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Check Image DPI — Free Browser Tool
Use this tool to check image DPI (and PPI) from JPEG EXIF or PNG metadata right in your browser — if the file has no resolution tags, SnapShrink says so and still shows pixel dimensions.
Updated October 2026
How this image DPI checker works
This image DPI checker reads one file at a time in your tab and prints DPI when EXIF or PNG pHYs stores it.
SnapShrink reads your image’s DPI tag — it doesn’t rewrite or change it.
Need paper sizes after you know the pixels? Open the print size calculator. For a full size readout, use the image size checker.
Check image DPI on Windows, Mac, and Photoshop (no tool needed)
The quickest offline check is your OS file inspector: Windows Properties → Details, Mac Preview Inspector, or Photoshop Image Size.
Windows
- Right-click the image file and choose Properties.
- Open the Details tab.
- Find Horizontal resolution and Vertical resolution (often labeled in DPI).
Mac
- Open the image in Preview.
- Choose Tools → Show Inspector (or press Command-I).
- Read the Image DPI field in the General pane.
Photoshop
- Open the file in Photoshop.
- Choose Image → Image Size.
- Read the Resolution field (pixels/inch) without resampling if you only want to inspect the tag.
DPI myth-buster: DPI is not image quality
DPI is a print density tag — it does not make a soft photo sharp on a phone screen.
People say “this is a high-DPI image” when they mean “this file is high resolution.” Those ideas are different. Pixel width and height describe how many samples the photo has. DPI (dots per inch) only tells a printer how densely to spread those samples on paper. Change the DPI tag without adding pixels and the print gets smaller or larger; the bitmap itself stays the same.
DPI (or PPI) is metadata about print density. It is not a quality score, not a sharpness meter, and not something social networks use when they display your photo.
The Dots per inch article on Wikipedia defines the unit; print labs still care about it because ink sits on physical paper.
What DPI do I need for print?
Print DPI depends on viewing distance: photo labs usually aim near 300 DPI for arm’s-length prints.
| Target | Typical DPI / PPI | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Screen / web layout | 72 PPI | Legacy web and on-screen mockups |
| Retina / high-density display | 144 PPI | 2× assets for sharp phone and laptop screens |
| Large poster / banner | 150 | Viewed from several feet away |
| Photo lab print | 300 | Standard 4×6, 5×7, 8×10 at arm’s length |
| Passport / ID photo printing | 300–600 DPI | When a portal or lab asks for dense ID prints |
| Fine detail / scan workflow | 600 | When a vendor or scanner pipeline asks for it |
Adobe’s overview of image size and resolution in Photoshop matches this rule of thumb: more DPI for close viewing, less when the print is huge and far away.
What DPI is my image?
Ask “what DPI is my image?” only after you know whether the file stored a resolution tag.
Phone JPEGs sometimes write 72 DPI even when the photo is twelve megapixels. Design exports may write 300 DPI in PNG pHYs. Either way, this photo DPI checker shows the number when it exists and refuses to invent one when it doesn’t.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check image DPI online?
Drop a JPEG or PNG on SnapShrink’s image DPI checker. The tool reads EXIF or PNG pHYs in your browser and shows DPI when metadata exists — nothing uploads.
What if my photo has no DPI metadata?
The checker says so honestly and still shows pixel width and height. Pick a print DPI in the print size calculator to see paper size — screens ignore DPI.
Is DPI the same as image quality?
No. DPI is a print density tag, not a sharpness score. A soft phone photo can still say 300 DPI. Pixel count and focus matter more for how the photo looks.
What DPI do I need for print?
Use about 300 DPI for photo prints viewed up close, 150 DPI for large posters seen farther away, and 600 DPI only when a lab or scanner workflow asks for it.
Is this photo DPI checker free?
Yes. The photo DPI checker has no session limit and no paywall counter because it only reads metadata locally. Check as many files as you want in the tab.
Why does Windows show 96 DPI for my screenshots?
Windows often stamps screenshots with 96 DPI when no real resolution tag exists. That 96 value is a default placeholder, not a sharpness score. Effective print DPI comes from pixel width and height divided by the paper size you choose.
Does DPI change file size?
No. DPI is only a metadata tag. Changing the DPI number does not add or remove pixels, so file size stays the same until you resample or recompress the image itself.
Ready to shrink files for the web?
Compression is separate from this DPI checker — still 100% in-browser.