Boneyard Tools

Megapixel Calculator

Convert between pixel dimensions and megapixels in either direction. Enter a width and height to get the megapixel count and total pixels, or enter a target megapixel figure and an aspect ratio to get the exact pixel grid that hits it. One megapixel is one million pixels, so a 6000 by 4000 image is 24 MP.

How to use the megapixel calculator

  1. Choose a tab: Pixels to MP or MP to pixels.
  2. For Pixels to MP, enter the pixel width and height.
  3. For MP to pixels, click an aspect preset such as 3:2 or type the aspect terms.
  4. In MP to pixels, enter the target megapixel count.
  5. Read the megapixels, total pixels and pixel dimensions cards.
  6. Press Copy to save the result line.

Examples

Pixels to megapixels

6000 x 4000 pixels
24 MP, 24,000,000 pixels

Target megapixels at 3:2

12 MP at 3:2
4243 x 2829 px (12,003,447 pixels)

Target megapixels at 1:1

16 MP at 1:1
4000 x 4000 px, 16 MP

Frequently asked questions

What is a megapixel?

A megapixel is one million pixels. You get the megapixel count by multiplying the pixel width by the pixel height and dividing by one million, so it measures the total number of pixels in the image, not its sharpness.

How many megapixels is 6000 by 4000?

6000 times 4000 is 24,000,000 pixels, which is 24 megapixels. That is a common full-frame sensor resolution at a 3:2 aspect ratio.

How do I find pixel dimensions from a megapixel target?

Multiply the target megapixels by one million and by the aspect width over the aspect height, then take the square root for the pixel width. The height follows from the aspect ratio. The tool does this for you and rounds to whole pixels.

Why do the recomputed megapixels differ slightly from my target?

Pixel dimensions must be whole numbers, so the rounded grid lands a little above or below the exact target. A 12 MP request at 3:2 resolves to 4243 by 2829, which is 12,003,447 pixels, a hair over 12 MP.

What does the aspect ratio change?

The aspect ratio sets the shape of the pixel grid for a given megapixel count. At the same megapixels, a 3:2 grid is wider and shorter than a 1:1 square, so both hold the same number of pixels arranged differently.

Do more megapixels mean a better photo?

Not on their own. Megapixels set the maximum print and crop size, but lens quality, sensor size, dynamic range and light matter just as much. A larger sensor at fewer megapixels often beats a small sensor crammed with more.

How do megapixels relate to print size?

Divide each pixel dimension by your print resolution in DPI to get the print size. A 24 MP image at 6000 by 4000 pixels prints 20 by 13.3 inches at 300 DPI. A dedicated print resolution calculator handles the DPI math.

What megapixel counts do common cameras have?

Many phones and cameras cluster around 12, 24 and 48 megapixels, while high-resolution bodies reach 45 to 60 and beyond. Enter a camera's pixel dimensions to see exactly where it lands.

Is anything uploaded?

No. The calculation runs in your browser, so the dimensions and targets you enter never leave your device.

Learn more

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