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18x24 Poster Size in Pixels at 300 DPI
An 18×24 poster at 300 DPI needs 5400×7200 pixels. That's a 3:4 ratio, the same family as 12×16 — not 2:3, not 4:5. Here's how to crop it right.
Direct answer
An 18×24 inch poster at 300 DPI comes out to 5400×7200 pixels in portrait, or 7200×5400 in landscape. That's because 18÷24 simplifies to 3:4 — the same ratio family as 12×16 and 9×12. To hit it cleanly, crop to 3:4 around your subject so the short side still has at least 5400 pixels left after cropping. Don't stretch a 2:3 or 4:5 file to fit; it will look distorted or soft.
18×24 is the classic American movie-poster size — the one people recognize instantly from theater lobbies. That familiarity is exactly what trips sellers up on Etsy, where it gets confused with 16×20 and with 18×24 'digital downloads' that were never actually 5400 pixels wide. The frame itself is unforgiving: boxier than 12×18, taller than 16×20.
If your original photo can't deliver 5400 pixels on the short side after cropping, don't force it. Sell 12×16 instead — same 3:4 ratio, same composition, just an honest 3600×4800 file at real 300 DPI.
- 1
Check your short side
Confirm you have at least 5400 px after cropping. If not, offer 12×16 instead.
- 2
Crop to 3:4
Not 2:3, not 4:5 — the ratio has to match exactly.
- 3
Resize to 5400×7200
Flip to 7200×5400 if you're printing landscape 24×18.
- 4
Tag it 300 DPI
Export as a high-quality JPG in sRGB.
The 3:4 size ladder
Every size in this family scales the same way: 9×12 is 2700×3600, 12×16 is 3600×4800, and 18×24 is 5400×7200. All three are 3:4. Two sizes that sound close but aren't: 16×24, which is 2:3, and 16×20, which is 4:5. Three different crop windows, three different results.
ISO A2 isn't 3:4 either, so resist the urge to stretch an 18×24 file to fit it — you'll distort the image.
| Size | Portrait pixels |
|---|---|
| 9 × 12 in | 2700 × 3600 |
| 12 × 16 in | 3600 × 4800 |
| 18 × 24 in | 5400 × 7200 |
Crop first, then check your original
A typical 6000×4000 landscape camera file is 3:2, not 3:4. Getting to a portrait 18×24 isn't a matter of rotating the file — you need an actual portrait-oriented crop, and that means losing some width. Many landscape paintings simply can't fill an 18×24 portrait frame without cutting off the sides. If that's your situation, list it as landscape 24×18 instead.
Use the focal-point method to pin your subject before cropping. 3:4 keeps more of the short sides than a 2:3 crop, but less than 4:5.
Export 18×24 in Studio
Open Studio, add an 18 × 24 in canvas, and hit Export Artwork. Selling both an 18×24 and a 12×16 of the same piece is a smart pairing — Pro unlocks batch ZIP exports for $33 lifetime, no subscription.
Movie posters vs. art prints
Theatrical one-sheets often reserve empty space at the bottom for the billing block — cast names, studio logos, that sort of thing. Don't copy that empty band into your art print unless it's genuinely part of the composition. Crop to the art itself, not to a Hollywood template you found on Pinterest.
If your print-on-demand partner's template lists exact pixels that don't match 5400×7200, follow the template. Their PDF beats any generic blog table, including this one.
FAQ: 18x24 poster size pixels 300 DPI
How many pixels is 18x24 at 300 DPI?+
5400×7200 pixels in portrait, or 7200×5400 in landscape.
Is 18x24 the same ratio as 16x20?+
No. 18×24 is 3:4, while 16×20 is 4:5 — a visibly different crop.
Is 18x24 the same ratio as 12x16?+
Yes, both are 3:4. 12×16 is just smaller (3600×4800). Scaling a 12×16 file up to 18×24 without a bigger original only gets you about 200 DPI.
What pixel size does 18x24 need at 150 DPI?+
2700×3600 pixels. Only use 150 DPI if your fabric or mural template specifically calls for it.
