DPI — dots per inch — is the number that determines whether your image will print crisply or come out blurry and pixelated. Before you send a photo to a print shop, submit images for a book cover, upload to a print-on-demand service, or prepare graphics for professional design work, you need to know what DPI you are working with. This guide covers every method for how to check DPI of image: Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, GIMP, Canva, Word, PowerPoint, and online — with exact step-by-step instructions for each.
What Is DPI and Why Does It Matter?
DPI (dots per inch) measures how many ink dots a printer places within one linear inch of output. More dots per inch means more detail and a sharper print. The term is also used loosely for PPI (pixels per inch), which is the screen equivalent — how many pixels exist within one inch of a digital display.
When someone asks what DPI an image is, they are typically asking how many pixels the image contains per inch at its current intended print size. This is important because DPI is not a fixed property of the image itself — it is a relationship between pixel count and print size.
A 3,000 x 2,000 pixel image printed at 10 x 6.67 inches is 300 DPI. Print that same image at 20 x 13.3 inches and it becomes 150 DPI. The pixel count has not changed — only the print dimensions. This means the DPI value embedded in an image’s metadata is effectively a suggestion about its intended print size, not a hard ceiling on quality.
| DPI Value | Quality Level | Best Use Case |
| 72 DPI | Screen only | Websites, email, social media |
| 150 DPI | Low-quality print | Newspaper, rough drafts |
| 300 DPI | Standard print quality | Books, magazines, photos, marketing materials |
| 400–600 DPI | High-quality print | Large format, fine art prints |
| 1200+ DPI | Ultra-high quality | Detailed line art, technical drawings |
How to Check DPI of an Image on Windows
Method 1: File Properties (No Software Required)
This is the fastest method on Windows and requires no additional software.
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the image file.
- Right-click the image file and select Properties from the context menu.
- Click the Details tab at the top of the Properties window.
- Scroll down to the Image section.
- Look for Horizontal Resolution and Vertical Resolution — these values are your DPI (displayed as dots per inch).
For most standard photos, the horizontal and vertical resolution will be the same number. If you see 72, the image is tagged for screen use. 300 is the standard print quality value. Note: some images may not display DPI in Properties if the metadata was stripped during editing or export.
Method 2: File Explorer Details View (Quick Column View)
You can add DPI as a visible column in File Explorer so you can see the resolution of multiple images without opening each one individually.
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder containing your images.
- Click View at the top of the window and select Details.
- Right-click on any column header (such as Name or Date Modified).
- Select More from the dropdown menu.
- In the Choose Details window, scroll down and check Horizontal Resolution and Vertical Resolution.
- Click OK — the DPI columns now appear in File Explorer for all images in that folder.
Method 3: Windows Paint (Built-In)
Windows Paint can display basic image resolution information.
- Right-click the image and select Open With > Paint.
- Click File > Properties (or press Ctrl + E).
- The Image Properties window shows the resolution in dots per inch.
How to Check DPI of an Image on Mac
Method 1: Preview App (Built-In, No Extra Software)
Preview is the easiest and fastest way to check DPI on a Mac.
- Open Finder and locate the image file.
- Right-click the image and select Open With > Preview.
- In the Preview window, click Tools in the top menu bar.
- Select Show Inspector from the dropdown.
- In the Inspector panel, click the first tab (the i icon / General Info tab).
- Look for Image DPI in the information list — this shows the resolution stored in the image’s metadata.
Method 2: Get Info via Finder
For a quick reference without opening the image:
- Right-click the image file in Finder.
- Select Get Info (or press Command + I).
- Expand the More Info section.
- Look for the DPI value listed under the image details.
Note: Get Info may not display DPI for all file types. Preview’s Show Inspector is the more reliable method.
How to Check DPI of an Image in Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is the most accurate tool for checking and working with image DPI because it displays the true relationship between pixel dimensions and output size.
- Open the image in Photoshop (File > Open or drag and drop).
- Go to Image in the top menu bar.
- Select Image Size (keyboard shortcut: Alt + Ctrl + I on Windows / Option + Command + I on Mac).
