What Is DPI? Dots Per Inch Explained

DPI stands for Dots Per Inch. It measures how many individual dots (pixels) fit within one linear inch of space. It is the fundamental measure of resolution — higher DPI means more detail per inch.

• 72 DPI — Standard for web and screen design since the 1984 Macintosh. 1 inch = 72 pixels.
• 96 DPI — Windows default and CSS standard. 1 CSS inch = 96 pixels regardless of actual screen resolution.
• 150 DPI — Mid-range resolution. Common for draft prints, newspapers, and large-format banners.
• 300 DPI — Professional print standard. The gold standard for magazines, brochures, and photo prints.
• 600 DPI — Ultra-high resolution for fine art reproduction and archival document scanning.

For web and screen design, use 72-96 DPI. For anything that will be printed and viewed up close, use 300 DPI. For large-format materials viewed from a distance (banners, posters), 150 DPI is sufficient. The key rule: higher DPI = sharper output but larger file sizes.