3:2 Aspect Ratio: Sizes, Photography & How to Crop Images

The ratio describes the image's proportions, not its resolution. This guide explains how to calculate 3:2 dimensions, compare them with other common ratios, and prepare photographs for different print and screen sizes.

What is a 3:2 aspect ratio?

An aspect ratio compares an image's width and height. In landscape orientation, 3:2 means the width is 1.5 times the height.

For example, a 6000 × 4000-pixel photograph is exactly 3:2:

6000 ÷ 4000 = 1.5

You can reduce that image to 3000 × 2000 pixels without changing its shape. Both dimensions are halved, so the proportions remain identical.

In portrait orientation, the same shape is written as 2:3. A 4000 × 6000 image is a portrait version of 6000 × 4000.

Why is 3:2 common in photography?

The 3:2 format has a long history in 35mm photography. A traditional 35mm still-photo frame measures approximately 36 × 24 mm, which reduces to 3:2.

Many full-frame and APS-C digital cameras also use sensors with 3:2 proportions.

However, not every camera uses 3:2. Many Micro Four Thirds cameras use 4:3 sensors, and smartphones may capture photographs in 4:3 or other selectable formats.

The camera's sensor shape and the image's final exported shape can also differ when a crop mode is used.

Common 3:2 pixel dimensions

The following resolutions all have exactly the same 3:2 proportions.

A higher pixel count provides more image detail, assuming the original photograph contains that detail. Simply enlarging a small file does not restore detail that was never captured.

To check whether your image is already 3:2, use Ratilio's Image Aspect Ratio Checker.

How to calculate 3:2 dimensions

If you know either the width or height, you can calculate the matching dimension.

Suppose you want an image that is 3600 pixels wide.

3600 × 2 ÷ 3 = 2400

Your exact 3:2 dimensions are 3600 × 2400 pixels.

If you start with a height of 2000 pixels:

2000 × 3 ÷ 2 = 3000

The resulting image is 3000 × 2000 pixels.

For exact 3:2 dimensions in whole pixels, choose a landscape width divisible by 3 and calculate the corresponding height. If the calculation produces a fraction, rounding may create a very small difference from the exact ratio.

Ratilio's Aspect Ratio Calculator can help you find matching dimensions.

3:2 vs 4:3 vs 16:9

These ratios are all wider than they are tall, but they produce noticeably different compositions.

A 3:2 photograph is wider than a 4:3 image of the same height, but not as wide as 16:9.

This matters when you move photographs between camera formats, websites, presentation slides and video projects.

3:2 vs 4:3

Compared with 4:3, a 3:2 image gives you more horizontal space relative to its height.

If you crop a 4800 × 3600 image (4:3) to 3:2 while preserving the full width, the target height is:

4800 × 2 ÷ 3 = 3200

The result is 4800 × 3200 pixels.

You remove 400 pixels of height, or 200 pixels from the top and bottom for a centered crop.

3:2 vs 16:9

A 16:9 frame is wider than 3:2.

Suppose you have a 3840 × 2160 landscape frame and want a 3:2 image while keeping its full height.

2160 × 3 ÷ 2 = 3240

The resulting crop is 3240 × 2160 pixels.

A centered crop removes 300 pixels from each side.

The best crop may not be centered. If your subject is close to an edge, reposition the crop window before exporting.

For more about wide image formats, see 16:9 vs 4:3 Aspect Ratio: What's the Difference?.

Why 3:2 fits 4 × 6-inch prints

A 4 × 6-inch print has the same proportions as a 3:2 landscape photograph.

6 ÷ 4 = 1.5

That means a 6000 × 4000 image can fit a 6 × 4-inch print without an aspect-ratio crop.

The printer may still apply small edge adjustments, especially for borderless printing, so important details should not sit directly against the edges.

Other print sizes that match 3:2 include 8 × 12 and 12 × 18 inches.

What resolution do you need for a 4 × 6 print?

For a 6 × 4-inch print at 300 pixels per inch (PPI):

6 × 300 = 1800 pixels wide

4 × 300 = 1200 pixels high

So 1800 × 1200 pixels is a useful target.