- The Image Size dialog box opens showing the current pixel dimensions and document size.
- Look at the Resolution field — this is your DPI value. Make sure the dropdown next to it shows Pixels/Inch.
The Image Size dialog also lets you see how DPI and print size relate. If you change the Width or Height values with Resample unchecked, you can see what DPI the image would have at any print size without actually changing the pixel count.
Quick method: If you hold Alt (Option on Mac) and click the information area at the very bottom left of the document window (where it normally shows zoom percentage), Photoshop displays the document size and resolution directly.
How to Check DPI of an Image in Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator handles DPI differently because it is a vector-based application, but when you place raster images into Illustrator, their resolution can be checked through the Document Info panel.
- Open your document in Illustrator and select the placed image by clicking on it.
- Go to Window in the top menu bar.
- Select Document Info from the dropdown menu.
- In the Document Info panel, click the hamburger menu (three lines) and select Selection.
- The panel shows the image resolution as PPI (pixels per inch) — this is your effective DPI for that image at its current size in the document.
Important note for Illustrator: The DPI shown is the effective resolution at the current scale. If you have scaled the placed image up in Illustrator, the effective resolution will be lower than the native image resolution. Scaling a 300 DPI image to 200% of its original size reduces the effective output resolution to 150 DPI.
How to Check DPI of an Image in InDesign
- Open your InDesign document and click on the placed image to select its frame.
- Go to Window > Info (or press F8) to open the Info panel.
- The Info panel shows the Actual PPI (the native resolution of the image file) and the Effective PPI (the resolution at the current size it is placed in the document).
Effective PPI is the critical value for print quality in InDesign. The rule of thumb for print-ready InDesign documents is that the effective PPI of all placed images should be at least 300. InDesign’s Preflight panel will flag images below the minimum resolution threshold you set.
To check all images in an InDesign document at once: go to Window > Output > Preflight. Set up a profile with a minimum image resolution check. InDesign will flag every image in the document that falls below 300 PPI effective resolution.
How to Check DPI of an Image in GIMP (Free)
GIMP is a free, open-source image editor that provides full DPI information.
- Open the image in GIMP (File > Open).
- Go to Image in the top menu bar.
- Select Image Properties (or press Shift + Ctrl + E on Windows).
- The Image Properties dialog shows the resolution in pixels per inch — this is your DPI.
Alternatively: Image > Scale Image shows the X Resolution and Y Resolution fields, which display the current DPI. Make sure the unit dropdown is set to pixels/in.
How to Check DPI of an Image in Canva
Canva does not display DPI information for individual image elements in its interface — this is because Canva is a web-based design tool primarily oriented toward screen output rather than print specification.
For images uploaded to Canva, Canva exports designs at 96 DPI for standard downloads and 300 DPI when you choose the Print PDF or PDF Print download option. The DPI of the finished design depends on the download format you select, not the DPI of the individual images placed within it.
To get a print-quality output from Canva: when downloading, select PDF Print as the file type rather than PNG or JPG. This ensures Canva renders your design at 300 DPI for print submission. If you need to verify the DPI of an image before uploading to Canva, use the Windows Properties method or Mac Preview method described earlier in this guide.
How to Check DPI of an Image in Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word does not display the DPI of individual images directly, but you can check the compression and resolution settings Word is applying to images in your document.
- Click on the image in your Word document to select it.
- The Picture Format tab appears in the ribbon at the top.
- Click Compress Pictures in the Adjust group.
- In the Compress Pictures dialog, you can see the output resolution options and ensure Word is not compressing your image below the quality you need.
For checking the actual DPI of an image intended for use in Word, use Windows File Properties (right-click > Properties > Details) before inserting the image. Word’s default image compression can reduce DPI — to prevent this, go to File > Options > Advanced > Image Size and Quality and check Do not compress images in file.
How to Check DPI of an Image in PowerPoint
PowerPoint handles images similarly to Word and does not display per-image DPI in its interface. The default export resolution for PowerPoint presentations is 96 DPI (screen resolution). For high-quality print exports, you need to change PowerPoint’s default export DPI.
