Aspect Ratio Crop Calculator
Calculate the exact pixel dimensions to crop an image to any aspect ratio without distortion.
Perfect for social media, printing, and video.
Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between an image’s width and height. Understanding aspect ratios prevents distorted images when cropping for different platforms, prints, or video formats.
Common aspect ratios and their uses:
| Aspect Ratio | Typical Use |
|---|---|
| 1:1 | Instagram square post, profile pictures |
| 4:3 | Classic photography, iPad screen |
| 3:2 | Full-frame camera standard (35mm film) |
| 16:9 | YouTube, widescreen TV, most monitors |
| 9:16 | Instagram/TikTok Stories, vertical video |
| 4:5 | Instagram portrait post (optimal engagement ratio) |
| 2:3 | Portrait prints (4×6, 8×12 inches) |
| 5:4 | 8×10 inch print, 5×4 medium format |
| 21:9 | Ultrawide monitors, cinematic video |
How the crop formula works: Given your original image dimensions (W × H) and a target aspect ratio (Wr:Hr):
If the original is wider than the target ratio relative to height:
- Crop to height: H (unchanged), Width = H × (Wr/Hr)
If the original is taller than the target ratio:
- Crop to width: W (unchanged), Height = W × (Hr/Wr)
The center crop preserves the center of the original image. You may shift the crop to keep important subjects in frame.
Print dimensions in pixels: To calculate the pixel dimensions needed for a print at a specific DPI (dots per inch): Pixels = Print size in inches × DPI
For high-quality prints, 300 DPI is standard. For web display, 72–150 DPI is sufficient.
| Print size | 300 DPI pixels needed |
|---|---|
| 4×6 in | 1200 × 1800 |
| 5×7 in | 1500 × 2100 |
| 8×10 in | 2400 × 3000 |
| 11×14 in | 3300 × 4200 |
| 16×20 in | 4800 × 6000 |
| 20×30 in | 6000 × 9000 |
Always crop from the original file, not a previously exported or compressed version — each generation of lossy compression (JPEG) degrades quality.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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