How to Print 5×7 Photos at Home
Print a 5×7-inch photo from a PDF at actual size. Check the 5×7 versus 13×18 cm difference, crop, paper, and printer scaling.
Quick size facts
A 5 × 7 inch print measures 127 × 177.8 mm. It is close to, but not the same as, 13 × 18 cm (130 × 180 mm). Use the dimensions named by your frame or photo paper instead of treating these formats as interchangeable.
Prepare the image and PDF
Choose a 5 × 7 inch layout and decide how to handle the crop. Many phone photos use a 3:2 shape, while 5 × 7 is 5:7; Fill uses more of the paper but trims a little from the image, while Fit preserves the whole image with possible blank edges. Export a PDF sized for the paper you plan to load.
Set the printer correctly
Load paper that your printer supports, select its exact size and matching media type, and print the PDF at 100% or Actual Size. Disable Fit to Page or Scale to Fit when physical dimensions matter. Borderless printing can enlarge the image and crop the outer edge.
Check sharpness and crop
Preview the full composition before printing. For a sharp 5 × 7 print, a useful target is about 1500 × 2100 image pixels at 300 pixels per inch; lower-resolution files may still print acceptably, depending on viewing distance and image detail. Make one test print and measure it before printing more.
Common question: is 5×7 the same as 13×18 cm?
No. 5 × 7 inches converts to 12.7 × 17.78 cm, while 13 × 18 cm is larger. The two are similar in everyday use, but an exact-fit frame, mat, or template can expose the difference.