9, landscape | 51 | too small | ×5.9 |
| 816 × 1456 | Midjourney 9:16, portrait | 51 | too small | ×5.9 |
| 1232 × 928 | Midjourney 4:3, landscape | 58 | too small | ×5.2 |
| 928 × 1232 | Midjourney 3:4, portrait | 58 | too small | ×5.2 |
| 1568 × 672 | Midjourney 21:9, panoramic | 42 | too small | ×7.2 |
| 1344 × 768 | SDXL 16:9, landscape | 48 | too small | ×6.3 |
| 1152 × 896 | SDXL 9:7, landscape | 56 | too small | ×5.4 |
| 896 × 1152 | SDXL 7:9, portrait | 56 | too small | ×5.4 |
| 1792 × 1024 | DALL-E 3, wide | 64 | too small | ×4.7 |
| 1024 × 1792 | DALL-E 3, tall | 64 | too small | ×4.7 |
| 2048 × 2048 | Midjourney square, upscaled twice | 102 | too small | ×3.0 |
| 2912 × 1632 | Midjourney 16:9, upscaled twice | 102 | too small | ×3.0 |
| 4096 × 4096 | Midjourney square, upscaled four times | 204 | usable, below 300 | ×1.5 |
Questions people actually ask
What resolution do I need for a 16 × 20 in print?
4,800 by 6,000 pixels at 300 DPI. A framed poster stays clean at 200 DPI, which is 3,200 by 4,000 pixels, and large format seen from a distance holds at 150 DPI, 2,400 by 3,000 pixels.
Can I print a Midjourney image at 16 × 20 in?
Not directly. No common generator output reaches 300 DPI at 16 × 20 in, so the file has to be enlarged first. The table gives the exact factor for each starting resolution.
Does 16 × 20 in need bleed?
If the print is trimmed or framed edge to edge, yes, usually 3 millimetres on each side, which means the file must be built slightly larger than 40.6 by 50.8 centimetres. Ask the shop before exporting; adding bleed afterwards means resampling twice.
Get the file your print shop will accept
The workshop enlarges the image, sets the physical size and the density, adds the bleed, and hands back a file that is ready to send. Nothing here is guesswork: the numbers on this page are the ones it uses.