Image DPI checker for print books

Drop your images. See the effective DPI at your print size and how large each one can print.

Add imagesDrop or choose JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF or TIFF. Add as many as you like.

Images are read on this device. Nothing is uploaded.

Printer

KDPIngramSparkLulu

Print size

Full pageAreaWidth

Trim size

Image runs into the bleed

Fills a 6 x 9 in page. Anything that does not fit the shape is cropped.

Sample image

300 DPI at 6 x 9 in

KDP: at least 300 DPI. Recommended maximum 600 DPI.

Image	Effective DPI	Prints well up to	Pixels	Stored DPI
Sample photo (add yours)	300	6 x 9 in	1,800 x 2,700	None

Stored DPI is only a label in the file. Print quality depends on the pixels and the size you print at, which is what Effective DPI measures.

Rather have a pro handle this? Our studio can: interior formatting and typesetting.

Short answer

For print, images need at least 300 DPI at the size they print: KDP, IngramSpark and Lulu all ask for 300. Effective DPI is the image's pixel width divided by its printed width in inches, so a 1,800 pixel wide image prints sharply up to 6 inches wide. The DPI stored in the file does not matter.

How to use it

Drop your images or choose them. Add as many as you need to check.
Pick your printer: KDP, IngramSpark or Lulu.
Choose the print size: a full page at your trim, an area in inches, or a width.
Read the Effective DPI column. Anything marked Too low will print soft at that size.
Copy or download the report, and resize or replace any image that fails.

How it works

The checker reads each image's width and height in pixels from the file header, and any resolution stored in the file. It then divides the pixels by the inches you print at. For a full page or an area, the image is scaled to fill it, so the side that needs the most stretching sets the DPI and the rest is cropped.

Effective DPI = pixels / printed inches
Fill an area: DPI = the smaller of (width px / width in) and (height px / height in)
Largest good print = pixels / 300 DPI, for each side

Worked example: a 1,800 x 2,700 pixel photo on a full 6 x 9 in page prints at 300 DPI, which meets KDP's 300 DPI minimum. The same photo on a full 8.5 x 11 in page drops to 212 DPI and fails. A 1,200 x 800 pixel image filling a 6 x 4 in area prints at 200 DPI; it prints well up to 4 x 2.67 in.

Reference

Image resolution by printer
Printer	Minimum	Maximum
KDP	300 DPI, cover and interior	600 DPI recommended
IngramSpark	300 ppi grayscale and color, 600 ppi 1-bit line art	None stated
Lulu	300 PPI	600 PPI

Pixels needed for a full page at 300 DPI
Page	No bleed	With KDP bleed
5 x 8 in	1,500 x 2,400 px	1,538 x 2,475 px
5.5 x 8.5 in	1,650 x 2,550 px	1,688 x 2,625 px
6 x 9 in	1,800 x 2,700 px	1,838 x 2,775 px
7 x 10 in	2,100 x 3,000 px	2,138 x 3,075 px
8.5 x 8.5 in	2,550 x 2,550 px	2,588 x 2,625 px
8.5 x 11 in	2,550 x 3,300 px	2,588 x 3,375 px

Questions authors ask

What DPI does KDP require for images?

At least 300 DPI for every image, cover and interior. There is no hard maximum, but KDP recommends staying at or under 600 DPI so files stay under its size limit and process on time.

My image says 72 DPI. Is it too low?

Not necessarily. The DPI stored in a file is just a label. What matters is how many pixels the image has and how big you print it. A 1,800 x 2,700 pixel image labeled 72 DPI still prints at 300 DPI on a 6 x 9 in page.

Can I fix a low resolution image by increasing its DPI?

No. Changing the DPI label or enlarging the image in an editor adds pixels by guessing, not detail, and the result prints soft. Print the image smaller, find a larger original, or have it redrawn.

What resolution does IngramSpark want?

300 ppi for grayscale and color images, and 600 ppi for 1-bit black and white line art. IngramSpark rejects images under 72 ppi. Tick "1-bit black and white line art" to check line art at 600.

What resolution does Lulu want?

Lulu asks for images of at least 300 PPI and no more than 600 PPI. Its guide calls 150 PPI the minimum for simple graphics and 300 PPI ideal for detailed images.

How big can I print my image?

Divide each side in pixels by 300. A 1,200 x 800 pixel image prints well up to 4 x 2.67 in. The Prints well up to column does this for every image you add.

Are my images uploaded?

No. The checker reads the size from the start of each file in your browser. Nothing leaves your device, and share links carry only your settings.

Before and after this step

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Related tools

Sources

Last verified September 29, 2026 against each printer's official help pages. Printers change their specs, so check the source before you order a proof.