How Big Is an 8x10 Photo? 8x10 in CM, MM and Pixels
8x10 in cm is 20.32 x 25.4 cm (203.2 x 254 mm). An 8x10 photo needs 2400 x 3000 pixels at 300 DPI and has a 4:5 ratio. See size comparisons, crops and frames.
Short answer: an 8x10 photo is 8 x 10 inches, which is 20.32 x 25.4 cm or 203.2 x 254 mm. It has a 4:5 aspect ratio, and to print it sharp at 300 DPI the file needs 2400 x 3000 pixels. It is a little smaller than a sheet of letter paper.
Ready to print? The 8x10 photo crop tool locks the frame to 4:5, lets you choose what stays, and downloads a 2400 x 3000 pixel file.
What Is an 8x10 Photo?
The 8 by 10 photo size (also written 8x10, 8 x 10, or 8/10 photo) is the classic portrait print: school and family portraits, actor headshots, signed photos, and framed pictures on a desk or a small wall. Labs sometimes call it 8R. The size of 8x10 prints is the same everywhere, since it is defined in inches: 8 inches on the short side and 10 inches on the long side.
What does a 8x10 picture look like, and how big is 8 by 10 in real life? Hold up a sheet of printer paper: an 8x10 is that sheet with half an inch cut off the width and an inch off the height. It is big enough to see faces clearly from across a room, and small enough for a desk frame.
8x10 Dimensions: Inches, CM, MM, Feet and Pixels
| Measurement | 8x10 size |
|---|---|
| Inches | 8 x 10 in |
| Centimeters | 20.32 x 25.4 cm |
| Millimeters | 203.2 x 254 mm |
| Feet | 0.67 x 0.83 ft |
| Pixels at 300 DPI (best) | 2400 x 3000 px |
| Pixels at 240 DPI (good) | 1920 x 2400 px |
| Pixels at 150 DPI (minimum) | 1200 x 1500 px |
| Aspect ratio | 4:5 (0.8) |
| Area | 80 sq in (516 sq cm) |
| Megapixels at 300 DPI | 7.2 MP |
These are the dimensions of 8x10 photo prints at every lab; the 8 x 10 photo size does not change from one lab to the next because it is defined in inches. Turned sideways, the 10 by 8 photo has the same numbers in the other order: 10 x 8 inches, 25.4 x 20.32 cm.
8x10 in cm
To convert 8x10 into cm, multiply each side by 2.54: 8 x 2.54 = 20.32 and 10 x 2.54 = 25.4. So the size 8x10 in cm is 20.32 x 25.4 cm. Metric labs often sell a 20 x 25 cm print, which is 3.2 mm narrower and 4 mm shorter, close enough for most frames.
Careful with the units: an “8 x 10 cm” print, measured in centimeters, is tiny: about 3.1 x 3.9 inches, smaller than a 4x6. If a shop lists 8 x 10 cm, it does not mean an 8x10 photo.
8x10 in mm
An 8x10 in mm is 203.2 x 254 mm (multiply inches by 25.4). Use these numbers when a printer driver asks for a custom paper size.
8x10 in inches
8 x 10 in inches is simply 8 inches wide by 10 inches tall in portrait. The 8 x 10 inches size is the print itself; a frame or mat adds to the outside dimensions.
8x10 pixel size
What is 8x10 in pixels? It depends on print quality. Pixels = inches x DPI:
| Print quality | DPI | Pixel dimensions for 8x10 | 10x8 (landscape) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best, viewed up close | 300 | 2400 x 3000 px | 3000 x 2400 px |
| Good | 240 | 1920 x 2400 px | 2400 x 1920 px |
| Acceptable | 200 | 1600 x 2000 px | 2000 x 1600 px |
| Minimum | 150 | 1200 x 1500 px | 1500 x 1200 px |
| Screen only | 72 | 576 x 720 px | 720 x 576 px |
So how many px is 8x10? For a lab print, 2400 x 3000 pixels, or 7.2 megapixels. Those are the pixels for 8x10 that most labs suggest, and the pixel size for 8x10 prints that our crop tool exports; 1920 x 2400 is still sharp at arm’s length. If your photo is smaller (an old scan or a downloaded image), upscale it with the image enhancer before you order.
