3.5 × 4.5 cm in Pixels at Every DPI
3.5 cm x 4.5 cm in pixels depends on the DPI: a 35 × 45 mm photo is 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI and 276 × 354 px at 200 DPI. Resize your photo to that size below; the DPI and the KB limit can both be changed.
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Output size
3.5 × 4.5 cm = 413 × 531 px at 300 DPI. File size: 20–50 KB (an example range: use the limit on your form).
Name and date
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3.5 × 4.5 cm in pixels by DPI
Here is 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm in pixels at the DPI values forms and photo studios use most. Portrait is the usual passport-style shape; landscape is the same size turned on its side.
| DPI | Portrait (3.5 wide × 4.5 tall) | Landscape (4.5 wide × 3.5 tall) |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | 99 × 128 px | 128 × 99 px |
| 96 | 132 × 170 px | 170 × 132 px |
| 150 | 207 × 266 px | 266 × 207 px |
| 200 | 276 × 354 px | 354 × 276 px |
| 300 | 413 × 531 px | 531 × 413 px |
| 600 | 827 × 1063 px | 1063 × 827 px |
Pixels = cm ÷ 2.54 × DPI, rounded to the nearest whole pixel.
Print size is not the same as the pixels a portal wants
“3.5 × 4.5 cm” describes a printed photo. A screen image has no size in cm until you choose a DPI, which is why one page says 132 × 170 px and another says 413 × 531 px for the same photo.
- If the upload page lists pixels, those pixels are what it checks. Use them exactly; the cm figure is only a description.
- If it lists cm and a DPI, multiply as in the table above, or let the tool do it.
- If it lists only cm, 200 or 300 DPI are the usual choices. 300 DPI keeps more detail but makes a larger file, so check the KB limit too.
Convert any cm size to pixels
Why so many forms ask for 3.5 × 4.5 cm
35 × 45 mm is one of the most common passport-style photo sizes. It is the size for UK passport photos and Schengen visa photos, and many Indian application forms describe their photo the same way, often as “3.5 cm x 4.5 cm” or “4.5 cm x 3.5 cm”. Photo studios print it by default, so asking for it means most people already have a matching print.
Online forms then have to turn that print size into a file. Some state the pixels, some state a DPI, and some only repeat the cm size. That is why the same photo is described with so many different pixel numbers, and why the table above lists several DPI values instead of one answer.
200, 300 or 600 DPI: which one to use
- 200 DPI
- 276 × 354 px. Enough detail for a face on screen and small enough to fit tight KB limits such as 20–50 KB without heavy compression. A good choice when the form gives only cm and a small KB limit.
- 300 DPI
- 413 × 531 px. Use it when the form names 300 DPI, or when the photo may be printed on an admit card or ID. It needs more KB to look sharp, so check the upper limit.
- 600 DPI
- 827 × 1063 px. This is scanner territory. Few upload forms want it, and squeezing that many pixels into a small KB limit makes the JPG blotchy. Only use it if the form asks for it.
- 72 or 96 DPI
- 132 × 170 px at 96 DPI. Some older pages list these small sizes. Use them only when the form gives exactly those pixels.
None of these values is an official rule for any particular exam. Your form's own notice always wins.
Cropping a phone photo to 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm
Phone cameras shoot 3 : 4 or 9 : 16 images, while 3.5 × 4.5 cm is 7 : 9. A phone photo always needs some cropping, and how you take it decides whether the crop looks right:
- Stand against a plain, light wall, facing a window or another soft light, so there are no shadows on your face or behind you.
- Ask someone to take the photo from about 1 to 1.5 m away at eye level. Closer than that, the wide phone lens makes the nose look bigger.
- Leave space above your head and around your shoulders. You can crop space away, but you cannot add it back.
- Upload the photo here. The crop box already has the 7 : 9 shape; drag it so your face is centred with a little space above the head, then resize.
Pixels and KB are two separate limits
A form that asks for 3.5 × 4.5 cm and, say, 20 to 50 KB is checking two different things. The pixels set the shape and the amount of detail; the KB is how much space the JPG takes after compression. A photo can have exactly the right pixels and still be refused for being 62 KB, or be under the KB limit with the wrong shape.
- Set the size first, then the KB range. The tool resizes to the pixels and then finds the JPG quality that lands inside your KB range.
- If the result looks blurred or blocky, the KB limit is tight for that many pixels. A lower DPI, such as 200 instead of 300, gives the same cm size with fewer pixels and usually a cleaner JPG.
- If the file comes out under the minimum KB, the photo is very plain. Use a higher DPI, or a photo with more light and detail.
How to check a photo's pixel size before you upload
The check list under the result already shows the pixels, KB, format and DPI of the file you download. To check a file you already have:
- Windows
- Right-click the file, choose Properties, then the Details tab. Look for Dimensions and Size.
- Mac
- Open the file in Preview, then choose Tools → Show Inspector. The first tab shows the pixel size.
- Android
- Open the photo in your gallery app and tap the details or info button. Most gallery apps list the resolution and file size.
- iPhone
- Open the photo in Photos and tap the ⓘ button. The panel shows the pixel size and file size.
The same size in other units
| Centimetres | 3.5 × 4.5 cm |
|---|---|
| Millimetres | 35 × 45 mm |
| Inches | 1.38 × 1.77 in |
| Aspect ratio | 7 : 9 (width : height) |
Need the name and date printed under the photo as well? Use the name and date on photo tool, which uses the same 3.5 × 4.5 cm default.
Questions
Why do websites give different pixel sizes for 3.5 × 4.5 cm?
Because they assume different DPI values. A centimetre has no fixed number of pixels; 3.5 cm is 132 px at 96 DPI but 413 px at 300 DPI. Rounding also differs: this page rounds to the nearest whole pixel.
What is 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm in pixels for an online form?
If the form gives no pixels or DPI, 276 × 354 px (200 DPI) or 413 × 531 px (300 DPI) are the usual choices. If the form lists pixels, use those exact numbers instead.
Which comes first, width or height?
Passport-style photos are taller than wide, so 3.5 cm is the width and 4.5 cm the height. A form that writes “4.5 cm × 3.5 cm” usually means the same portrait photo, listed height first. Check the sample image in your form if it shows one.
Does a higher DPI make the photo bigger in KB?
Usually yes: more pixels hold more detail, and the JPG grows. If your form sets a KB maximum, the tool lowers the JPG quality to stay under it, but very high DPI with a low KB limit can look soft.
Is the DPI saved in the file?
Yes. The tool writes the DPI you chose into the JPG and reads it back; the check list under the result shows it next to your target.