Poster Size in Pixels: Every Standard Size at 150 and 300 DPI

The most common poster size is 24 × 36 inches, which is 7200 × 10800 pixels at 300 DPI. A standard movie poster (27 × 40) is 8100 × 12000 pixels at 300 DPI. The exact pixel count depends on the DPI you choose — and for posters, you have more flexibility than you might think.

Unlike documents held at arm's length, posters are viewed from several feet away. That viewing distance means you can often use 150 DPI instead of 300 DPI and still get a sharp result — cutting your file size by 75% without visible quality loss.

Master Poster Size Reference Table

Every standard poster size with pixel dimensions at both 150 DPI and 300 DPI. The math is straightforward: width in inches × DPI = width in pixels.

US Poster Sizes

ISO A-Series Poster Sizes

Quick formula: inches × DPI = pixels. A 24 × 36 poster at 300 DPI: 24 × 300 = 7200 and 36 × 300 = 10800.

When to Use 150 DPI vs 300 DPI

The standard advice for print is "always use 300 DPI." For posters, that is often overkill.

DPI matters because it determines how large each pixel appears when printed. At 300 DPI, pixels are tiny — invisible to the eye at normal reading distance (about 12 inches). But posters are not read at 12 inches. A 24 × 36 poster on a wall is viewed from 3 to 6 feet away. At that distance, 150 DPI looks identical to 300 DPI.

The practical rule: if someone will stand within arm's reach and examine your poster closely — a conference poster with small text, a gallery art print — use 300 DPI. If the poster hangs on a wall and viewers stand a few feet back — event posters, movie posters, retail displays — 150 DPI is sharp enough and cuts your file size dramatically.

A 24 × 36 poster at 300 DPI is 7200 × 10800 pixels (about 233 megapixels). At 150 DPI it is 3600 × 5400 pixels (about 19 megapixels). The 300 DPI version produces a file roughly four times larger — which matters when your camera, stock image, or design tool does not output at that resolution natively. For a deeper look at how DPI and resolution interact, see what is image resolution.

How to Resize Images for Poster Printing

Using Pixotter (Fastest)

1. Open Pixotter's resize tool
2. Drop your image onto the canvas
3. Enter your target dimensions — for example, 7200 × 10800 for a 24 × 36 poster at 300 DPI
4. Download the resized image

Everything runs in your browser. No upload, no account, no file size limit on processing. If the resized image is too large to email or upload to a print service, run it through Pixotter's compressor to reduce the file size without visible quality loss.

Using Photoshop

1. Open the image. Go to Image > Image Size (Alt+Ctrl+I / Option+Cmd+I)
2. Set Resolution to your target DPI (300 or 150)
3. Set width and height to the poster dimensions in inches (e.g., 24 × 36)
4. Enable Resample and choose Preserve Details 2.0 for upscaling
5. Click OK and save as TIFF or high-quality JPEG

Using GIMP 2.10+

1. Open the image. Go to Image > Scale Image
2. Set width and height to target pixels (e.g., 7200 × 10800)
3. Set interpolation to NoHalo for photographs or Cubic for graphics
4. Click Scale
5. Export via File > Export As

If your source image is smaller than the target dimensions, upscaling will introduce some softness. Start with the highest resolution source available. See how to change image DPI for adjusting DPI metadata without resampling.

File Format Recommendations for Poster Printing

The format you save in affects both print quality and file handling. Here is what to use:

For most poster prints: JPEG at quality 95 is the practical choice. The compression artifacts are invisible at poster viewing distances, the file is manageable, and every print service accepts JPEG. Use TIFF when the print shop requests it or when you need absolute lossless fidelity — fine art prints, archival reproductions. For a detailed comparison of lossy vs lossless formats, see JPG vs PNG.

If your poster file exceeds the upload limit of your print service, reduce the image file size with compression before uploading.

Common Poster Use Cases

Academic and Conference Posters

Standard sizes: A0 (33.1 × 46.8 in) or 36 × 48 inches. Conference posters are read at close range — attendees stand 1–2 feet away to read charts, data, and citations. Use 300 DPI for sharp text and detailed graphs. At A0 and 300 DPI, you are working with a 9930 × 14040 pixel canvas. Make sure your design tool and your machine can handle files that large.

