How to Print a Travel Map Poster: Sizes and Resolution
Updated November 10, 2026
For a sharp print, an image needs about 300 pixels per inch of paper. An A3 poster needs roughly 3508 × 4961 pixels, and anything larger is best printed from a vector file such as SVG, which has no pixel limit.
Pixels needed at 300 dpi
| Paper | Size | Pixels at 300 dpi |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210 × 297 mm | 2480 × 3508 |
| A3 | 297 × 420 mm | 3508 × 4961 |
| A2 | 420 × 594 mm | 4961 × 7016 |
| 8 × 10 in | 203 × 254 mm | 2400 × 3000 |
| 18 × 24 in | 457 × 610 mm | 5400 × 7200 |
| 24 × 36 in | 610 × 914 mm | 7200 × 10800 |
Posters are looked at from further away than a book, so 200 dpi is acceptable for A2 and larger. Below 150 dpi, coastlines and text start to look soft at arm's length.
PNG or SVG?
- PNG is a grid of pixels. It is accepted everywhere, including photo kiosks and online poster services. The Print size on this site is 4860 × 3437 px: 294 dpi on A3 and over 400 dpi on A4.
- SVG is a vector drawing. Country outlines are stored as shapes, so they stay sharp at any size. Use it for A2 and larger, and when a designer will adjust the file.
- If a print service refuses SVG, open the file in a browser or a design program and export a PDF, which every print shop accepts.
Before you send it to print
- Choose the size first, then the shape of the image. A world map is wide, so landscape paper wastes the least space.
- Leave the title short. Long titles are cut off before they reach the edge on narrow formats.
- Dark styles use a lot of ink and show fingerprints on glossy paper. Ask for matte paper for the Night style.
- Ask whether the shop prints to the edge. If not, expect a white border of a few millimetres.
- Order one copy, check it, then order the rest.
Colours on paper
Screens make their own light and paper does not, so prints look a little darker and less saturated than the preview. Light map styles survive this best. If colour accuracy matters, ask the shop for a small proof.
Try it on your own map
Questions and answers
- Is 72 dpi enough to print?
- No. 72 dpi is a screen resolution. A 1920 × 1080 image printed on A3 has about 115 dpi and looks soft. Export at the Print size or use SVG.
- What size is best for a frame?
- A3 and 18 × 24 inches are the easiest to find frames for, and large enough to read small countries from a metre away.
- Can I print the map on a T-shirt or mug?
- Yes. Print services for objects usually ask for PNG. The map you make is yours to use, and the country outlines are in the public domain.