How much can I enlarge a photo?

It depends on the original resolution. A 24MP image at 300 DPI prints at about 51x34cm. Enlarging to 102x68cm (2x) drops to 150 DPI — still acceptable. Enlarging to 4x drops to 75 DPI, which is only suitable for very large prints viewed from several metres. AI upscaling can improve quality by 2-4x.

Does enlargement always reduce quality?

Yes — enlarging beyond native resolution means interpolating (inventing) pixel data. The image becomes softer and fine details are lost. Modern AI upscalers (Topaz Gigapixel, Adobe Super Resolution) do an excellent job of adding believable detail, but cannot recreate information that was never captured.

What is the maximum useful enlargement?

For photographic prints, 2-3x enlargement from native resolution typically produces acceptable results. With AI upscaling, 4-6x can look good. Beyond that, the image becomes noticeably soft. Subject matter matters — soft landscapes enlarge better than images requiring fine detail (text, architecture).

How does print medium affect enlargement?

Canvas and textured papers hide enlargement artefacts better than glossy photo paper. The texture of canvas masks individual pixels and softness. Glossy paper reveals every detail, so requires higher resolution. For large enlargements, consider canvas or fine art papers with texture.

PhotoCalcs

Enlargement Calculator — Scaling Quality

Calculate the enlargement factor and quality impact when scaling a print to a larger size.

Original Width

Original Height

Target Width

Desired print width

Original DPI

DPI at original size

How We Calculate This

Enlargement Factor

Factor = target size / original size

New DPI

New DPI = original DPI / enlargement factor

Each 2x enlargement halves the DPI. Quality assessment is based on the resulting DPI and typical viewing distances.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard optical and photographic formulas. Results may vary with specific equipment.