Most of us are well aware of how 4×6 photos are the standard in photography and the photofinishing industry.

If you have some expertise in the field, that’s probably old news for you.

While it wasn’t always the standard, the 4×6 format has continued to dominate the scene since the early 90s.

With the exception of smartphones, the standard print size of most digital cameras is 4×6.

So how big is 4×6 exactly? Read on to find out!

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Different Measurements for 4×6

Here are different measuring units for the 4×6 photo size you can use as a frame of reference.

4 inches by 6 inches
10 by 15 centimeters
101 by 152 millimeters

Note that 4×6 is sometimes approximate, and 4” x 5 ⅞” can be more accurate at times.

The Aspect Ratio of a 4×6 Photo

We’ve mentioned earlier that the aspect ratio of photos is the reason that the 4×6 size is now the standard.

So what’s an aspect ratio, and how’s it related to photo size?

The aspect ratio represents the relationship between an image’s width units and height units for a vertical shot. The ratio is reversed in the case of a portrait frame.

A 4×6 photo’s aspect ratio is 3:2 or 2:3, depending on its orientation.

This 3:2 aspect ratio is the standard for digital camera sensors, prints, and old film cameras.

It’s only normal for 4×6 photos to be the regular size in today’s photography since their aspect ratio is used in most digital cameras’ viewfinders.

A 4×6 Photo’s Size in Pixels

A pixel is the smallest area of color that can be programmed and controlled on a display screen.

Pixels reflect the resolution of the images you view on your device.

The resolution of a 4×6 image translates to how many pixels per inch it has. The higher the resolution, the better the quality.

The pixels of a 4×6 photo depends on the dots per inch value, or dpi, as commonly referred to.

For example, if a photo’s dpi is 150, that’s 600×900 pixels. Meanwhile, 300 dpi is 1200×1800.

A size of 480×640 for 115 dpi is the lowest you’ll want to go if you want to get decent quality. A 1024×768 resolution isn’t half bad either.

The Problem With 4×6 Photos

4×6 photos are common for good reasons; they’re cheap and small enough for most applications.

Yet there’s a common drawback when printing photos of that size.

Most printing services prefer the 4×6 format, thanks to its convenience.

The guy taking your photo may not tell you this, but editors tend to remove 3mm from each edge of the photo for printing.

This cropping issue around the edges can undermine or ruin your photos if the critical elements aren’t centered.

Make sure that the necessary details—such as the outline of your face—stay away from a photo’s edges before printing.

If you’re using a smartphone, you’ll want to consider its aspect ratio as well. Otherwise, it may cause the same cropping issue I just mentioned.

iPhones, in particular, only offer aspect ratios of 19:5.9, 16:9, 13:6, 10:7, and 4:3. The iPad Mini 6 is the only option that offers an aspect ratio of 3:2.

Photo Editors as a Quick Fix

Here are some online photo editors you can use to adjust the aspect ratio of your photo. They’ll also offer you a plethora of other functions to print the perfect photo.

Adobe Photoshop Express is great for quick edits on your phone
piZap is perfect if you’re inexperienced with editing
Photopea is a good alternative to Adobe
Instasize is ideal for posting pictures on social media

Final Thoughts

You can’t go wrong with 4×6 photos, and they’re likely to remain the standard for the foreseeable future.

Their size is ideal for personal photos, decorative frames, art pieces, as well as family photo albums.

Now that you’re informed about the technicalities involved in shooting and printing 4×6 photos, there should be no issues when dealing with the photofinishing industry.

Keep the cropping issue in mind, and your photos will turn out fine. You can also always resort to photo editors.