PX to CM Converter: Screen Pixels to Print Measurements Explained
Learn how to accurately convert pixels to centimeters for print design. Covers DPI, screen resolution, and provides a free converter with adjustable settings.
Why Convert Pixels to Centimeters?
Pixels are screen units. Centimeters are physical units. When you need to create web designs that will be printed (business cards, flyers, posters) or when you need to match physical dimensions on screen, you need to convert between the two.
The Conversion Formula
CM = PX / DPI x 2.54
Where:
PX = pixel value
DPI = dots per inch (screen or print resolution)
2.54 = centimeters per inch
At 96 DPI (standard screen):
100px = 100 / 96 x 2.54 = 2.646 cm
300px = 300 / 96 x 2.54 = 7.938 cm
At 300 DPI (standard print):
100px = 100 / 300 x 2.54 = 0.847 cm
300px = 300 / 300 x 2.54 = 2.540 cmCommon DPI Values
| DPI | Use Case |
|---|---|
| 72 DPI | Old Mac screens, web images (legacy) |
| 96 DPI | Standard Windows screens, web default |
| 150 DPI | Low-quality print |
| 300 DPI | Standard print quality (business cards, flyers) |
| 600 DPI | High-quality print |
Key insight: The same pixel image looks physically larger on a low-DPI screen and smaller on a high-DPI screen. A 300px image is 7.9 cm on a 96 DPI screen but only 2.5 cm when printed at 300 DPI.
Common Print Dimensions in Pixels
| Item | Physical Size | Pixels at 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|
| Business card | 8.5 x 5.5 cm | 1004 x 650 px |
| A4 paper | 21 x 29.7 cm | 2480 x 3508 px |
| Instagram post | 10.8 x 10.8 cm | 1080 x 1080 px |
| Letter paper | 21.6 x 27.9 cm | 2550 x 3300 px |
Free PX to CM Converter
Convert pixels to centimeters with adjustable DPI for screen or print.
Try it freeRelated Articles
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