Pixels to Inches Converter
Convert pixels to inches (px to in) for CSS, screens and print
1 pixel = 0.0104167 inches in CSS, because 96 px = 1 in. To convert px to inches, divide by 96. For printing, divide by the print resolution (DPI) instead.
Pixels to Inches converter
Live96 DPI is the CSS reference pixel that every browser uses.
- 0.75 pt
- 0.0625 pc
- 0.026458333 cm
How to convert pixels to inches
A pixel has no fixed physical size of its own, so any pixels-to-inches conversion depends on how many pixels you pack into each inch. The W3C CSS specification settles this for the web by defining the CSS reference pixel as exactly 1/96 of an inch. Every browser, design tool and style sheet uses that ratio, which is why this converter divides by 96: 192 px is 2 in, and 480 px is 5 in. Points, picas, rem and the other screen and print units live on the digital and typography converter.
The trap is print. A printer does not care about CSS; it places as many pixels per inch as the resolution you choose. The same 1,800 px image is 18.75 in wide at 96 DPI, 12 in at 150 DPI and only 6 in at 300 DPI. So for print work, replace 96 with your target DPI: inches = pixels ÷ DPI. The Resolution chips above switch the converter to 72, 150, 300 or 600 DPI, or you can type any custom value. The tables below cover both cases, and you can switch between inches and metric with the inches to cm converter.
Step by step
- Take the length in pixels.
- Divide it by 96 for CSS and screen layout, or by the DPI for print.
- Read the result in inches.
- Multiply by 2.54 if you need centimeters.
See it on a scale
Worked examples
An app icon, a blog image and a wide banner, measured in CSS pixels at the standard 96 px per inch.
48 px ÷ 96 = 0.5 in
= 0.5 in
300 px ÷ 96 = 3.125 in
= 3.125 in
1,200 px ÷ 96 = 12.5 in
= 12.5 in
How do I convert pixels to inches in Excel or Google Sheets?
Enter =A2/96 to turn CSS pixels in A2 into inches, or =A2/B2 when B2 holds the print DPI; =A2*96 and =A2*B2 go back from inches to pixels.
| Task | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| CSS pixels to inches | =A2/96 | 2,400 px → 25 in |
| Pixels to inches at the DPI in B2 | =A2/B2 | 2,400 px at 300 → 8 in |
| Pixels to centimeters at the DPI in B2 | =A2/B2*2.54 | 2,400 px at 300 → 20.32 cm |
| Inches to pixels for print | =ROUNDUP(A2*B2,0) | 13 in at 300 → 3,900 px |
| Rounded inches for a spec sheet | =ROUND(A2/B2,2) | 1,000 px at 300 → 3.33 in |
Keep the DPI in its own cell and reference it as $B$1 when a whole column shares one resolution, so changing 300 to 150 updates every row at once. ROUNDUP matters when you size an image for print: rounding the pixel count down leaves the print a fraction of an inch short. Every formula here works unchanged in Excel and Google Sheets, and the length converter covers millimeters and other paper units.
Does device pixel ratio change pixels to inches?
No: CSS keeps 96 px = 1 in at every device pixel ratio (DPR); DPR only sets how many physical screen pixels draw each CSS pixel, for example 2 × 2 at DPR 2.
Device pixel ratio is the number of device pixels per CSS pixel along one axis. Browsers expose it as window.devicePixelRatio, and CSS can test it with the resolution media feature, for example (min-resolution: 2dppx). It matters when you export images, because a sharp picture needs one image pixel for each device pixel:
| DPR | Device pixels per CSS pixel | Device pixels per CSS inch | File width for a 300 px image |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 × 1 | 96 | 300 px |
| 1.25 (Windows 125% scaling) | 1.25 × 1.25 | 120 | 375 px |
| 1.5 | 1.5 × 1.5 | 144 | 450 px |
| 2 | 2 × 2 | 192 | 600 px |
| 3 | 3 × 3 | 288 | 900 px |
So a 300 × 200 px image is 3.125 × 2.083 in in CSS units on every screen, but a phone at DPR 3 needs a 900 × 600 file to show it crisply. The HTML srcset attribute with 2x and 3x descriptors lets the browser pick the right file.