To export PowerPoint slides at 300 DPI (Windows): modify the ExportBitmapResolution registry key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\[version]\PowerPoint\Options. Set the value to 300. After this registry edit, PowerPoint will export slides at 300 DPI when you use File > Save As and choose an image format.
For checking the DPI of images before inserting them into PowerPoint, use the platform-level methods (Windows Properties or Mac Preview) described above.
How to Check DPI of an Image on iPhone
iOS does not provide a built-in way to display the DPI of an image in the Photos app. However, there are several methods available.
Method 1: EXIF Viewer App
EXIF viewer apps read the metadata embedded in image files, which includes DPI information when it has been stored.
- Download an EXIF viewer app from the App Store — Exif Viewer by Fluntro and Photo Investigator are well-reviewed options.
- Open the app and select or import the image you want to check.
- The app displays the full EXIF metadata including DPI (listed as X Resolution and Y Resolution or Image DPI).
Method 2: Files App + Computer
The most reliable way to check DPI for iPhone photos intended for print is to transfer them to a computer (Mac or Windows) and use the native methods described above. iPhone cameras embed 72 DPI in the metadata of photos, but modern iPhone cameras capture at resolutions high enough (12–48 megapixels) that the images can be printed at 300 DPI at substantial sizes regardless of the metadata tag.
As an example: an iPhone 15 Pro photo at 48 megapixels (8064 x 6048 pixels) can be printed at 300 DPI at a size of approximately 26.9 x 20.2 inches — far larger than most print applications require — despite being tagged as 72 DPI in the metadata.
How to Check DPI of an Image on Android
Android does not include a built-in DPI checker in its gallery apps. Options include:
- Google Photos: Tap the image, swipe up, and select Details. This shows the file size, dimensions (pixel count), and capture device but typically does not show DPI directly.
- EXIF metadata apps: Apps like Photo Exif Editor and Exif Tool from the Google Play Store display the full EXIF metadata including resolution values.
- File manager: Some Android file managers (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) display image metadata including resolution when you long-press a file and view Properties.
For production-quality DPI verification, transferring the image to a computer and using Photoshop or Windows File Properties remains the most reliable approach.
How to Check DPI of an Image Online
Online DPI checkers read the metadata embedded in your image file and display the DPI value without requiring any software installation. They are useful for quick checks on files that are already saved at their final state.
To use an online DPI checker: search for ‘check DPI online’ in your browser and use one of the web-based tools that appear. Upload your image file, and the tool reads the EXIF metadata and displays the DPI, dimensions, color mode, and other image properties.
Limitation: Online DPI checkers only read the DPI metadata tag stored in the file. They cannot calculate effective DPI for images placed at a specific size in a document — for that, Photoshop or InDesign’s built-in tools are needed. They also will not show DPI for images where the metadata has been stripped (which is common with images downloaded from websites).
How to Check DPI of Specific File Types
How to Check DPI of a JPEG/JPG Image
JPEG files store DPI in their EXIF metadata. Use Windows File Properties (right-click > Properties > Details) or Mac Preview’s Show Inspector for the quickest check. Most JPEG files from digital cameras are tagged at 72 DPI but contain far more pixel density than that implies — what matters for print quality is the pixel dimensions relative to the print size, not the metadata tag alone.
How to Check DPI of a PNG Image
PNG files store resolution as pixels per unit in their header data. The Windows Properties method works for PNG files. In Photoshop, Image > Image Size shows the resolution of a PNG exactly as it does for JPEG. Note: many PNG files exported from web applications are tagged at 72 or 96 DPI by default, regardless of their pixel dimensions.
How to Check DPI of a TIFF Image
TIFF files store DPI metadata explicitly and are the format most reliably associated with accurate DPI tagging in professional workflows. Windows File Properties, Mac Preview, and Photoshop’s Image Size dialog all display TIFF DPI accurately. TIFF files from professional cameras and scanners are typically tagged at their actual capture resolution (300, 400, 600, or higher DPI) rather than a default screen value.
DPI vs PPI: What Is the Difference?
