Viewing Distance Calculator

Calculate the optimal viewing distance for a print based on its size and PPI. Find the minimum distance where pixels are invisible.

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How It Works

The optimal viewing distance is where individual pixels become invisible to the human eye. A person with 20/20 vision can resolve about 1 arcminute (1/60 degree). For a 200 PPI print, pixels disappear at roughly 2.9 feet. Gallery standard is to view from a distance equal to the print diagonal. This is why large wall prints do not need 300 PPI; a 24x36 print viewed from 5 feet only needs about 120 PPI to look sharp.