Print files
4x6 vs 5x7 vs 8x10: Which Print Size Should You Sell?
4×6 is 2:3 (1200×1800 at 300 DPI). 5×7 is 5:7 (1500×2100). 8×10 is 4:5 (2400×3000). They’re three different crops, not three sizes of the same JPEG.
Direct answer
Pick 4×6 when your photo is 2:3 (a typical camera landscape) and you want a cheap, gift-style print at 1200×1800 pixels (300 DPI). Pick 5×7 (1500×2100) for a slightly taller handheld print. Pick 8×10 (2400×3000) for the standard US frame, which is 4:5. If you’re listing all three, export each one from the same focal point — never stretch one file to fit another shape.
Drugstore prints trained us to think of 4×6 as “the photo.” Etsy frames trained us to think of 8×10 as “the print.” They’re different shapes, and 5×7 sits right in the middle, matching neither one.
If you only have time for one gift-size SKU in the US, 8×10 frames are the easiest for buyers to find. If your art is a wide landscape, 4×6 might waste less of the scene.
Three rectangles, not one photo scaled three ways
4×6 is 2:3. 5×7 is roughly 1:1.4. 8×10 is 4:5. 11×14 is a different shape again. None of these sizes are interchangeable without adding a mat.
8×10 · 4:5
11×14
12×18 · 2:3
16×20 · 4:5
| Size | Ratio | Portrait pixels |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in | 2:3 | 1200 × 1800 |
| 5 × 7 in | 5:7 | 1500 × 2100 |
| 8 × 10 in | 4:5 | 2400 × 3000 |
What each crop cuts off
From a 2:3 original, 4×6 keeps the whole scene, while 8×10 trims the sides (or top and bottom if you rotate it). From a 4:5 original, 8×10 is a natural fit, but 4×6 needs extra height you may not have. Pin the subject once and preview all three sizes in Studio.
Even small prints need real 300 DPI pixels
A 4×6 sits close to the eye, in someone’s hand. 1200×1800 is the floor, not a suggestion, and a 640-pixel Facebook save won’t get you there. Instagram downloads usually fail even this small size.
Export all three sizes without reopening Photoshop
Add 4×6, 5×7, and 8×10 as custom ratios and hit Export Artwork. That’s exactly what the free plan covers: 3 ratios on 1 image per day. Pro ($33 lifetime) is for when you’re doing this across fifty wedding photos instead of one.
FAQ: 4x6 vs 5x7 vs 8x10
Is 4x6 the same as 8x10?+
No. 4×6 is 2:3 and 8×10 is 4:5. Doubling a 4×6 crop doesn’t produce an 8×10.
Which is better for portraits, 5x7 or 8x10?+
8×10 is the more common US frame size. 5×7 crops tighter on the face. Preview both from the same pin before deciding.
Can I put a 4x6 print in an 8x10 frame?+
Only with a mat — the print will sit in the middle with a wide border around it.
How many pixels is 4x6 at 300 DPI?+
1200×1800 pixels in portrait orientation, or 1800×1200 in landscape.