8x10 Ratio: What Aspect Ratio Is 8x10?
The 8x10 ratio is 4:5. Divide 8 by 10 and you get 0.8, the same as 4 divided by 5. Most photos are a different shape, so printing at 8x10 means a crop:
| Photo shape | Typical source | What happens at 8x10 |
|---|---|---|
| 4:5 | Instagram portrait posts, many medium format cameras | Fits with no crop |
| 3:4 | Phone cameras, portrait | Trims about 6% of the height |
| 2:3 | DSLR and mirrorless, portrait | Trims about 17% of the height |
| 9:16 | Phone screenshots, vertical video | Trims about 30% of the height |
| 1:1 | Square posts | Trims about 20% of the width |
Camera photos lose the most. A 24 megapixel camera image of 6000 x 4000 pixels becomes 5000 x 4000 pixels at 4:5, a sixth of the long side gone. That is why photographers who expect to print 8x10s leave extra room around the subject. If you let the lab crop automatically, it cuts evenly from both ends, which can clip the top of a head or a pair of feet. Crop it yourself in the 8x10 crop tool and move the frame where you want it.
The good news: 4:5 is the same shape as 4x5 and 16x20, so a photo cropped for 8x10 also prints at those sizes with no new crop.
8x10 Compared with Other Photo Sizes
| Size | Inches | Centimeters | Pixels at 300 DPI | Ratio | Area vs 8x10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4x6 | 4 x 6 in | 10.16 x 15.24 cm | 1200 x 1800 px | 2:3 | 30% |
| 5x7 | 5 x 7 in | 12.7 x 17.78 cm | 1500 x 2100 px | 5:7 | 44% |
| 8x10 | 8 x 10 in | 20.32 x 25.4 cm | 2400 x 3000 px | 4:5 | 100% |
| 8.5x11 (letter) | 8.5 x 11 in | 21.59 x 27.94 cm | 2550 x 3300 px | about 17:22 | 117% |
| 11x14 | 11 x 14 in | 27.94 x 35.56 cm | 3300 x 4200 px | 11:14 | 193% |
| 16x20 | 16 x 20 in | 40.64 x 50.8 cm | 4800 x 6000 px | 4:5 | 400% |
An 8x10 has more than three times the area of a 4x6 and about twice the area of a 5x7. A 16x20 is exactly four 8x10s.
How big is an 8x10 poster? Small. An 8x10 works as a desk print, a framed photo on a bookshelf, or one piece of a gallery wall. Wall posters usually start at 11x17 or 18x24 inches. If you want one picture to fill a wall, look at 16x20 or larger.
How to Crop and Print an 8x10 Photo
- Choose a photo with room around the subject. Tight crops are hard to fit to 4:5. If the background is cluttered, swap it with the background remover.
- Open the 8x10 photo size tool, upload the photo, and pick portrait (8x10) or landscape (10x8).
- Drag the 4:5 frame so heads, hands, and feet stay inside, with a little space at the edges for the frame lip.
- Download at 300 DPI. The tool exports 2400 x 3000 pixels, which prints at exactly 8 x 10 inches.
- Order or print. Upload to a lab and pick 8x10, or print at home on letter paper at 100% scale and trim.
If the file opens at 72 DPI in a design app and shows as 33 x 42 inches, nothing is wrong with the pixels. Set the DPI label to 300 with the DPI changer, and the same file will read as 8 x 10 inches.
Framing an 8x10 Photo
| Frame | Mat opening | What it holds |
|---|---|---|
| 8x10, no mat | None | An 8x10 print, edge to edge |
| 8x10 with mat | About 4.5 x 6.5 in | A 5x7 print (common in store-bought frames) |
| 11x14 with mat | About 7.5 x 9.5 in | An 8x10 print with a 1.5 to 2 inch border |
| 16x20 with mat | About 7.5 x 9.5 in | An 8x10 with a wide, gallery-style border |
Frames are named by the 8 x 10 picture size they hold, not by their outside dimensions: any 8x10 size photo frame measures more than 8 x 10 inches on the outside. Mat openings are cut about 1/4 inch smaller than the print on each side so the photo does not slip through, and a frame’s lip covers a similar sliver when there is no mat. Keep faces and text away from the very edge. The trap to avoid: buying an “8x10 frame” for an 8x10 print and finding a 5x7 mat inside. Take the mat out, or buy an 11x14 frame if you want the border.