DPI (dots per inch) technically refers to printer output — the number of ink or toner dots a physical printer places within one inch. PPI (pixels per inch) refers to screen or digital image resolution — the number of pixels within one inch of digital display or image output. In practice, the terms are used interchangeably in most contexts including image editing software, which is why Photoshop’s Image Size dialog labels its resolution field ‘Pixels/Inch’ but is universally referred to as DPI in conversation.
For most practical purposes, when someone asks what DPI an image is, the answer is the pixels-per-inch value — the PPI of the digital file as it would print at a given size. The precise distinction between DPI and PPI matters primarily to prepress professionals and print technicians.
Quick Reference: Check DPI by Platform
| Platform / Software | Method | Steps |
| Windows | File Properties | Right-click > Properties > Details > Horizontal Resolution |
| Mac | Preview App | Open in Preview > Tools > Show Inspector > Image DPI |
| Photoshop | Image Size dialog | Image > Image Size > Resolution field (Pixels/Inch) |
| Illustrator | Document Info panel | Window > Document Info > Selection > Resolution |
| InDesign | Info panel | Window > Info > Actual PPI / Effective PPI |
| GIMP | Image Properties | Image > Image Properties > Resolution |
| Canva | Download settings | Check DPI before upload; export as PDF Print for 300 DPI |
| Word / PowerPoint | Compress Pictures | Select image > Picture Format > Compress Pictures |
| iPhone | EXIF viewer app | Download EXIF viewer from App Store > open image |
| Android | EXIF metadata app | Download Photo Exif Editor from Play Store |
| Online | Web DPI checker | Search ‘check DPI online’ > upload image |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check the DPI of an image without Photoshop?
On Windows, right-click the image file, select Properties, click the Details tab, and look for Horizontal Resolution and Vertical Resolution — no additional software required. On Mac, open the image in Preview, click Tools > Show Inspector, and look for Image DPI. Both methods work for JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and most other common image formats.
My image says 72 DPI — is that bad?
Not necessarily. 72 DPI is the default metadata tag that cameras, phones, and many applications embed in images. It means the image is tagged for screen display at its native pixel size, not that it cannot print at high quality. What matters for print is the actual pixel dimensions of the image. A 6,000 x 4,000 pixel image tagged at 72 DPI will print at 300 DPI at a size of 20 x 13.3 inches — perfectly high quality. Divide the pixel width by your target print width in inches to calculate the actual effective DPI at that print size.
What DPI do I need for printing?
Standard print quality for most purposes (books, magazines, photos, marketing materials) requires 300 DPI at the intended print size. Large format printing (banners, posters viewed from a distance) can work well at 150 DPI. Newspaper printing typically uses 85–100 DPI. Fine art and detailed photography printing benefits from 400–600 DPI. Commercial offset printing for high-quality publications typically requests 300 DPI at final size.
Can I increase the DPI of an image?
You can change the DPI metadata tag without changing the pixel count (resampling off) — this changes the intended print size but does not add any new image detail. To genuinely increase DPI at a given print size, you need to increase the pixel count through upscaling, which AI upscaling tools (such as Topaz Gigapixel AI or Adobe Photoshop’s Super Resolution) do significantly better than traditional interpolation by generating plausible new pixel detail based on the existing image content.
Why does the DPI show differently in different apps?
Different apps report DPI differently depending on whether they are showing the metadata tag (the DPI stored in the file) or the effective DPI (calculated based on the image’s pixel dimensions and its current size in the document). Illustrator and InDesign show both values and the discrepancy is intentional — effective PPI reflects what actually matters for print output quality at the current scale.
Final Thoughts
Checking the DPI of an image takes seconds with the right method for your platform. Windows File Properties and Mac Preview give you instant answers without any software beyond what is already installed. For professional print work, Photoshop’s Image Size dialog and InDesign’s Info panel give you the most complete picture — showing both native and effective resolution. For mobile, EXIF viewer apps fill the gap that the built-in gallery apps leave.The most important thing to remember: the DPI tag embedded in an image file is metadata — a label, not a fixed quality ceiling. The pixel dimensions of the image relative to the print size are what actually determine print quality. An image with plenty of pixels will print beautifully regardless of what its DPI tag says.
