Megapixel Count
Total pixels of an image in millions.
Formula
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Example
6000×4000: MP = 24
How it works
A digital image is made of a grid of tiny picture elements, or pixels. To find how many megapixels it has, multiply the image width by its height to get the total pixel count, then divide by 1,000,000 because "mega" means one million. This works because the width and height together count every pixel in the rectangular image exactly once.
When to use it
Use this when comparing camera resolutions, checking whether an image is large enough for printing, or estimating file size and detail level. It is also useful when converting a pixel resolution like 1920×1080 into megapixels.
Worked example, step by step
Image size = 4000 px × 3000 px Step 1: Multiply width and height: 4000 × 3000 = 12,000,000 pixels Step 2: Convert to megapixels: 12,000,000 ÷ 1,000,000 = 12 Final answer: MP = 12 megapixels
Common mistakes to avoid
- Dividing by 10^6 before multiplying the width and height
- Using inches or cm instead of pixel dimensions
- Thinking megapixels measure image quality alone rather than just total pixel count
Did You Know?
Beyond about 300 pixels per inch the eye can't resolve more detail, so huge megapixel counts matter mainly for cropping.
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