Pixels to inches conversion chart (96 px per inch)
CSS pixel values converted to inches at the W3C standard of 96 px per inch, rounded to four decimal places. For font sizes, the pixels to rem converter is usually the better choice.
| Pixels (px) | Inches (in) |
|---|---|
| 1 px | 0.0104 in |
| 2 px | 0.0208 in |
| 4 px | 0.0417 in |
| 8 px | 0.0833 in |
| 10 px | 0.1042 in |
| 12 px | 0.125 in |
| 16 px | 0.1667 in |
| 20 px | 0.2083 in |
| 24 px | 0.25 in |
| 32 px | 0.3333 in |
| 36 px | 0.375 in |
| 48 px | 0.5 in |
| 50 px | 0.5208 in |
| 64 px | 0.6667 in |
| 72 px | 0.75 in |
| 96 px | 1 in |
| 100 px | 1.0417 in |
| 128 px | 1.3333 in |
| 144 px | 1.5 in |
| 150 px | 1.5625 in |
| 192 px | 2 in |
| 200 px | 2.0833 in |
| 240 px | 2.5 in |
| 256 px | 2.6667 in |
| 288 px | 3 in |
| 300 px | 3.125 in |
| 384 px | 4 in |
| 400 px | 4.1667 in |
| 480 px | 5 in |
| 500 px | 5.2083 in |
| 600 px | 6.25 in |
| 720 px | 7.5 in |
| 768 px | 8 in |
| 800 px | 8.3333 in |
| 960 px | 10 in |
| 1,024 px | 10.6667 in |
| 1,080 px | 11.25 in |
| 1,200 px | 12.5 in |
| 1,920 px | 20 in |
Pixels vs inches: what is the difference?
A CSS pixel and an inch are tied together by definition, yet they describe different things: one is a count of picture elements, the other a physical length. The rows below show where each comes from and where it is used.
| Attribute | Pixels | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | px | in |
| System | CSS reference pixel | Physical |
| Defined as | 1/96 in | 96 px (CSS) |
| One unit equals | 0.010416667 in | 96 px |
| What it measures | A count of picture elements whose physical size depends on screen or print density | A fixed physical length |
| Anchored to | The reference pixel, a visual angle of about 0.0213° at arm's length | The meter: 1 in = 25.4 mm exactly |
| Standardized by | W3C CSS Values and Units Module Level 3 | 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement |
| Where it is used | Screens, web layout, app design, digital images | Paper and print sizes, screen diagonals, rulers |
| Common confusion | CSS pixels vs device pixels (device pixel ratio) | A CSS inch vs a real inch held against the screen |
5 key differences
- The W3C defines the reference pixel as the visual angle of one pixel on a 96 DPI device viewed from about 28 in, roughly 0.0213°.
- Because an inch is exactly 25.4 mm, one CSS pixel is 0.2646 mm long.
- Converting pixels to inches never changes an image's pixel count; only the density you choose decides the physical size.
- A 300 DPI print packs 3.125 times as many pixels into each inch as the 96 px CSS inch.
- Screens are sold by their diagonal in inches but described by resolution in pixels, so pixel density (PPI) is the figure that links the two.
What is the difference between PPI and DPI?
PPI counts pixels per inch on a screen or in an image, while DPI strictly counts the ink dots a printer lays down per inch; in everyday use both describe how many pixels map to one inch. Three different numbers get called pixels per inch, and mixing them up is the most common cause of wrong sizes.
- CSS pixels per inch (always 96): a layout convention. It keeps web pages consistent, but a CSS inch is not guaranteed to match a ruler held to your screen.
- Screen PPI (pixels per inch): the physical density of a display, set by its resolution and diagonal. PPI = √(width² + height²) ÷ diagonal in inches.
- Print DPI (dots per inch): strictly the number of ink dots a printer lays down, but in everyday use it means how many image pixels you map to each printed inch. 300 DPI is the usual target for photos viewed up close; 150 DPI is often enough for posters seen from a distance.
Image files also store a DPI tag, but it is only a suggestion. Changing it from 72 to 300 in an editor does not add any detail; it just tells the printer to make the image smaller. What matters is the pixel count divided by the print size.
Pixels to inches at common print resolutions
Divide the pixel count by the resolution. A 3,000 px wide photo prints 10 in wide at 300 DPI, but more than 41 in wide at 72 DPI, where it would look soft up close.
| Pixels | 72 DPI | 96 DPI | 150 DPI | 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600 px | 8.333 in | 6.25 in | 4 in | 2 in |
| 1,200 px | 16.667 in | 12.5 in | 8 in | 4 in |
| 1,800 px | 25 in | 18.75 in | 12 in | 6 in |
| 2,400 px | 33.333 in | 25 in | 16 in | 8 in |
| 3,000 px | 41.667 in | 31.25 in | 20 in | 10 in |
| 3,600 px | 50 in | 37.5 in | 24 in | 12 in |
| 4,000 px | 55.556 in | 41.667 in | 26.667 in | 13.333 in |
| 6,000 px | 83.333 in | 62.5 in | 40 in | 20 in |
Pixels needed for common print sizes
Multiply each side in inches by the DPI. Metric paper sizes are converted from millimeters with 25.4 mm per inch; the cm to inches converter handles any other size. If your image has fewer pixels than the 300 DPI column, print it smaller or accept a softer result.
| Print size | Pixels at 150 DPI | Pixels at 300 DPI | Megapixels at 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in photo | 600 × 900 | 1,200 × 1,800 | 2.2 MP |
| 5 × 7 in photo | 750 × 1,050 | 1,500 × 2,100 | 3.1 MP |
| 8 × 10 in print | 1,200 × 1,500 | 2,400 × 3,000 | 7.2 MP |
| US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) | 1,275 × 1,650 | 2,550 × 3,300 | 8.4 MP |
| A4 (210 × 297 mm) | 1,240 × 1,754 | 2,480 × 3,508 | 8.7 MP |
| 11 × 14 in print | 1,650 × 2,100 | 3,300 × 4,200 | 13.9 MP |
| 16 × 20 in poster | 2,400 × 3,000 | 4,800 × 6,000 | 28.8 MP |
| 24 × 36 in poster | 3,600 × 5,400 | 7,200 × 10,800 | 77.8 MP |
How big is a pixel on real screens?
