300 vs 150 vs 72 DPI: A Real Print Test at 30 cm

By Jet Hu · Last updated: October 23, 2026

Most DPI comparisons online are computer renders. This test uses actual printed sheets: the same test chart was prepared at 300, 150 and 72 DPI, printed on the same paper in the same batch, then photographed from 30 cm.

Test conditions

Print service	Taobao print shop (same seller for all sheets)
Paper	RC luster (velvet) photo paper; GSM not listed by the seller
Ink	Canon pigment ink, described in the listing as water-resistant and fade-resistant
Batch	5 prints, same shop, same paper, same batch, total cost RMB 24.5
Scale	Printed at 100%; no automatic scaling or cropping
Photo distance	30 cm close-up only

Scope: this page only describes what the prints look like at 30 cm. We did not photograph them at 1 m or 3 m, so we make no claims about wall-viewing distance here.

What was on the test chart

Each sheet contained a text ladder from 5 pt to 20 pt, line pairs from 0.4 pt to 4 pt pitch, a 21-step grayscale wedge, 12 colour patches, a smooth gradient, a fine circular detail pattern and a photo-like scene. The full test file is linked at the bottom of this page.

Small text: actual result

Actual printed text ladders at 300, 150 and 72 DPI photographed at 30 cm — Same text chart at 300, 150 and 72 DPI, photographed at 30 cm. The photos are crops of real prints, not computer renders.

Target DPI	5-6 pt text	10 pt and larger	Overall close-up impression
300 DPI	Sharp; individual strokes remain clear	Very clear	Closest to a professional print
150 DPI	Slight softening; some curves show steps	Still comfortable to read	Usable, but visibly less crisp
72 DPI	Blurred; strokes begin to merge	Readable but soft	Clearly unsuitable for small print text

Fine lines: actual result

Actual printed line-pair patterns at 300, 150 and 72 DPI photographed at 30 cm — Line-pair crops from the same three A4 prints. The finest patterns collapse first at lower DPI.

At 300 DPI, the finer line pairs remain separated. At 150 DPI, patterns below about 1.5 pt pitch begin to merge at this close distance. At 72 DPI, only the coarser 3-4 pt patterns remain clearly separated. This is expected: a line pair needs enough pixels per cycle to survive reproduction.

What this means in practice

Use 300 DPI for business cards, brochures, small photo prints and anything with 5-8 pt text that will be read in the hand.
Use 150 DPI for posters, large canvas and graphics viewed from farther away - but this test did not measure those distances. At 30 cm, 150 DPI is visibly softer.
Avoid 72 DPI for print. It is a screen convention; small text and fine lines lose structure on paper.

Limitations

Only one printer, one paper and one batch were tested.
Paper GSM was not listed, so paper thickness cannot be compared.
Photos capture lighting and paper texture; they are not flatbed scans.
Only 30 cm viewing distance was photographed.

Test files and related tools

This test used the free PrintSizer test chart. You can check your own print size with the print size calculator, compare actual PPI with the print PPI calculator, or read the full test methodology.

Frequently asked questions

Is 150 DPI good enough for a poster?

It can be, especially when viewed from a distance, but this test only evaluated 30 cm close-up. For a poster, ask the printer for the required DPI and judge it at the intended viewing distance.

Why does 72 DPI look so bad on paper?

72 DPI provides very few pixels per inch. At A4 size it contains only 595 x 842 pixels, so a printer has to enlarge the image substantially, which softens text and merges fine lines.

Are these photos edited?

The photos were cropped, resized for the web and assembled into comparison panels. No sharpening or retouching was applied to the printed areas.