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PrintFit

Print intelligence tool

Print-on-demand size checker

Typical DPI floors for posters, canvas, apparel, and hard goods. Vendor templates override these numbers — use this to plan, then export to their PDF or PNG box.

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6,000×4,000 · 24.00 MP. Paper orientation follows the file. Vendor templates still win — treat these as planning numbers.

Art prints

ProductYour DPITargetNeed (px)Verdict

Fine art print 8×10

Held and inspected closely. Aim for 300 DPI.

500
Excellent
240 min / 300 target3,000×2,400Meets target

Fine art print 11×14

Still a close-view print. 240–300 DPI is a safe range.

364
Excellent
200 min / 300 target4,200×3,300Meets target

Fine art print 16×20

Wall print. 240 DPI is comfortable; 150 DPI is a common floor.

250
Very good
150 min / 240 target4,800×3,840Meets target

Posters

ProductYour DPITargetNeed (px)Verdict

Poster 18×24

Several vendors publish 150 DPI as the poster sweet spot.

222
Good
150 min / 200 target4,800×3,600Meets target

Poster 24×36

Viewed from about four feet. 150 DPI is typically enough.

167
Good
100 min / 150 target5,400×3,600Meets target

Canvas

ProductYour DPITargetNeed (px)Verdict

Canvas 16×20

Canvas texture hides mild softness. Wrap edges need extra bleed.

250
Very good
150 min / 150 target3,000×2,400Meets target

Canvas 24×36

Add 1.5–2 in of bleed per side if the image wraps the frame.

167
Good
100 min / 150 target5,400×3,600Meets target

Apparel

ProductYour DPITargetNeed (px)Verdict

T-shirt print 12×16

A common adult DTG print area. 150 DPI is a published minimum; 300 is safer for type and fine lines.

333
Excellent
150 min / 300 target4,800×3,600Meets target

Hoodie chest print 12×16

Same pixel target as a t-shirt chest print for most catalogs.

333
Excellent
150 min / 300 target4,800×3,600Meets target

Tote bag 13×13

Square art. Check the vendor’s exact print box — they vary.

308
Excellent
150 min / 200 target2,600×2,600Meets target

Hard goods

ProductYour DPITargetNeed (px)Verdict

Mug wrap ~8.7×3.8

Inspected in the hand. 300 DPI is the right target. Confirm the wrap template.

690
Excellent
200 min / 300 target2,610×1,140Meets target

Phone case ~6.1×3.1

Small, close-view product. Do not go below 300 DPI.

984
Excellent
300 min / 300 target1,830×930Meets target

Notebook cover 6×9

Held like a book. Treat it as a photographic print.

667
Excellent
240 min / 300 target2,700×1,800Meets target

Why POD DPI is not one number

A mug is held at 12 inches. A 24×36 poster is seen from four feet. A t-shirt print is somewhere in between and has to survive halftone or DTG screening. Close-view products (mugs, cases, notebooks, fine-art 8×10) should be built at 300 DPI. Large posters and canvas often look correct at 150 DPI because of viewing distance and, on canvas, surface texture.

Several large catalogs have published 150 DPI as a practical target for posters and apparel art, with 300 DPI preferred for small hard goods. Those figures change. Always open the current template. PrintFit does not scrape vendor sites and does not claim to be their spec sheet.

Design at native pixels

If the shirt box is 12×16 inches at 300 DPI, start a 3600×4800 pixel canvas. Do not design at 1000×1000 and “add DPI” on export. For type-heavy designs, stay at 300 even when the catalog allows 150. Then confirm the file with this checker or the print quality table.

Questions people actually ask

What resolution for a 24×36 poster?
At 150 DPI: 3600×5400 pixels (19.4 MP). At 300 DPI: 7200×10800 (77.8 MP), which few cameras produce uncropped. 150 DPI is the usual poster plan.
Do I need 300 DPI for a t-shirt?
A 12×16 print at 150 DPI is 1800×2400. That can look fine for photographic art. Logos and small text are safer at 300 DPI (3600×4800).

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