How Big Is a 4x6 Photo? 4x6 in CM, MM and Pixels
How big is 4x6? A 4x6 photo is 4 x 6 inches: 10.16 x 15.24 cm, 101.6 x 152.4 mm, and 1200 x 1800 pixels at 300 DPI, with a 3:2 aspect ratio. Charts and tips.
Short answer: a 4x6 photo is 4 x 6 inches, which is 10.16 x 15.24 cm or 101.6 x 152.4 mm. It has a 3:2 aspect ratio, and to print it sharp at 300 DPI the file needs 1200 x 1800 pixels. It is the standard snapshot size in the US, about the size of an index card.
Need to fit a photo to 4x6 now? The 4x6 photo crop tool locks the frame to 3:2, lets you drag it where you want, and downloads a 1200 x 1800 pixel file ready for any lab.
What Is a 4x6 Photo?
A 4x6 is the everyday print: the size you get from a drugstore photo counter, an event photo printer, or an online lab’s default order. Labs often call it 4R. It is also one of the standard index card sizes and close to a US postcard, so a 4x6 picture actual size feels familiar in the hand.
The name is width by height. A 4x6 in inches is 4 inches on the short side and 6 inches on the long side. How big is 6x4? Exactly the same: turned sideways it is a 6x4, and it is still the same print. The 4 by 6 picture size goes by several names: 4x6, 6x4, 4R, and, in metric countries, 10 x 15 cm.
4x6 Measurements: Inches, CM, MM and Pixels
What are the dimensions for a 4x6 photo in every unit? Here is the full chart:
| Measurement | 4x6 photo dimensions |
|---|---|
| Inches | 4 x 6 in |
| Centimeters | 10.16 x 15.24 cm |
| Millimeters | 101.6 x 152.4 mm |
| Feet | 0.33 x 0.5 ft |
| Pixels at 300 DPI (best) | 1200 x 1800 px |
| Pixels at 240 DPI (good) | 960 x 1440 px |
| Pixels at 150 DPI (minimum) | 600 x 900 px |
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 (1.5) |
| Area | 24 sq in (154.8 sq cm) |
| Megapixels at 300 DPI | 2.16 MP |
These are the actual dimensions of a 4x6. The 4x6 dimensions, and the actual size of 4x6 prints, are the same at every lab. A 4x6 has no true digital size, though: on a screen it is just pixels, and zoom levels and monitor sizes change how big it looks. To check the 4x6 photo real size, print at 100% scale and measure, or hold up a 4x6 index card: that is the 4x6 real size.
4x6 in cm
To convert 4x6 to cm, multiply each side by 2.54: 4 x 2.54 = 10.16 and 6 x 2.54 = 15.24. So 4x6 inches in cm is 10.16 x 15.24 cm, and the 4x6 photo size in cm is the same whichever way you hold it. How big is 4 by 6 in centimeters for a landscape print? A 6x4 photo size in cm is 15.24 x 10.16 cm.
In countries that use metric, labs sell a 10 x 15 cm print instead. It is not quite a 4x6 in centimeters: it is 1.6 mm narrower and 2.4 mm shorter, which nobody notices in a frame. (UK readers: 4 x 6 in centimetres is 10.16 x 15.24 cm, sold as 10 x 15 cm. In Spanish, las medidas de 4x6 en centímetros son 10,16 x 15,24 cm; in Portuguese, 4x6 polegadas = 10,16 x 15,24 cm.)
4x6 in mm
To convert 4x6 into mm, multiply inches by 25.4: a 4x6 in millimeters is 101.6 x 152.4 mm. That is the number to type when a printer driver or a design app asks for a custom paper size in millimeters.
What is 4x6 in pixels?
Pixels for 4x6 depend on how sharp you want the print. To convert 4x6 into pixels, multiply inches by DPI. These are the 4x6 pixels you need at each print quality:
| Print quality | DPI | 4x6 pixel size | 6x4 (landscape) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best, viewed up close | 300 | 1200 x 1800 px | 1800 x 1200 px |
| Good | 240 | 960 x 1440 px | 1440 x 960 px |
| Acceptable | 200 | 800 x 1200 px | 1200 x 800 px |
| Minimum | 150 | 600 x 900 px | 900 x 600 px |
| Screen only | 72 | 288 x 432 px | 432 x 288 px |
How many pixels is a 4x6 photo? The 4x6 inch photo size in pixels at 300 DPI is 1200 x 1800, or 2.16 megapixels, and that is the pixel size for 4x6 prints most labs recommend. Any modern phone shoots 12 megapixels or more, so a phone photo has several times the pixels a 4x6 needs. If your image is smaller than 600 x 900 pixels (an old scan, a screenshot, or a social media download), enlarge it with the image enhancer before printing.
