What DPI or resolution do stickers need?
| Stickers and labels | 300 DPI at final size |
|---|---|
| Acceptable minimum | 150 DPI |
| Banners (viewed from 5+ ft) | 100-150 DPI |
| Vector art | Resolution independent |
The quick math
Pixels needed = inches x 300.
| Sticker size | Pixels required |
|---|---|
| 2 x 2 in | 600 x 600 |
| 3 x 3 in | 900 x 900 |
| 4 x 4 in | 1200 x 1200 |
| 6 x 6 in | 1800 x 1800 |
How to check your file
On Mac, right click, Get Info, look at Dimensions. On Windows, right click, Properties, Details. Compare the pixel dimensions to the table above. Do not trust the DPI field alone, an image can be tagged 300 DPI and still be 200 pixels wide.
Why upscaling does not fix it
Enlarging a small image in Photoshop invents pixels; it does not recover detail. AI upscalers do better than they used to and are worth trying on photographs, but they consistently mangle small text and hard logo edges. For a logo, redrawing as vector is the only real fix, and our design team does that at no charge on most orders.
Large format is different
Banners and yard signs are viewed from several feet away, so 100 to 150 DPI at final size is genuinely sufficient. A 4 x 8 foot banner at 300 DPI would be a 14,400 x 28,800 pixel file that nothing needs.