Printed size, fit and resolution for plotting drawings

Drawing & output

Real-world width (m)
m
Real-world height (m)
m
Drawing scale (1:N)
1:

Printed size = real size ÷ scale. Print at 100% (no "fit to page") to keep the scale true.

Print output

Printed size
mm
Raster size at this DPI
px
Fit on sheet
Fits with margin to spare


About Print Scale & DPI

The print scale and DPI calculator tells you how big a drawing prints at a given scale and whether it fits your sheet. Enter the real-world width and height of what you are drawing, the drawing scale as 1:N, and a target sheet — the tool returns the printed size in millimeters and a clear fit verdict.

The core relationship is simple: printed size equals real size divided by the scale. A 20 m building at 1:100 prints 200 mm wide, comfortably on A3 in landscape but tight on A4. The fit verdict distinguishes fitting with margin to spare, fitting with little margin, and being too large for the chosen sheet.

A DPI setting adds the raster dimension: the tool converts the printed size into pixels at your chosen print resolution, which is what you need when exporting a plan as an image. For crisp line work, export at 300 DPI or higher. It runs free in your browser — and remember to print at 100%, never “fit to page,” to keep the scale true.

How to use Print Scale & DPI

  1. Enter the real-world width and height of the drawing content, in meters.
  2. Set the drawing scale as 1:N — for example 100 for a 1:100 plan.
  3. Choose the target sheet and the print resolution in DPI.
  4. Read the printed size, the fit verdict, and the raster size in pixels at that DPI.

Frequently asked questions

Divide the real dimension by the scale factor: printed size = real size ÷ N. A 15 m facade at 1:50 prints 300 mm wide; at 1:100 it would be 150 mm.

Work backwards from the sheet: A3 is 420 × 297 mm, so a 25 m plan needs at least 1:60 — in practice the next standard scale, 1:100, with room for dimensions and a title block. Adjust N until the verdict shows a comfortable fit.

Dots per inch — how many pixels map to each printed inch. The tool multiplies the printed size by the DPI to give the raster size in pixels; 300 DPI is the usual minimum for crisp line work, and higher helps fine hatching.

Because “fit to page” rescales the drawing by an arbitrary factor, silently breaking the stated scale — a 1:100 plan shrunk to 94% is no longer measurable. Set the print dialog to 100% / actual size and choose a sheet the drawing actually fits.

Move to a smaller scale (a larger N), split the plan across multiple sheets with match lines, or plot on a larger format. The fit verdict updates live, so you can test scales until one works.

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