Convert Dots per pixel to Dots per inch

Convert Dots per pixel (dppx) to Dots per inch (DPI) instantly and accurately.

Conversion Formula

DPI = dppx × 96

About Dots per pixel

The dot per CSS-pixel unit (dppx, or the x descriptor in CSS) is defined in W3C CSS Images Level 3 / Media Queries Level 4 as the ratio of physical device pixels to CSS reference pixels, where the CSS spec fixes 1 CSS inch ≡ 96 CSS px exactly. Therefore 1 dppx = 96 DPI = 96 PPI exactly; a screen reporting device pixel ratio (DPR) of 2 has 2 dppx = 192 physical dots per CSS inch. JavaScript exposes DPR as window.devicePixelRatio, numerically equal to dppx. Reference values: standard laptop (96-110 PPI): 1 dppx; MacBook Pro 13-inch Retina (227 PPI): 2 dppx; iPhone 15 Pro 6.1-inch (460 PPI): 3 dppx; Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (501 PPI): ≈ 3.09 dppx. The HTML img srcset x descriptor (photo@2x.jpg 2x) is numerically equal to dppx, serving higher-resolution images for HiDPI screens. The CSS @media (min-resolution: 2dppx) query targets any display with DPR ≥ 2. 1 dppx = 96 DPI = 96 PPI.

About Dots per inch

The dot per inch (DPI) is the standard resolution metric for printed output, specifying how many individual ink or toner dots a printing device places per linear inch. Unlike a pixel, a printed dot is a physical deposit of ink variable in size and subject to dot gain (ink spread into substrate). Inkjet photo printers: Epson SureColor SC-P900 up to 5760 DPI; HP DesignJet Z9+Pro at 2400 DPI. Laser printers: HP LaserJet standard 600 DPI; enterprise class 1200 DPI. Offset CTP plate imaging: 2400-3600 DPI. Rule of thumb: required DPI ≥ 1.5 × LPI for acceptable halftone; ≥ 2 × LPI for high quality - a 175 lpi magazine job needs ≥ 350 DPI raster data. Thermal dye-sublimation printers achieve continuous-tone output at 300 DPI because dye diffuses to fill each cell. As a dimensional unit, 1 DPI = 1 PPI; DPI implies physical print output. 1 DPI = 2.54 dots/cm = 25.4 dots/mm.

Quick Reference Table

→ Full Image Resolution Converter