Paper Sizes in Pixels (US Letter, A4 & More)

What is US Letter (8.5 x 11) in pixels?

A US Letter page is 2,550 x 3,300 pixels at 300 DPI, the print standard, or 816 x 1,056 pixels at 96 DPI for screen. There's one rule behind every number on this page: multiply each side in inches by your DPI.

That's why the same sheet can have four different pixel sizes. At 72 DPI a Letter page is only 612 x 792 pixels, but at 300 DPI it's 2,550 x 3,300 pixels, more than four times the width. The paper didn't change, but the pixel count did, because you're packing more dots into each inch. If you're not sure which number you need, the tables below list all of them side by side, and you won't have to reach for a calculator.

What's the paper size to pixels table?

This table is the whole point of the page. It lists every common US and ISO sheet across all four standard DPI settings, so you can read the exact canvas off one grid instead of hunting through four separate charts.

Most reference pages only show one DPI, usually 300, and leave you guessing for screen work. We've put 72, 96, 150 and 300 DPI in the same row, because a flyer headed to a printer and a PDF headed to email need very different pixel counts. The US sizes come first since Letter is what most American documents start from.

The ISO A series is the worldwide standard, and A4 is the one you'll meet most. It's the international cousin of Letter, and it shows up on almost every résumé, invoice and report outside the US. Here's the same DPI spread for the A sizes.

A few numbers worth memorizing: A4 at 300 DPI is 2,480 x 3,508 pixels, Legal is 2,550 x 4,200 pixels, and Tabloid (11 x 17) is 3,300 x 5,100 pixels. If your software asks for millimeters instead, A4 is 210 x 297 mm and A3 is double that on the long side at 297 x 420 mm.

Notice how the A series scales: each size is exactly half of the one above it, so two A4 sheets side by side make an A3, and two A3 sheets make an A2. That's the trick that keeps the proportions identical all the way up and down the range. The US sizes don't follow that pattern, which is why Letter, Legal and Tabloid each have their own aspect ratio and don't tile as neatly.

How do you set the right canvas size?

It's three quick steps, and the table above already did the arithmetic. You'll pick a size, create the file, and lock the DPI before you start designing, because resizing later usually softens the artwork.

1. Find your paper size and target DPI in the table and note the pixel pair.
2. Create a new file at those exact pixel dimensions in Photoshop, Canva, Figma or whatever you're using.
3. Keep print files at 300 DPI. For an on-screen PDF, 96 to 150 DPI is plenty and keeps the file light.

Here's a tip that saves headaches: set the DPI first, then design at full size. If you build a Letter flyer at 96 DPI and the printer needs 300, you can't just scale it up later, since the missing pixels were never there to begin with. Starting at 300 DPI and exporting a smaller copy for the web is easy, but the reverse isn't.

Working with an odd size that isn't on the chart? Drop the measurement into the inches to pixels converter and it'll return the exact canvas for your DPI.

Which DPI for documents vs print?

The DPI you choose depends entirely on where the file ends up. A page that's only ever read on a screen doesn't need the same density as a glossy brochure someone holds six inches from their face, and picking the wrong one either wastes file size or ruins the print.

• 300 DPI for anything printed and read close up: brochures, flyers, résumés, business cards and photo prints. It's the commercial print standard, and most print shops won't accept less.
• 150 DPI for large-format pieces viewed from a step or two back, like posters and signage, where the eye can't resolve fine dots anyway.
• 96 DPI for on-screen PDFs, web previews and email attachments. It's the classic screen density, so the document looks right at 100% on a monitor and stays small enough to send.
• 72 DPI is the old web baseline you'll still see in legacy files. It's fine for a quick screen mockup, but it's too coarse to print without the result looking blocky.

One more thing people miss: a document's DPI only matters at the moment it's rasterized or printed. If you're working in vector tools like Illustrator, the artwork stays sharp at any size, and DPI only kicks in when you export to a pixel format like PNG or send it to a printer. So when you export, that's the step where you set the density to match the table above.

When you're unsure, lean toward 300 DPI and downscale, because you can always throw pixels away but you can't invent them. The DPI guide breaks down each setting with example file sizes if you want the full reasoning.

Frequently asked questions

What is 8.5 x 11 inches in pixels?

A US Letter page is 2,550 x 3,300 pixels at 300 DPI, or 816 x 1,056 pixels at 96 DPI. You'll multiply each inch dimension by your DPI to get the pixel canvas.

What is A4 in pixels?

A4 is 210 x 297 mm, which is 2,480 x 3,508 pixels at 300 DPI and 794 x 1,123 pixels at 96 DPI. You'd use 300 DPI when it's a print-ready A4 document.

What DPI should a document be?

Use 300 DPI for anything printed and read up close. If it's an on-screen PDF or web preview, 96 to 150 DPI is enough and won't bloat the file.

How do I set the right canvas size?

Create a new file at the pixel dimensions from the table for your paper size and DPI. In most design apps you can also enter the physical size and set the DPI, and they'll work out the pixels for you.

Is 8.5 x 11 the same as A4?

No, they're close but not identical. US Letter is 8.5 x 11 inches and A4 is 8.27 x 11.69 inches, so A4 is a touch narrower and taller. Don't swap one for the other on a print job or you'll see clipped margins.