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.
Paper shapes and frames
A poster only fills its frame when the image and the paper have the same proportions. The Print size on this site uses the A-series proportion, so it fits A4, A3 and A2 exactly. On paper with other proportions, a print shop will either leave bands at two edges or crop the image.
| Paper or frame | Proportion | How the Print size fits |
|---|---|---|
| A4, A3, A2 | 1 : 1.41 | Exactly |
| 30 × 40 cm, 18 × 24 in | 3 : 4 | Thin bands on the long sides |
| 50 × 70 cm | 5 : 7 | Almost exactly |
| 24 × 36 in, 20 × 30 in | 2 : 3 | Bands on the short sides |
| Square frame | 1 : 1 | Use the Square size instead |
If the frame has a mat, the visible opening is smaller than the paper. Keep the title and the numbers away from the edges, or print one size smaller than the frame and let the mat cover the difference.
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.