Printful Image Size Requirements Explained

Printful has specific image size requirements for each product type. Understanding these requirements is essential for producing high-quality prints.

Printful's Standard Requirements

Printful typically requires:

• 300 DPI resolution
• PNG or JPG format
• Maximum file size: 25 MB
• Color mode: RGB

Product-Specific Requirements

T-Shirts and Apparel

Standard T-Shirt (Gildan 5000)

• Print area: 15" × 18"
• Required pixels: 4,500 × 5,400 pixels
• DPI: 300

Tank Top

• Print area: 12" × 16"
• Required pixels: 3,600 × 4,800 pixels
• DPI: 300

Posters and Wall Art

11" × 14" Poster

• Required pixels: 3,300 × 4,200 pixels
• DPI: 300

18" × 24" Poster

• Required pixels: 5,400 × 7,200 pixels
• DPI: 300

Large Format (24" × 36")

• Required pixels: 7,200 × 10,800 pixels
• DPI: 200-300 (acceptable for large format)

Mugs and Drinkware

11 oz Mug

• Print area: 4.25" × 4.25"
• Required pixels: 1,275 × 1,275 pixels
• DPI: 300

15 oz Mug

• Print area: 4.5" × 4.5"
• Required pixels: 1,350 × 1,350 pixels
• DPI: 300

Phone Cases

iPhone Cases

• Print area: Varies by model
• Typically: 1,200 × 2,400 pixels minimum
• DPI: 300

Common Printful Mistakes

1. Incorrect dimensions — Not matching exact product print areas
2. Wrong DPI — Using 72 DPI web images
3. File format issues — Using unsupported formats or excessive compression
4. Color space — Using CMYK instead of RGB

The Solution: Automated Preparation

POD Prep includes Printful presets that automatically:

• Set correct dimensions for each product
• Apply 300 DPI resolution
• Convert to appropriate format
• Optimize file size

Manual Preparation Steps

If preparing manually:

1. Identify your product in Printful's catalog
2. Find the print area dimensions in product specifications
3. Calculate pixels: Print area (inches) × 300
4. Resize your image to exact pixel dimensions
5. Set DPI metadata to 300
6. Export as PNG or JPG (RGB color mode)
7. Verify file size is under 25 MB

Printful-Specific Tips

• Bleed areas: Some products require additional bleed space — check product specs
• Color profiles: Use sRGB color profile for best results
• Transparency: PNG supports transparency; JPG does not
• File naming: Use descriptive names (Printful doesn't require specific naming)

Testing Your Files

Before ordering:

1. Upload to Printful and check for warnings
2. Review the preview carefully
3. Order a test print for quality verification
4. Compare print to digital preview

Conclusion

Printful's image requirements are specific but straightforward. Meeting these requirements ensures your designs print at the highest quality. Using an automated tool eliminates calculation errors and saves time.

POD Prep prepares files based on published platform specifications. Final print results depend on the print provider.