How to Choose the Right DPI for Your Scanning Project

By: USA IMAGING, Inc.

When it comes to document or photo scanning, DPI (dots per inch) is one of the most important—but often misunderstood—settings. DPI directly affects the image quality, file size, and future usability of your scanned documents.

So, how do you know which DPI is best for your project?

Let’s break it down.

What Is DPI, and Why Does It Matter?

DPI refers to how much detail a scanner captures in each square inch of a document or photo. The higher the DPI, the more detail, but also larger file sizes.

Choosing the right DPI comes down to one main question:

What will you do with the scanned file afterward?

Common DPI Settings and Their Best Uses

🟢 200 DPI – Good for Speed and Basic Archiving

• Best for:
  Bulk scanning of text-heavy office files, basic document archiving, or files meant for quick viewing only.

• Pros:
  Faster scanning speed, smaller file size.

• Cons:
  Limited readability for fine print or small handwriting, poor for OCR accuracy.

Use when quality isn’t critical, and speed or file size is the priority.

🟡 300 DPI – The Gold Standard for Most Projects

• Best for:
  Legal records, financial files, contracts, business correspondence, or any documents you plan to OCR.

• Pros:
  High readability, great for printing, excellent OCR accuracy.

• Cons:
  Slightly larger files, but manageable.

300 DPI is our default setting at USA Imaging because it balances quality and file size for the majority of document types.

🔵 600 DPI – High-Detail or Photo-Sensitive Projects

• Best for:
  Photos, drawings, blueprints, old or faded documents, or any materials with fine detail like handwritten notes or signatures.

• Pros:
  Exceptional clarity, ideal for preservation and reprinting.

• Cons:
  Much larger file sizes, slower scan times.

Use when you need to capture every detail, especially for archival or legacy materials.

What Happens If You Choose the Wrong DPI?

• Too low: You may miss critical details, struggle with blurry OCR, or end up with unusable files.

• Too high: You’ll end up with bloated files that take longer to process and store, without any added benefit.

That’s why the right DPI depends entirely on your end use, content type, and storage needs.

Our Recommendation at USA Imaging

At USA Imaging, we help clients choose the right DPI for their project goals. While 300 DPI is the industry sweet spot, we offer custom resolutions from 200 to 1200 DPI depending on:

• Document condition

• Content type (text vs. image)

• Output needs (print, archive, or online viewing)

Not sure which DPI you need?
Let our team guide you based on your project scope—we scan with purpose and precision.

✅ Bottom Line

Choose 200 DPI for bulk, low-priority archiving.
Choose 300 DPI for most business, legal, and searchable documents.
Choose 600 DPI when every pixel matters.

📞 Need Help Choosing the Right DPI?

Call us at (858) 513-6565,
Email: [email protected],
Requesting a Scanning Quote today.

Let’s make sure your project is scanned with the right level of clarity and care.