PrintPixelLetter Size in Pixels
US Letter is the standard document size in North America: 8.5 × 11 inches. Here are the pixel dimensions you need to print a full-bleed Letter image at common resolutions.
Letter is 215.9 × 279.4 mm (21.6 × 27.9 cm, 8.5 × 11in). At 300 PPI — the standard for high-quality printing — a full-bleed Letter needs2550 × 3300 pixels.
| Resolution | Pixels |
|---|---|
| 300 PPI | 2550 × 3300 px |
| 240 PPI | 2040 × 2640 px |
| 200 PPI | 1700 × 2200 px |
| 150 PPI | 1275 × 1650 px |
Pixel dimensions are computed from the physical size of Letter (8.5 × 11 in) at each resolution.
Letter (8.5 × 11 in) at common resolutions
| Resolution | Pixels | Physical size |
|---|---|---|
| 300 PPI | 2550 × 3300 px | 21.6 × 27.9 cm |
| 240 PPI | 2040 × 2640 px | 21.6 × 27.9 cm |
| 200 PPI | 1700 × 2200 px | 21.6 × 27.9 cm |
| 150 PPI | 1275 × 1650 px | 21.6 × 27.9 cm |
Pixel counts are computed from the real physical dimensions of Letter (8.5 × 11 in) at each resolution — they are not hard-coded. To get these values for any other print size, use the calculator above.
Why the pixel count changes with PPI
Letter's physical size is fixed — 216 × 279 mm — but the number of pixels needed to fill that space depends on the resolution you choose.
PPI (pixels per inch) tells you how many pixels fit into one inch of print. Multiply the physical width in inches by the PPI and you get the pixel width. At 8.5 inches wide × 300 PPI you get 2550 pixels; at 150 PPI you get 1275 pixels — half as many, spread over the same 215.9 mm of paper.
The table above uses the real physical dimensions of Letter at each resolution. To get these values for any other print size, use the calculator above or the DPI / PPI calculator.
Letter portrait vs landscape
In portrait orientation (the default), Letter is 2550 × 3300 pixels at 300 PPI. In landscape orientation it's 3300 × 2550 pixels — the same pixel count, just rotated. Most printers handle the rotation automatically.
Letter's 17:22 ratio works in both orientations. The width is always 8.5 inches (215.9 mm) and the height is always 11 inches (279.4 mm), whichever way you hold the sheet.
Can my image be printed on Letter?
Compare your image's pixel dimensions to the values above. If your image is at least 2550 × 3300 pixels, it covers Letter at 300 PPI without any upscaling. If it's smaller, the effective PPI drops — the print may still look fine, especially if it's viewed from a distance rather than examined up close.
The quickest way to check is tocheck your image with the Image Print Size Calculator. Upload your photo and it shows the exact resolution at Letter — plus whether any cropping is needed to fit the 17:22 aspect ratio. Images are processed entirely in your browser and never uploaded.
Practical details
Letter at 300 PPI needs 2550 × 3300 pixels — the resolution most print shops expect for a full-quality Letter page. At 240 PPI, 2040 × 2640 pixels is still high quality. At 200 PPI, 1700 × 2200 pixels works well for most purposes. At 150 PPI,1275 × 1650 pixels is usually enough for a document that will be read at arm's length rather than examined up close.
Letter's 17:22 ratio (approximately 0.773) is close to, but not exactly, the 3:2 or 4:3 ratios cameras produce. A full-bleed Letter print from a landscape 3:2 photo (width:height = 3:2) needs about 48% of its overall width removed — about 24% from each side — and from a landscape 4:3 photo about 42% overall (about 21% per side). A portrait 4:5 photo (width:height = 4:5) is closest to Letter's shape and needs only about a 3% trim overall.
Letter is a portrait document size. It's the standard for letters, reports, resumes, forms and most everyday printing in the United States, Canada and a few other countries. For photos, Letter is an unusual target — a frame print is more likely to be 8×10 or 11×14 — so treat Letter's pixel counts as the requirement for a document image or a full-page photo layout.
For other common paper sizes, A4 size in pixels covers the international standard, and A3 size in pixels is the next size up. For a quick resolution check on any image, the print quality checker gives a verdict for the exact size you're planning. If you're choosing a resolution for a Letter print, the best DPI for printing guide has the practical targets.