Free PDF DPI Checker
Print shops need images at 300 DPI (dots per inch) or higher. Anything below 200 DPI can look blurry or pixelated on paper. But a high pixel count doesn't guarantee high DPI — what matters is the effective resolution: how many pixels per inch the image lands at on the printed page.
Our DPI checker extracts every raster image from your PDF, calculates its effective DPI based on placed dimensions, and flags anything under your threshold — whether that's the standard 300 or a destination-specific minimum.
What the checker looks for
- ▸Effective DPI for every embedded image, not just pixel dimensions.
- ▸Placed size in inches — see exactly how large each image prints.
- ▸Page-by-page breakdown so you find the problem image fast.
- ▸Visual DPI callout overlay on the preview — low-res images are circled in red.
DPI thresholds by use case
| Use case | Minimum DPI |
|---|---|
| Photo books, art prints | 300 |
| Business cards, brochures | 300 |
| Posters, banners (viewed at a distance) | 150–200 |
| Large-format signage | 72–150 |