Pixel Pitch Calculator

Calculate camera sensor pixel pitch, resolution, physical pixel density, pixel area, and sensor dimensions. Inputs stay in your browser.

Sensor and resolution inputs

Sensor size preset Presets fill typical active dimensions; use the manufacturer's exact values when available.

Active sensor dimensions

Width (mm) Physical active imaging width.

Height (mm) Physical active imaging height.

Active pixel resolution

Horizontal pixels Pixel columns across the active width.

Vertical pixels Pixel rows across the active height.

Pixel pitch and density results

Horizontal pixel pitch 6.000 µm Active width ÷ pixel columns

Vertical pixel pitch 6.000 µm Active height ÷ pixel rows

Resolution 24.00 MP 24,000,000 pixels

Sensor size 36.00 × 24.00 mm 43.27 mm diagonal

Linear pixel density 166.7 px/mm 4,233 PPI

Area pixel density 27,778 px/mm² 2.778 MP/cm²

Geometric pixel area 36.00 µm² Pitch X × pitch Y

Sensor area and aspect 864.0 mm² 3:2 active aspect ratio

The supplied dimensions imply square 6.000 µm pixels. Physical pitch describes sampling spacing, not the light-sensitive fill area.

Same resolution across common sensor sizes

This comparison keeps the entered pixel resolution and changes only the physical sensor dimensions. Preset dimensions are reference values and individual sensors can differ.

Sensor format	Dimensions	Horizontal pitch	Vertical pitch	Density
Enter valid values to compare sensor sizes.

How to use this pixel pitch calculator

Find the active sensor dimensions. Select a reference preset or enter the manufacturer's active imaging width and height in millimetres.
Enter the matching active resolution. Use the pixel columns and rows that span those dimensions, not an interpolated export size.
Compare X and Y pitch. Matching values imply square sampling. A meaningful difference is a cue to check whether the physical and pixel dimensions describe the same crop.
Use density values in context. Pixels per millimetre and sensor PPI describe physical sampling density; they are not print or display settings.
Copy or download the result. The CSV contains the inputs, calculated pitch, density, and sensor geometry for a specification sheet or comparison.

Pixel pitch formulas and assumptions

The calculator treats the entered width, height, and resolution as the same rectangular active imaging area. It calculates geometric sampling pitch; it does not estimate the photosensitive fill factor or microlens aperture.

Horizontal pitch (µm) = sensor width (mm) × 1000 ÷ horizontal pixels
Vertical pitch (µm) = sensor height (mm) × 1000 ÷ vertical pixels
Megapixels = horizontal pixels × vertical pixels ÷ 1,000,000
Pixel area (µm²) = horizontal pitch × vertical pitch
Linear density (px/mm) = horizontal pixels ÷ sensor width
PPI = pixels per millimetre × 25.4
Area density (px/mm²) = total pixels ÷ sensor area

The EMVA Standard 1288 distinguishes an image sensor's active area and geometrical pixel area in camera characterization. The PPI conversion uses the exact international-inch definition of 25.4 mm documented by NIST.

Results use the full entered pixel matrix, including partial megapixels. Sensor type names and nominal optical formats are not calculation inputs; only the numeric active dimensions are used.

How to interpret pixel pitch and density

Pixel pitch is a centre-to-centre spacing

Pixel pitch describes how far apart neighbouring sampling sites are. Marketing specifications often call this “pixel size,” but the actual light-sensitive region can occupy less than the full geometric cell. Backside illumination, microlenses, wiring, colour filters, and pixel architecture all affect how efficiently that area is used.

Smaller pitch means denser sampling, not automatic image quality

At a fixed sensor size, more pixels reduce pitch and raise spatial sampling density. That can preserve finer image detail when the lens, focus, exposure, and processing support it. It does not by itself predict dynamic range, noise, colour accuracy, diffraction response, or final image quality.

Sensor PPI is not output PPI

The sensor PPI result expresses how many sampling columns fit in one physical inch of sensor width. A file's print or display PPI is chosen later from its pixel dimensions and output size. Changing output metadata does not alter the camera sensor's physical pitch.

Use matching active specifications

Published sensor dimensions may be rounded, while a camera's recorded image can use a cropped region or omit masked and calibration pixels. Video modes can also read only part of the sensor or resample it. For the most precise result, pair the active imaging dimensions with the active pixel matrix for the same operating mode.

Limits

This is a geometric specification calculator. It assumes a rectangular grid and does not model colour-filter layout, pixel binning, line skipping, oversampling, rolling shutter, quantum efficiency, full-well capacity, read noise, diffraction, lens MTF, or image processing. If X and Y pitch differ, both values are shown rather than silently assuming square pixels.

Pixel pitch FAQ

How do I calculate pixel pitch from sensor size and resolution?

Divide the active sensor width in millimetres by the horizontal pixel count and multiply by 1000 to get horizontal pitch in micrometres. Repeat with sensor height and vertical pixels for vertical pitch.

Is pixel pitch the same as pixel size?

Specifications often use the terms interchangeably, but pitch strictly means the centre-to-centre spacing of adjacent pixels. The light-sensitive area can be smaller because of pixel structure and circuitry.

Does a smaller pixel pitch always mean better image quality?

No. Smaller pitch increases sampling density, but image quality also depends on sensor technology, fill factor, optics, diffraction, noise, exposure, processing, and output size.

Why are the horizontal and vertical pixel pitches different?

A difference usually means the sensor dimensions and resolution do not describe the same active image area, values were rounded, or the sensor uses non-square sampling. Check the manufacturer's active-area and active-pixel specifications.

What is a good pixel pitch for a camera?

There is no universal best pitch. Larger pixels can offer more collection area per pixel, while smaller pixels sample more finely. The useful balance depends on sensor design, lens performance, light level, output requirements, and imaging task.

Is sensor PPI the same as display PPI?

The calculation is dimensionally the same, but sensor PPI describes sampling sites per physical inch on the sensor. It does not determine the size or density at which an image is displayed or printed.

Does this calculator upload my camera specifications?

No. Inputs and calculations stay in your browser and are not sent to a server.