How Big Is a 4x6 Photo? (Size in Pixels, Inches, Cm) • PhotoTraces (2024)

Are you trying to figure out how big is a 4×6 photo? If so, then you have come to the right place. This article will give you all the information about the size of 4×6 photos in different units, their aspect ratio, and recommended resolution for printing.

The dimensions of a 4×6 photo are approximately 4 inches by 6 inches or 4″ x 5 ⅞” (10 x 15cm / 101.6 x 152.4 mm), to be precise. This standard print size mirrors the aspect ratio of the image sensor of most digital cameras.

However, there is an exception when it comes to smartphones. Smartphones have a 4:3 aspect ratio, meaning you must crop their photos to fit into a 4×6 format.

How Big Is a 4x6 Photo? (Size in Pixels, Inches, Cm) • PhotoTraces (1)

Table of Contents

How Big Is a 4×6 Photo in Centimeters?

10cm x 15cm

A centimeter is a metric unit of measurement. There are 2.54 centimeters in an inch. To find out how many centimeters are in a 4×6 photo, we need to multiply 4 by 2.54 and 6 by 2.54.

How Big Is a 4×6 Photo in Millimeters?

101.6 x 152.4 mm

There are 25.4 millimeters in an inch. Using inches to find the size of a 4×6 photo in millimeters, we would multiply 4 inches by 25.4 to get 101.6 millimeters in width and 6 inches by 25.4 to get 152.4 millimeters in height.

How Big Is a 4x6 Photo? (Size in Pixels, Inches, Cm) • PhotoTraces (2)

How Big Is a 4×6 Photo in Pixels?

Pixels are the smallest units of measurement when it comes to digital images or graphics displayed on digital screens. The pixel dimension of a 4×6 photo varies depending on the image resolution.

  • At screen resolution (72ppi) – 432 x 288 pixels
  • At medium resolution (150ppi) – 1200 x 900 pixels
  • At high resolution (300ppi) – 1800 x 1200 pixels

The Origins Of the 4×6 Print Size

You might ask yourself, “Why is the 4×6 photo size the standard size?” The answer to this question lies in the history of photography and printing.

In the early days of photography, film photography was the most common type, and the standard cameras used 35mm film. 35mm film produced negatives with a width-to-height ratio of 3:2.

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Many digital camera companies later adopted this aspect ratio for their camera sensors. The 4×6 photo has an identical 3:2 aspect ratio to 35mm film and APS-C and Full Frame digital sensors.

What Is the Best Resolution for Printing 4×6 Photos?

  • 900 x 600 pixels (150ppi) is the ideal resolution for the most online printing services
  • 1800 x 1200 pixels (300ppi) might be required by high-end offset printing services
  • 700 x 500 pixels (125ppi) is a minimum requirement for printing 4×6 photos.
How Big Is a 4x6 Photo? (Size in Pixels, Inches, Cm) • PhotoTraces (4)

Read also: Matte vs Glossy Photos: When, Why and How

What Aspect Ratio Is a 4×6 Photo?

In photography, the aspect ratio is a proportional relationship between a picture’s dimensions, width, and height. It is expressed as two numbers separated by a colon. A photograph with a 1:1 aspect ratio is a square. A 2:1 ratio would be a photo twice as wide as tall.

The aspect ratio of a 4×6 photo is 3:2, which is the same aspect ratio as a 35mm negative or slide.

The aspect ratio of a 4×6 photo is also the same as that of digital cameras with APS-C and Full-frame sensors.

How to Change the Aspect Ratio of Photo

If you shoot with a camera or a mobile phone with a 4×3 aspect ratio, you need to adjust it to the 3×2 ratio before printing 4×6 photos.

I recommend changing the aspect ratio in post-processing rather than in the camera. This will give you the freedom to compose the photograph and adjust its contents if you change your mind about whether you want to use a particular aspect ratio.

There are many editing programs available to enhance photos. Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop are the industry standard, but many others have similar capabilities. Even cell phones frequently have an editing software that allows you to change the aspect ratio of any given photo.

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Whatever program you use, when you select “Crop”, there should be a drop down menu that asks you what aspect ratio you’d like to set the cropping tool to.

How Big Is a 4×6 Photo? | Conclusion

4×6 printing size is a great format for many purposes. They are not too big or too small and can easily be stored and displayed. Make sure you print them at the correct resolution and aspect ratio; you will get fantastic quality prints.

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FAQs

What size is a 4x6cm photo? ›

The equivalent of a 4x6 cm passport picture is a 40x60 mm photo (i.e. photo with a width of 4 cm and height of 6 cm). 4x6 photo in inches is equal to 1,57 x 2,36”.

What is photo album size 4x6 in pixels? ›

How Big is a 4x6 Photo in Pixels? For digital images, the dimensions of a 4x6 photo in pixels depend on the resolution. At a standard resolution of 300 pixels per inch (PPI), a 4x6 photo would be 1200 pixels wide by 1800 pixels tall.

What is the size of 4x6 inch photo in resolution? ›

At 300 pixels per inch, a 4×6 photo is 1200 x 1800 pixels.

What is 4x6 inches format? ›

A 4x6 photo is printed on 4 inch by 6 inch paper. This size is a standard dimension for many photo printers, and is commonly used for printing snapshots and photos for photo albums.

What size image is best for 4x6 print? ›

Therefore, an image file should ideally measure at least 1200 pixels by 1800 pixels to print an excellent quality 4x6 print. This is because 4 inches x 300 dpi = 1200 pixels and 6 inches x 300 dpi = 1800 pixels. A megapixel (abbreviated MP) is a million pixels, usually referring to the image sensor of a digital camera.

How to print 4x6? ›

Gently slide the paper guide on your printer feed over to the 4-inch width position, or you may have a paper tray especially for 4” x 6” products. Some printers will automatically change for 4" x 6" printing when you adjust the paper guide, but in most printers, you will need to change the paper size in settings.

What size is 4x6 inch in cm? ›

To convert inches to centimeters, we use the conversion factor of 1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters. Thus, a 4x6 photo measures approximately 10.16 centimeters in width and 15.24 centimeters in height.

How many cm is 4x6 in frame? ›

Frames 4x6 inches (10.2x15. 2 cm)

What resolution do I need for a 4x6 print? ›

Therefore, an image file should ideally measure at least 1200 pixels by 1800 pixels to print an excellent quality 4x6 print. This is because 4 inches x 300 dpi = 1200 pixels and 6 inches x 300 dpi = 1800 pixels. A megapixel (abbreviated MP) is a million pixels, usually referring to the image sensor of a digital camera.

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