Printing Tips for 8x10 Photos
- What size is 8x10 photo paper? Exactly 8 x 10 inches (20.32 x 25.4 cm). Many home printers do not stock it, so print on 8.5 x 11 photo paper and trim. Labs give better color and paper for portraits.
- Paper finish: lustre or matte for portraits behind glass (less glare), glossy for bright landscapes.
- Check sharpness at 100%. At 8x10, blur and noise that look fine on a phone become visible. Fix noise with our guide on how to fix grainy photos, and blocky compression with remove JPEG artifacts.
- Overexposed sky or faces? Bring back detail before printing: see how to fix overexposed photos.
8x10 Feet Visualized: Not the Same as an 8x10 Photo
People also ask about 8x10 in feet, usually for rugs, sheds, or rooms. An 8 x 10 foot space is 96 x 120 inches (2.44 x 3.05 m), an area of 80 square feet: about the floor space of a small bedroom or a walk-in closet. An 8x10 photo is 8 x 10 inches, 144 times smaller in area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is an 8x10 picture?
An 8x10 picture is 8 inches wide and 10 inches tall (or 10 x 8 in landscape). That is 20.32 x 25.4 cm, or 203.2 x 254 mm: a little smaller than a sheet of US letter paper, which is 8.5 x 11 inches.
What is 8x10 in cm?
8x10 inches is 20.32 x 25.4 cm. To convert 8x10 into cm, multiply each side by 2.54: 8 x 2.54 = 20.32 and 10 x 2.54 = 25.4. Metric labs often sell the close 20 x 25 cm print instead.
What is 8x10 in pixels?
For a sharp print at 300 DPI, an 8x10 needs 2400 x 3000 pixels (7.2 megapixels). 1920 x 2400 pixels (240 DPI) still prints well, and 1200 x 1500 pixels (150 DPI) is the practical minimum. A 12 megapixel phone photo is more than enough.
What aspect ratio is 8x10?
An 8x10 has a 4:5 aspect ratio (8 divided by 10 is 0.8). That is squarer than a camera’s 3:2 frame or a phone’s 4:3 frame, so most photos lose a strip from the long side when printed at 8x10. Instagram’s 4:5 portrait posts fit exactly.
What size is 8x10 in mm?
An 8x10 photo is 203.2 x 254 mm. Multiply each side in inches by 25.4 to get millimeters.
Is 8x10 the same as 10x8?
Yes, it is the same print in a different orientation. 8x10 usually means portrait (8 inches wide) and 10x8 means landscape (10 inches wide). Both have the same 4:5 ratio and need 2400 x 3000 pixels at 300 DPI.
Can I print a phone photo at 8x10?
Yes. A 12 megapixel phone photo (4032 x 3024 pixels) cropped to 4:5 still has 3024 x 3780 pixels, about 378 pixels per inch at 8x10, well above the 300 DPI target. The only catch is the crop: a 3:4 portrait photo loses about 6% of its height.
What frame do I need for an 8x10 photo?
An 8x10 frame holds the print with no border. For a mat, the usual choice is an 11x14 frame with a mat opening of about 7.5 x 9.5 inches. Note that many 8x10 frames ship with a mat cut for a 5x7, so remove it for an 8x10 print.
Is 8x10 the same as letter size?
No. US letter paper is 8.5 x 11 inches, half an inch wider and an inch taller than an 8x10. That is handy: you can print an 8x10 on letter paper at home and trim the margins.
How big is 8x10 feet?
An 8x10 rug, room, or shed (8 x 10 feet) is 96 x 120 inches, or about 2.44 x 3.05 meters, an area of 80 square feet. It is a very different thing from an 8x10 photo, which is measured in inches and covers 80 square inches.
More Photo Size Guides
- Wallet size photo dimensions: the small print for wallets and card holders.
- How big is a 4x6 photo? The everyday snapshot, in cm, mm, and pixels.
- How big is a 16x20 photo? Four 8x10s in one print, with frame and wall tips.
- Photo print sizes chart: every common size in inches, cm, mm, and pixels, with a crop-and-print tool.