The table lists dimensions as width × height, in the same portrait orientation as each named print size, so matching sizes are 2:3. Rotating a print 90 degrees, for example from 4 × 6 to 6 × 4, makes it 3:2 landscape without changing its proportions.

An aspect ratio describes proportions, not a fixed physical size: 2 × 3, 4 × 6 and 6 × 9 inches all share the same shape.

300 PPI is a common high-quality print target, not an absolute requirement for every print. Viewing distance, printer capabilities and image quality also matter.

For more print dimensions, see Print Sizes in Pixels: 4×6, 5×7, 8×10, A4 and More or use the Print Size Calculator.

How to crop a 3:2 photo to 8 × 10

An 8 × 10-inch print has a 4:5 aspect ratio in portrait orientation, or 5:4 in landscape orientation.

That differs from 3:2, so a photograph normally needs cropping to fill the print without distortion.

Suppose your landscape photograph measures 6000 × 4000 pixels.

For a landscape 10 × 8-inch print, the target ratio is 5:4.

The crop keeps approximately 83.3% of the original image area.

If an important subject is near the left or right edge, move the crop window instead of automatically centering it.

For a more detailed explanation of 4:5 proportions, see 4:5 Aspect Ratio: Sizes, Examples & How to Crop Images.

Cropping, padding and stretching

When your photograph doesn't match the required output shape, there are three main ways to adapt it.

• Cropping: Removes part of the image to fill the new frame. This preserves natural proportions but may cut off important content.
• Padding: Fits the entire image inside the target frame and fills the remaining space with a background. This preserves the complete photograph.
• Stretching: Changes the width and height independently. This distorts the proportions of objects and people.

For photographs, cropping or padding is usually preferable to stretching.

When cropping portraits, check the space above the subject's head and around the shoulders. For landscapes, make sure the horizon and important objects remain balanced.

Common mistakes

• Confusing 3:2 with 2:3. They describe the same proportions in opposite orientations.
• Assuming all camera photos are 3:2. Sensor formats and capture settings vary.
• Using a 3:2 image for an 8 × 10 print without checking the crop. The print has a different ratio.
• Stretching to fit a frame. This changes the appearance of the photograph.
• Confusing aspect ratio with resolution. 1200 × 800 and 6000 × 4000 are both 3:2, despite having different pixel counts.
• Ignoring print borders. Borderless printing can trim a small amount of image content.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a 3:2 image in pixels?

There is no single pixel size. Examples include 1200 × 800, 3000 × 2000 and 6000 × 4000 pixels.

Is 3:2 the same as 4 × 6?

Yes, in terms of proportions. A landscape 6 × 4-inch print has a 3:2 aspect ratio, so a 3:2 image fits its shape.

Is 3:2 better than 4:3?

Neither is universally better. 3:2 is common in photography and matches 4 × 6 prints. 4:3 may be preferable for different camera systems or compositions. Choose based on your subject and intended output.

Can I print a 3:2 photo at 8 × 10?

Yes, but you generally need to crop part of the photograph or add borders. An 8 × 10 print does not have the same aspect ratio as 3:2.

How big is a 2 × 3 photo?

A 2 × 3-inch photo is 2 inches wide and 3 inches tall. That is a 2:3 portrait ratio, which becomes 3:2 when rotated. At 300 PPI, it needs 600 × 900 pixels.

Is 6000 × 4000 exactly 3:2?

Yes. 6000 ÷ 4000 = 1.5, which is the decimal form of 3:2.

Key takeaways

• A 3:2 landscape image is 1.5 times as wide as it is tall.
• Common 3:2 resolutions include 3000 × 2000 and 6000 × 4000 pixels.
• The ratio is common in photography, but not universal across all cameras.
• 3:2 fits 4 × 6, 8 × 12 and 12 × 18-inch prints.
• An 8 × 10 print has different proportions and usually requires cropping or padding.
• Keep width and height proportional when resizing to avoid distortion.