4x6 Aspect Ratio: What Ratio Is 4x6?
A 4x6 is a 3:2 aspect ratio print: divide 6 by 4 and you get 1.5, the same as 3 divided by 2. So what ratio is 6x4? Also 3:2, just in landscape.
That matters because your photo has to match the print’s shape, or something gets cut. Here is what happens to common photo shapes when you print them at 4x6:
| Photo shape | Typical source | What happens at 4x6 |
|---|---|---|
| 3:2 | Most DSLR and mirrorless cameras | Fits with no crop |
| 4:3 | Phone cameras (default setting) | Trims about 11% of the height |
| 16:9 | Phone widescreen mode, video frames | Trims about 16% of the width |
| 1:1 | Square social posts | Trims about 33% of the height |
| 9:16 | Phone screenshots, vertical video | Trims about 16% of the height (in portrait) |
If the lab crops for you, it usually trims the same amount from both ends, which can cut off the tops of heads in a tight group shot. Crop first in the 4x6 crop tool so you decide what goes. Or, if you do not want to lose anything, order a print with white borders (“fit” instead of “fill”).
4x6 Photo Size Compared with Other Sizes
| Size | Inches | Centimeters | Pixels at 300 DPI | Area vs a 4x6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallet | 2.5 x 3.5 in | 6.35 x 8.89 cm | 750 x 1050 px | About 36% |
| 3.5x5 (3R) | 3.5 x 5 in | 8.89 x 12.7 cm | 1050 x 1500 px | About 73% |
| 4x6 (4R) | 4 x 6 in | 10.16 x 15.24 cm | 1200 x 1800 px | 100% |
| 5x7 (5R) | 5 x 7 in | 12.7 x 17.78 cm | 1500 x 2100 px | About 146% |
| 8x10 (8R) | 8 x 10 in | 20.32 x 25.4 cm | 2400 x 3000 px | About 333% |
A 4x6 is one step up from the 3.5x5 and about two thirds the size of a 5x7. An 8x10 has more than three times the area. Need something to carry instead? See the wallet size photo guide.
How big are 4 by 6 photos in real life?
4x6 photo size examples: a 4x6 index card, a standard postcard (close to 4 x 6 inches), or about one quarter of a letter-size sheet of paper. How large is a 4x6 photo next to a phone? A typical phone is about 2.8 inches wide and a little shorter than 6 inches, so an actual size 4x6 photo is roughly a phone with an extra half inch on each side. To see the actual size of a 4x6 photo without printing, hold up an index card.
What Fits on a 4x6 Sheet?
Many labs print small photos on a 4x6 sheet and let you cut them apart. One 4x6 holds:
- 2 standard wallets (2.5 x 3.5 inches)
- 4 mini wallets (2 x 3 inches)
- 6 US passport photos (2 x 2 inches)
The photo print size tool can lay out wallets or 2 x 2 photos on a 4x6 sheet with cut lines, so you can order one cheap 4x6 print and trim it.
How to Make a Photo 4x6
- Start with the best version of the photo. iPhone HEIC files can be converted with HEIC to JPG. Fix a blurry or tiny image with the image enhancer, and clean up a messy backdrop with the background remover.
- Open the 4x6 photo size tool and upload the photo. The crop frame is locked to 3:2, in portrait or landscape.
- Drag and zoom the frame so heads and important details sit well inside the edges.
- Download at 300 DPI. You get a 1200 x 1800 pixel JPG (or 1800 x 1200 for landscape) that prints at exactly 4 x 6 inches.
- Order or print it. Upload to any lab and choose the picture size 4x6 at checkout, or print at home on 4x6 photo paper at 100% scale.
If a lab or a design app reads your file as 72 DPI, the print size it shows will look huge. That number is only a label; set it to 300 with the DPI changer and the same pixels will show as 4 x 6 inches.
Printing Tips for 4x6 Photos
- Keep important details away from the edges. Borderless printing can trim a sliver (often around 1/16 inch) from each edge.
