Photo printing
4×6, 5×7 or 8×10? What each photo size crops
Compare three familiar print shapes using one 3000 × 2000 photo, with crop dimensions, retained area and orientation explained.
A photo that fills 4×6 does not automatically fill 5×7 or 8×10. Match width-to-height ratios before you decide whether to crop or leave borders.
Put width first and check orientation
Photo labels often put the shorter side first, regardless of orientation. In a calculator, width comes first. A landscape 4×6 print is 6 inches wide and 4 inches high, or 3:2. A portrait version is 4 inches wide and 6 inches high, or 2:3. Swapping those numbers can produce a much more severe crop than expected.
For this comparison, start with a 3000 × 2000 landscape image and keep all three prints landscape. The table compares exact, whole-pixel crops. The source is not stretched and no pixels are added.
| Finished print | Ratio | Exact crop | Area retained |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 × 4 in | 3:2 | 3000 × 2000 px | 100% |
| 7 × 5 in | 7:5 | 2800 × 2000 px | 93.33% |
| 10 × 8 in | 5:4 | 2500 × 2000 px | 83.33% |
See what is removed at each edge
For the 7 × 5 print, remove 200 pixels of width in total. A centered crop takes 100 from each side. For 10 × 8, remove 500 in total, or 250 from each side. The full 2000-pixel height remains in both examples.
Percent retained is an area calculation, not a composition score. A narrow strip can contain a hand, signature or important building edge. Use the calculated crop coordinates as a starting point, then inspect the actual image. An editor can reposition the crop while retaining the same shape; our exact crop calculator reports a centered version.
Understand the density at the finished size
The 3000 × 2000 file at 6 × 4 inches is 500 PPI. Its 2800 × 2000 crop at 7 × 5 inches is 400 PPI. Its 2500 × 2000 crop at 10 × 8 inches is 250 PPI. The lower density in the last case follows from spreading fewer remaining pixels over a larger area.
If your provider requires 300 PPI at 10 × 8, the desired canvas is 3000 × 2400. Resampling the crop to that size changes its pixel count but does not establish that the source contains equivalent detail. Keep that distinction clear when choosing between another source file, a smaller print and an enlargement.
Use borders when the edges matter
Fitting the complete 3:2 image inside a 10 × 8 opening makes it 10 × 6.6667 inches. Centered placement leaves about 0.6667 inches at both the top and bottom. That preserves the image but creates a different presentation from a full-coverage print.
A mat, border or custom print size may be a better choice than removing meaningful content. Check the visible frame opening: the nominal frame or sheet size can differ from the area that remains visible after mounting.
Check the order preview
Before ordering, verify orientation, crop position, borders and whether the lab applies an additional borderless enlargement. Do not rely on a small thumbnail to reveal a clipped edge. Review a larger preview where possible and retain the exact export used for the order.
For a set of photographs, repeat the check for each file. Matching camera settings do not guarantee matching ratios after individual edits. A uniform set of frames can require different crop decisions for every image.
Sources & further reading
These references support the definitions. The calculations and examples in this article are original; printer-specific requirements must be checked with your provider.
Our editorial and correction policy →Try it with your numbers
Image Crop Calculator
Find the largest exact whole-pixel crop for a chosen ratio, including centered crop coordinates and the image area retained.
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