Flex Banner Print Sizes, Pixels and DPI Explained
“What size should the file be for a 10 by 5 feet flex?” is the question we hear most at the shop. The answer depends on two things: the physical size of the banner and how many pixels per inch (DPI) you need for it to look sharp from where people will see it. This guide explains both and gives a table you can keep next to your computer.
Why flex does not need 300 DPI
300 DPI is the standard for things held in the hand: visiting cards, invitations, photo prints. A flex banner is seen from several metres away, and large-format solvent and eco-solvent printers usually print at an effective 72–150 DPI. A 10 × 5 ft banner at 300 DPI would be 36,000 × 18,000 pixels, a file of several gigabytes that most computers cannot edit comfortably and that looks no better from the road.
- 72 DPI — fine for very large hoardings viewed from far away (20 ft and above).
- 100 DPI — a good default for entrance and stage flex viewed from 2–5 metres.
- 150 DPI — for banners seen up close, such as shop counters, standees and indoor backdrops with small text.
Pixel sizes for common flex sizes
Pixels = feet × 12 × DPI. The table below is calculated that way.
| Flex size (ft) | 72 DPI | 100 DPI | 150 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 2 | 2592 × 1728 | 3600 × 2400 | 5400 × 3600 |
| 4 × 3 | 3456 × 2592 | 4800 × 3600 | 7200 × 5400 |
| 6 × 3 | 5184 × 2592 | 7200 × 3600 | 10800 × 5400 |
| 6 × 4 | 5184 × 3456 | 7200 × 4800 | 10800 × 7200 |
| 8 × 4 | 6912 × 3456 | 9600 × 4800 | 14400 × 7200 |
| 10 × 5 | 8640 × 4320 | 12000 × 6000 | 18000 × 9000 |
| 12 × 6 | 10368 × 5184 | 14400 × 7200 | — |
| 15 × 5 | 12960 × 4320 | 18000 × 6000 | — |
| 20 × 10 | 17280 × 8640 | — | — |
| Standee 2.5 × 6 | 2160 × 5184 | 3000 × 7200 | 4500 × 10800 |
Think in ratios, not only pixels
Many templates are designed at a fixed ratio and can be scaled to several sizes. A 6000 × 3000 pixel file has a 2:1 ratio, so it fits 6 × 3, 8 × 4 and 10 × 5 ft banners. A 9000 × 3000 file (3:1) fits 9 × 3, 12 × 4 and 15 × 5 ft. If the customer's size has a different ratio, extend the background with Image → Canvas Size and fill the new area, rather than stretching the design, which distorts faces and lettering.
Leave room for eyelets and framing
Flex is usually fixed with eyelets or pasted on a wooden or iron frame. Keep important text and faces at least 2–3 inches away from every edge, and ask the printer whether they need extra bleed. For a framed board, 1 inch of extra background on each side is common.
Minimum text size
A simple rule we use: text should be at least 1 inch tall for every 10 feet of viewing distance. For a banner seen from across a road (about 30 feet), names should be 3 inches tall or more. Phone numbers on shop banners are often too small; make them as large as the shop name allows.
Upscaling a smaller template
If a template is smaller than you need, upscale it in Photoshop with Image → Image Size, tick Resample and choose Preserve Details 2.0. Vector shapes and text stay sharp at any size; photos are the limiting factor. Replace small photos with higher-resolution originals where you can.
Quick checklist
- Confirm the finished size in feet with the customer.
- Pick DPI by viewing distance (72 / 100 / 150).
- Set pixels = feet × 12 × DPI, keeping the template ratio.
- Keep text and faces 2–3 inches from the edges.
- Convert to CMYK and save a flattened copy for the printer.