On the displays below, one pixel measures between 0.1119 mm and 0.2767 mm, so a pixel's physical size depends entirely on the screen. Pixel density calculated from each display's resolution and nominal diagonal. The last column is the physical width of 96 device pixels, showing why a CSS inch only matches a real inch on a screen near 96 PPI. Operating-system scaling changes how many device pixels each CSS pixel uses.
| Display | Density | One pixel | 96 pixels span |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in, 1920 × 1080 | 91.8 PPI | 0.2767 mm | 1.046 in |
| 15.6 in laptop, 1920 × 1080 | 141.2 PPI | 0.1799 mm | 0.68 in |
| 27 in, 2560 × 1440 | 108.8 PPI | 0.2335 mm | 0.882 in |
| 32 in, 3840 × 2160 | 137.7 PPI | 0.1845 mm | 0.697 in |
| 27 in, 3840 × 2160 | 163.2 PPI | 0.1557 mm | 0.588 in |
| 13.3 in laptop, 2560 × 1600 | 227 PPI | 0.1119 mm | 0.423 in |
Common pixels to inches mistakes
- Using 72 for the web. 72 pixels per inch is an old Mac screen convention and matches the point (1 pt = 1/72 in), not the CSS pixel. CSS uses 96.
- Trusting the DPI field in an image. A 1,200 px image tagged 300 DPI and the same image tagged 72 DPI contain identical pixels. Only the intended print size differs.
- Measuring a CSS inch with a ruler. On a high-density laptop or phone, a CSS inch can be noticeably smaller or larger than a physical inch.
- Forgetting the aspect ratio. When you resize for print, change width and height together. The aspect ratio calculator finds the matching side.
Sources and further reading
The standards and references behind the numbers on this page. Links open in a new tab.
Standards and official sources
Pixels to inches FAQs
Short, exact answers to what people ask most.
How many inches is 1 pixel?
In CSS, 1 pixel is exactly 1/96 inch, about 0.0104167 in. When printing at 300 DPI, one pixel covers 1/300 inch, about 0.00333 in.
How many pixels are in an inch?
The CSS standard defines 96 pixels per inch for screens and web layout. For print, the number equals the DPI you print at, such as 300 pixels per inch for photo quality.
How many inches is 1920 pixels?
At 96 px per inch, 1,920 px is exactly 20 inches. Printed at 300 DPI, the same 1,920 px spans 6.4 inches.
What DPI should I use for printing?
Use 300 DPI for photos and documents viewed at reading distance, 150 DPI for posters seen from a few feet away, and 600 DPI for line art and scans. Divide the pixel count by the chosen DPI to see the print size in inches.
How do I convert pixels to inches for printing?
Divide the pixel dimension by the print resolution. A 3,000 × 2,400 px image at 300 DPI prints at 10 × 8 inches.
Why is a CSS inch not a real inch on my screen?
CSS fixes an inch at 96 CSS pixels, but screens have different physical densities and scaling. A 27-inch 4K monitor packs about 163 pixels into each real inch, so 96 of them cover only about 0.59 inch without scaling.
How many inches is 1080 pixels?
At 96 px per inch, 1,080 px is 11.25 inches. Printed at 300 DPI, the same 1,080 px spans 3.6 inches.
How many inches is 500 pixels?
500 px is about 5.2083 inches in CSS (500 ÷ 96). At 300 DPI it prints 1.6667 inches wide.
How many pixels is 1 inch at 300 DPI?
One inch at 300 DPI is exactly 300 pixels, because DPI is the number of pixels placed in each inch. At 600 DPI it is 600 pixels.
How many inches is 4000 pixels?
4,000 px is about 41.6667 inches at the CSS rate of 96 px per inch, or 13.3333 inches when printed at 300 DPI.
How many centimeters is 96 pixels?
96 CSS pixels are exactly 2.54 cm, because they make one inch. One pixel is therefore about 0.0265 cm.
Related conversions
Pixel, inch and point definitions and the reference pixel from the W3C CSS Values and Units Module Level 3; the resolution media feature from W3C Media Queries Level 4; srcset from the WHATWG HTML Standard; the inch as exactly 25.4 mm from the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement; A-series paper sizes from ISO 216. Last updated . How we verify our numbers.