What resolution do I need for banners, posters and boards?
For banners, boards, roller banners and posters A2 and larger, images should be at least 150dpi at the size they will be printed. Large prints are seen from further away, so they need less detail per inch. Everything else, including posters smaller than A2, needs 300dpi.
Why it matters on big prints
A photo that looks sharp on screen may only have enough pixels for a postcard. Stretched to banner size, it turns soft or blocky. Check the real size of your images before designing:
| Printed size | Pixels needed at 150dpi (about) |
|---|---|
| A2 poster (420 x 594mm) | 2,480 x 3,508 |
| A1 poster (594 x 841mm) | 3,508 x 4,967 |
| A0 poster (841 x 1189mm) | 4,967 x 7,022 |
| Roller banner (850 x 2000mm) | 5,020 x 11,811 |
| PVC banner (3000 x 1000mm) | 17,717 x 5,906 |
For other sizes, multiply the width and height in millimetres by 5.9 to get the pixels needed at 150dpi. An A3 poster is smaller than A2, so it needs 300dpi: about 3,508 x 4,961 pixels.
Tips
- Use vector artwork for logos and text wherever you can. Vectors stay sharp at any size.
- Don’t enlarge a small photo in your design software to “make” it 150dpi; that adds pixels without adding detail.
- Large files are fine. If your PDF is too big to upload, email us a download link (for example WeTransfer or Dropbox).
Our artwork check flags images that are too low resolution before anything is printed. See also What resolution does my artwork need to be?
For posters, the artwork size checker gives the pixel size you need at 150dpi, and the file checker tests your PDF against it. Choose “Banner, board or roller banner” in the file checker for those products.