Movie and Entertainment Posters

Standard size: 27 × 40 inches (One Sheet). Viewed from 3+ feet in theater lobbies, storefronts, and bedrooms. 150 DPI (4050 × 6000 pixels) produces a sharp result. Professional distributors use 300 DPI (8100 × 12000 pixels) because source material is high-resolution and file size is not a constraint.

Event and Promotional Posters

Common sizes: 11 × 17 (small, for bulletin boards and kiosks) and 18 × 24 (medium, for storefronts and walls). Small posters on bulletin boards are viewed at close range — use 300 DPI. Medium and large wall posters can use 150 DPI safely. The tabloid 11 × 17 format is convenient because it prints on standard oversized office printers.

Retail and Point-of-Sale

Sizes vary, but 18 × 24 and 24 × 36 are the most common in-store poster sizes. Retail posters compete for attention — bold graphics and large text matter more than fine resolution. 150 DPI works well since customers glance at retail posters from aisle distance, not reading distance.

Art Prints and Photography

Size depends on the edition, but 18 × 24, 24 × 36, and custom sizes are common. Art prints demand the highest quality because buyers examine them closely after purchase. Use 300 DPI minimum. If your source photograph or artwork supports it, 360 or 600 DPI is even better for giclee and fine art inkjet printing. Save as TIFF with no compression for maximum fidelity.

FAQ

What is the most common poster size in pixels? The most popular poster size is 24 × 36 inches. At 300 DPI, that is 7200 × 10800 pixels. At 150 DPI (fine for wall-mounted posters viewed from a few feet), it is 3600 × 5400 pixels.

What size is an 11 × 17 poster in pixels? An 11 × 17 tabloid poster is 3300 × 5100 pixels at 300 DPI and 1650 × 2550 pixels at 150 DPI. This is the smallest standard poster size and prints on oversized office printers.

What DPI should I use for a poster? It depends on viewing distance. For posters viewed from 3+ feet (wall posters, retail signage, movie posters), 150 DPI produces sharp results. For posters with small text read at close range (conference posters, informational displays), use 300 DPI.

What resolution do I need for a movie poster? A standard movie poster is 27 × 40 inches. At 150 DPI, that is 4050 × 6000 pixels — sharp enough for wall display. At 300 DPI, it is 8100 × 12000 pixels. Professional distributors typically supply 300 DPI files.

Can I print a poster from a phone photo? Modern phone cameras (12–50 MP) produce images around 4000 × 3000 to 8192 × 6144 pixels. That is enough for an 18 × 24 poster at 150 DPI (2700 × 3600 pixels) or a small 11 × 17 poster at 300 DPI (3300 × 5100 pixels). For larger posters at 300 DPI, a phone photo will need upscaling, which softens the image. Use Pixotter's resize tool to scale to the exact dimensions you need.

What is the pixel size of an A1 poster? A1 is 23.4 × 33.1 inches (59.4 × 84.1 cm). At 300 DPI, that is 7020 × 9930 pixels. At 150 DPI, it is 3510 × 4965 pixels. A1 is a common size for architectural drawings and large event posters.

Should I use JPEG or PNG for poster printing? JPEG at quality 95 is the practical choice for most poster prints — the compression is invisible at poster viewing distances and the file size is much smaller than PNG. Use TIFF or PNG only when a print shop specifically requests lossless files or for fine art reproduction where absolute fidelity matters. See our JPG vs PNG comparison for a full breakdown.

How do I convert between poster sizes? Use a resize tool to change the pixel dimensions. If moving between aspect ratios (e.g., 24 × 36 to 27 × 40), you will need to crop or add borders — the proportions are different. Pixotter's resize tool handles exact dimension resizing instantly.

Print-Ready in Seconds

Find your poster size in the table, grab the pixel dimensions, and resize. For posters on walls, 150 DPI is enough. For conference posters and art prints, go with 300 DPI. The numbers are simple — what matters is matching resolution to viewing distance.

For other standard print dimensions, see our guides to A4 size in pixels and Letter size in pixels.