Where the 3:2 aspect ratio is used
3:2 matches 35 mm film and the sensor of most interchangeable-lens cameras, so it is the default shape of many photographs.
- Photography: Native output of most Canon, Nikon and Sony full-frame and APS-C cameras.
- Standard prints: Exactly matches 6 × 4 inch photo prints.
- Laptops: Productivity laptops such as Microsoft Surface models.
- Web portfolios: Showing photos uncropped, as shot.
3:2 resolution cheat sheet
| Name | Width × height | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Web photo | 1080 × 720 px | Web galleries and blog images |
| 6 × 4 in at 300 dpi | 1800 × 1200 px | Sharp standard photo print |
| 3:2 laptop display | 2160 × 1440 px | Productivity-focused laptop screens |
| 24 MP photo | 6000 × 4000 px | Full-resolution camera output |
Tip: Printing 6 × 4 inch photos? A 3:2 image prints without any edge cropping at the lab.
How to calculate 3:2 dimensions
Height = width × 2 ÷ 3. Width = height × 3 ÷ 2. Round to whole pixels; many video encoders also need even numbers.
CSS for a 3:2 box
.media { aspect-ratio: 3 / 2; width: 100%; }