- Choose glossy for color and contrast, lustre or matte to cut glare and fingerprints on prints people will pass around.
- Check the crop in the order preview. Most labs show which part of a 4:3 photo will be cut; switch to “fit” if you prefer white borders.
- Grainy night photos look worse on paper. Reduce the noise first; our guide on how to fix grainy photos shows how.
Framing a 4x6 Photo
| Frame | Mat opening | Look |
|---|---|---|
| 4x6 frame | No mat | Print fills the frame, edge to edge (any 4x6 size photo frame) |
| 5x7 frame | About 3.5 x 5.5 in | Thin border, good for desks and shelves |
| 8x10 frame | About 3.5 x 5.5 in | Wide gallery-style border |
Mat openings are cut about 1/4 inch smaller than the print on each side so the photo does not fall through. That hides a little of each edge, another reason to leave space around faces.
What Is a 4x6 Picture Used For?
- Photo albums and boxes. Most slip-in albums are made for the size of a 4x6 picture.
- Desk and shelf frames. A 4x6 size photo looks right on a desk, or in a 5x7 frame with a mat.
- Postcards, invitations, and thank-you cards. The 4 x 6 size is the standard for printed cards.
- Recipe and index cards. Print a photo recipe card straight onto 4x6 paper.
- Party and event prints. Photo booths and event printers usually output 4x6 or strips cut from it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is a 4x6 photo?
A 4x6 photo is 4 inches wide and 6 inches tall (or 6 x 4 in landscape). That is 10.16 x 15.24 cm, or 101.6 x 152.4 mm, the size of a 4x6 index card and close to a postcard.
What size is a 4x6 photo in cm?
4x6 inches in centimeters is 10.16 x 15.24 cm. Labs that work in metric sell the nearly identical 10 x 15 cm print, which is 1.6 mm narrower and 2.4 mm shorter.
What is 4x6 in mm?
A 4x6 print is 101.6 x 152.4 mm. Multiply each side in inches by 25.4 to get millimeters.
How many pixels is a 4x6 photo?
For a sharp print at 300 DPI, a 4x6 photo needs 1200 x 1800 pixels (about 2.2 megapixels). At 240 DPI it needs 960 x 1440 pixels, and 600 x 900 pixels (150 DPI) is the practical minimum.
What ratio is a 4x6 photo?
A 4x6 photo has a 3:2 aspect ratio (6 divided by 4 is 1.5). Most camera sensors shoot 3:2, so camera photos fit a 4x6 with no crop, while 4:3 phone photos lose about 11% of their height.
What size is 4x6 photo paper?
Exactly 4 x 6 inches (10.16 x 15.24 cm), the same as the print. Some inkjet 4x6 paper adds tear-off tabs for borderless printing, so check the pack. Set the printer to 4 x 6 in and print at 100% scale.
Is 4x6 the same as 6x4?
Yes. 4x6 and 6x4 are the same print; the order only tells you the orientation. 4x6 is usually written for portrait (4 inches wide) and 6x4 for landscape (6 inches wide). Labs print both on the same paper.
Is 4x6 a normal photo size?
Yes. 4x6 is the standard photo size for everyday prints in the US and Canada, sometimes called 4R. It is the default size at most photo counters and online labs, and the cheapest print per photo.
Can I print an iPhone photo at 4x6 without cropping?
Not exactly. Phones save photos in 4:3 by default, and a 4x6 is 3:2, so about 11% of the height has to go, or the lab adds white borders. Crop the photo yourself first to choose what is removed. Switching the camera to 3:2 avoids the crop.
What frame fits a 4x6 photo?
A 4x6 frame holds the print edge to edge. For a border, use a 5x7 frame with a mat cut for a 4x6 (opening about 3.5 x 5.5 inches) or an 8x10 frame with a 4x6 mat for a wider border.
Is 4x6 wallet size?
No. A standard wallet photo is 2.5 x 3.5 inches. You can fit two of those, or four 2 x 3 inch wallets, on one 4x6 sheet and cut them apart.
More Photo Size Guides
- Wallet size photo dimensions: the small print for wallets and card holders.
- How big is an 8x10 photo? The classic portrait size, in cm, mm, and pixels.
- How big is a 16x20 photo? A large wall print, with frame and mat sizes.
- Photo print sizes chart: every common size side by side, with a crop-and-print tool.