Free tool
Is your image sharp enough to print?
Amazon KDP expects 300DPI at final print size. Drop an image in and this tells you what it actually measures at your trim — and how many pixels you would need. Everything happens in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Too low for print
117 DPI
1024×1024 px across 8.750×8.750 in. KDP expects 300 DPI, which needs 2625×2625 px.
Most image models top out at 1,024–1,536 px, so this result is normal for AI-generated art. Resampling to 2625×2625px clears KDP’s check and removes the visible pixel grid at print size — though it cannot add detail that was never generated.
What 300 DPI actually requires
Pixels needed for a full-bleed page, including 0.125in of bleed on each outer edge — alongside what a typical AI-generated image delivers at that size.
| Trim | Needs | 1024px gives | 1536px gives |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5" × 8.5" square picture book | 2625×2625 | 117 DPI | 176 DPI |
| 8" × 8" square picture book | 2475×2475 | 124 DPI | 186 DPI |
| 8.5" × 11" activity book | 2625×3375 | 91 DPI | 137 DPI |
| 6" × 9" chapter book | 1875×2775 | 111 DPI | 166 DPI |
| 7" × 10" | 2175×3075 | 100 DPI | 150 DPI |
Every AI-generated figure in that table is below target. That is normal, and it is why resampling on export matters — it is the difference between a book that prints acceptably and one KDP flags at upload.
How the number is worked out
DPI = min(pixel width ÷ inches wide, pixel height ÷ inches tall) full-bleed page = trim + 0.125 in on each outer edge
The worse of the two axes governs, because a wide but short image is still soft vertically.
Frequently asked questions
- What resolution does Amazon KDP require?
- 300 DPI at final print size. KDP's previewer flags images below that as low resolution at upload. It is a recommendation rather than a hard block for the interior, but printed results at much lower resolution look visibly soft.
- Why is my AI-generated image only 117 DPI?
- Because image models cap out at around 1,024 to 1,536 pixels on the long edge. Spread across an 8.75 in bleed page that works out at roughly 117 DPI. It is arithmetic, not a fault in the image — the pixels were never generated.
- Can I upscale an image to fix low resolution?
- Partly. Resampling to the target pixel dimensions clears KDP's resolution check and removes the visible pixel grid at print size. It cannot invent detail that was never generated, so treat it as damage control rather than an improvement.
- Does the same requirement apply to ebooks?
- No. Ebook images are viewed on screen, where far lower resolution is fine. The 300 DPI requirement is about print.
- Should I include bleed when checking resolution?
- Yes, if the art runs to the edge of the page. Bleed adds 0.125 in on each outer edge, so the image has to cover a larger physical area than the trim size — which lowers its effective DPI.