If you’re looking to print or digitize photos, then having a basic understanding of standard photo sizes is important. Ensuring images are in the correct format and dimensions will prevent any pixelation, stretching, or cropping. Trying to print a standard camera photo onto a square canvas, for example, will result in the edges of your image being cropped or the photo being distorted. Luckily, those scenarios are easy to avoid!
Below, we explore the size of a standard photo and discuss the different photo dimensions available. But first, let’s talk about aspect ratio.
WHAT IS ASPECT RATIO?
The aspect ratio of a photograph is simply its height compared to its width. Essentially, it helps visualize what shape the photo will be. For example, a 1:1 aspect ratio will have the same width and length: ie, it’s a square. But a 2:3 aspect ratio will be a rectangle.
For photography and videography projects, the most common aspect ratios are:
- 1:1 aspect ratio: As mentioned, this is a square — usually used for digital files like social media profile photos or business logos.
- 3:2 aspect ratio: When it comes to photography, this is the most common one you’ll find. This is because it has the same aspect ratio as 35mm film, the classic film used in analog cameras before digital came along.
- 4:3 aspect ratio: This is the aspect ratio that most computer monitors, televisions, and digital cameras employ. If you’re looking to shoot photos or film that will fit a screen, then this is the aspect ratio to shoot.
- 16:9 aspect ratio: More commonly found in a digital format — on computers and modern wide-screen TVs — this aspect ratio is a rectangle that is slightly longer than a 4:3 aspect ratio.
WHAT SIZE IS A STANDARD PHOTO?
If you think of a classic printed photo, 4 x 6 inches is the standard size. If you buy a regular photo album from a store to fill up with your own prints, you can expect that it will be suitable for 4 x 6 inch photographs.
However, there are plenty of other standard photo sizes that exist for various projects and uses, even outside of this standardized size. Let’s take a closer look at these sizes, and what they’re each best used for.
STANDARD PHOTO SIZES EXPLAINED
Whether squares or rectangles, there are many options when it comes to shooting and printing photos. Here are some of the most common standard photo dimensions.
4 X 6 INCHES
As we said above, this is the stock-standard photo size. This size fits perfectly into a 2:3 aspect ratio, meaning that all photos taken in this ratio can be turned into a 4 x 6-sized print without having to do any cropping. This is the ideal print size for photo albums, greeting cards, and framed photos. For the best print quality, the file should be at least 1200 x 1800 pixels to avoid blurring.
5 X 7 INCHES
The next step up is 5 x 7 inches. This is also used for greeting cards and photo albums but is slightly larger than a 4 x 6. To ensure the best results for printing in this size, the photo should be taken on a camera in a 3.5:2.5 ratio, and only a small amount will have to be cropped. For a perfect fit and quality when printing, make sure your photo is at least 1500 x 2100 pixels.
8 X 10 INCHES
For images that stand out a little more, 8 x 10 is a great size. The best aspect ratio for 8 x 10 prints is 5:4 — a rectangle with slightly more height. For gallery walls, an 8 x 10 inch print makes a good feature image, when surrounded by 4 x 6 prints.
However, a standard 2:3 photo will require some cropping when printed into this size. The long side will lose some from the edges, so be sure there’s nothing important on the edges of your photo. When resizing a digital file, aim to make it 2400 x 3000 pixels to perfectly fit an 8 x 10 inch print.
8.5 X 11 INCHES
For a poster or a larger print that you’re looking to frame, this is the standard photo size. A 4:3 aspect ratio is ideal for this sized print. Aim for a digital file size of 3400 x 4400 pixels for the best quality print.
12 X 18 INCHES
This is a large print, usually used as wall art once framed. For such a big size, it’s essential to have a photo that is high enough quality that no blurring or stretching will occur when printing. A pixel size of 3600 x 5400 and an aspect ratio of 3:2 will yield the best results.
18 X 24 INCHES
Again, this is a large print used for posters and printed art to be mounted. A large file size is essential: at least 5400 x 7200 pixels. An image with an aspect ratio of 3:4 will ensure no cropping of the original photo.
24 X 36 INCHES
This is an extra-large print, so will only look good when created from ultra-high-quality images. Otherwise, the pixels will be stretched or blurred. For the best results, use an aspect ratio of 3:2 when creating a photo of this size, with a digital image size of 7200 x 10800 pixels.
DIGITIZING STANDARD PHOTOGRAPH SIZES
EverPresent can digitize any size photo in your collection to help ensure it’s preserved forever. Our professional scanners deliver digitized photos in 600 dpi, meaning the quality is high enough for it to be reprinted — in any standard photo size. For example, a 4 x 6 original could be safely reprinted as a 5 x 7, an 8 x 10 as an 11 x 14, and so on.
When you’re ready to digitize your photo collection, get in touch with EverPresent for a free estimate.
