Journal figure, DPI and poster size tools

Poster dimensions

Pick a size or type any width and height to see inches, cm, mm, aspect ratio and the pixels a poster file needs at your dpi.

Poster dimensions are the width and height of a printed poster, and this tool shows them in inches, centimeters and millimeters. Enter a size or pick a preset such as A0 or 36 x 48 in, and the page lists the pixels needed at your chosen dpi, the aspect ratio, the area and the nearest common size. It covers 14 sizes, from ISO A4 to A0, US print sizes, and sizes that conference pages name, and each row shows which sources give that size. The tool runs in your browser, is free and needs no sign-up. Results are calculated from your inputs, so check the journal’s or event’s current author guide before you print or submit.
Poster dimensions example

How to use the poster dimensions tool

  1. Choose a preset (“24 x 36 in”, “36 x 48 in”, “A0”, “42 x 42 in” or “90 x 150 cm”), or type your own width and height.
  2. Select the unit you are typing in: inches, centimeters, millimeters, feet or meters.
  3. Set “Print resolution (dpi)”. The default is 150. The tool accepts values from 10 to 2400.
  4. Read the size in inches, cm and mm.
  5. Read the pixels needed at your dpi, with the megapixel count.
  6. Read the aspect ratio. It appears as 3:2, 4:3 or 1:1 when it matches within 0.0005, and as 1 : x otherwise.
  7. Read the area in m2 and ft2, and check the nearest common size and its difference in mm.
  8. For the chart (“Common poster sizes”), use “Show in chart” (“All sizes”, “US print sizes”, “ISO A-series” or “Sizes conferences name”), “Chart unit” and “Chart orientation” (“Portrait (tall)” or “Landscape (wide)”). These three settings change only the chart. Each size appears with its ratio and its pixels at 150, 200 and 300 dpi.

The second table gives your typed size in pixels at 100, 150, 200 and 300 dpi, so you can compare resolutions side by side. The tool shows an error for a non-number, a size of zero or less, or a dpi outside 10 to 2400. It shows a warning for a side over 200 in or under 3 in, for dpi under 100 (low), and for dpi over 600 (very large file).

What are the standard poster dimensions?

No single poster size is standard. The ISO A-series is a formal standard, while US sizes such as 24 x 36 in and 36 x 48 in are print conventions. Conferences and journals also name their own sizes, so the right dimensions depend on where the poster will be shown.

How does the ISO A-series set poster sizes?

ISO 216 defines the A-series. A0 measures 841 x 1189 mm, has an area of one square meter, and has a ratio of 1 : 1.414. Each size in the series is half of the one before it, so every step keeps the same proportions.

Why do conference and US poster sizes differ?

Sources do not always agree. IEEE Ultrasonics 2015 and the MiALA board both name 36 x 48 in, but IEEE describes it as 36 high by 48 wide, and MiALA as 36 tall by 48 wide, both landscape. The “36x48 poster” keyword is also used for 48 wide by 36 tall, so this tool shows both orientations.

Maximum sizes vary by event too. Berkeley CTML recommends 30 x 40 in and allows up to 42 x 42 in, HFES board space is 42 x 42 in, and the postpartum page allows 48 x 48 in. ICPRP/IIUM lists 95 x 120 cm, up to 150 cm high, while ISSBD recommends 90 x 150 cm. Both portrait listings appear side by side here rather than being averaged.

How do width, height and orientation change the result?

Swapping width and height turns a portrait poster into a landscape one. The aspect ratio stays the same because it is long:short, but the pixel width and height swap too. A0 is not the same as 36 x 48 in. The page shows that 36 x 48 in is 73.4 mm wider and 30.2 mm taller than A0.

How are pixels calculated from poster size and dpi?

Pixels equal inches multiplied by dpi, rounded to a whole number. A 36 x 48 in poster at 300 dpi is 10,800 x 14,400 px, which is 155.5 MP. A 24 x 36 in poster at 150 dpi is 3,600 x 5,400 px, or 19.4 MP, the default result.

Why does the aspect ratio show as 1 : x?

The ratio compares the long side to the short side. It is shown as a small whole ratio only when it matches within 0.0005, such as 3:2, 4:3 or 1:1. Any other size appears as 1 : x, for example the 1 : 1.414 of the A-series.

Will the results match what a printer produces?

Results are calculated from the numbers you enter. Printers and layout programs round differently, so compare the output against your own print settings. Check the current author guide for any journal or event before you submit.

Worked examples

InputResult
24 × 36 in at 150 dpi3,600 × 5,400 px
36 × 48 in at 300 dpi10,800 × 14,400 px
33.11 × 46.81 in at 150 dpi4,967 × 7,022 px
42 × 42 in at 150 dpi6,300 × 6,300 px

Calculated by the tool above; open it with the same values to see each step.

Frequently asked questions

Which poster size should I choose?

Choose the size that your event or journal names, since maximum sizes differ between sources. The chart can show every group side by side to help you compare.

Is A0 the same as 36 x 48 in?

No. A0 is 841 x 1189 mm, while 36 x 48 in is 914.4 x 1219.2 mm. The tool shows the difference in mm for each comparison.

What dpi should I enter?

Start with 150, the default value. The tool accepts 10 to 2400, shows a low-resolution warning under 100, and warns about a very large file over 600.

Why does my size show a warning?

A side over 200 in or under 3 in triggers a warning. Check the width and height, and the unit you selected.

Why is my ratio shown as 1 : x?

The ratio is shown as a whole ratio only when it matches within 0.0005. Otherwise the tool shows the long side against a short side of 1.

Do I need to sign up to use it?

No. The tool is free and needs no sign-up. The numbers you type stay in your browser.

Are the sizes official?

The ISO sizes come from the ISO 216 A-series. US sizes are print conventions, not a standard, and conference sizes come from the named guides. Those guides change, so the event’s current author guide decides which size to use.