Photo Crop Calculator
Find out how much of your photo to crop so it fits a print size exactly. Enter the image pixels and choose the print aspect ratio - the tool shows the crop dimensions and what remains after cropping.
How cropping works
The tool keeps the full width or full height and trims only the dimension that is too long for the target ratio. If the image is wider than the target (for example a 3:2 image going to 1:1), it crops the sides; if the image is taller than the target, it crops the top and bottom.
When to use this calculator
- Ordering a print with a different aspect ratio from the camera file.
- Filling a canvas or frame size without stretching the photo.
- Preparing an image for a square social post or a 4:5 portrait layout.
- Checking how many megapixels remain after cropping, before committing to a print size.
Worked examples
- 6000 × 4000 (3:2) to 1:1: crop to 4000 × 4000 px, keeping about 66.7% of the pixels.
- 6000 × 4000 (3:2) to 4:5 portrait: crop the width to 3200 px, leaving 3200 × 4000 px and about 53.3% of the pixels.
- 6000 × 4000 (3:2) to 16:9: crop the height to 3375 px, leaving 6000 × 3375 px and about 84.4% of the pixels.
- 4000 × 4000 (1:1) to 4:5: crop the width to 3200 px, leaving 3200 × 4000 px.
How print labs crop your photo
If you do not crop to the product ratio yourself, most labs apply a centre crop: they keep the middle and trim the excess from both sides. That often cuts off the top of a head, a hand or an important object at the edge. Cropping yourself gives you control over what stays in the frame, and the tool here shows the exact pixel dimensions to use.
Check the print size after cropping
Cropping reduces the total pixel count, which in turn reduces the maximum print size. The tool reports the remaining megapixels so you can verify that the result still meets the requirement. For example, a 24 MP file cropped to 53% leaves about 12.8 MP, which still covers a 16 × 20 in canvas at 200 DPI but not at 300 DPI.
Common mistakes
- Cropping after exporting, which can reintroduce the wrong ratio when the file is resized.
- Cropping to a ratio that removes essential content, such as a group photo where people sit at the edges.
- Forgetting that the remaining megapixels, not the original count, determine the print size.
- Using a non-destructive crop in an editor but exporting the full frame by mistake.
Related tools
Aspect ratio calculator · How big can I print? · Prepare images for print
Frequently asked questions
Why does my print service crop my photo?
Because the photo ratio does not match the paper ratio. If you do not crop it yourself, the service crops automatically - usually from the centre - and you may lose the edges you wanted to keep.
How do I crop a 6000 × 4000 photo to 4 × 6 (3:2)?
The photo is already 3:2 (6000 ÷ 4000 = 1.5), so no crop is needed. If the photo were 6000 × 3375 (16:9), it would be wider than 3:2, so you would crop the width down to about 5063 px while keeping the 3375 px height.
Does cropping reduce image quality?
Cropping removes pixels but does not degrade the remaining pixels. The cropped image has fewer megapixels, so check that the remaining size still meets the DPI requirement for your print.