Research Poster Size — 36 × 48 in
The 36 × 48 inch research poster is the most common format at academic and scientific conferences. At 300 DPI it's 10800 × 14400 pixels. Conference organisers may specify portrait (36×48) or landscape (48×36) — always check the event specifications. Displayed at eye level on stands, readable from 0.5–2 metres.
Specifications
| Pixels | 10800 × 14400 px (at 300 DPI) |
| Millimetres | 914.4 × 1219.2 mm |
| Centimetres | 91.4 × 121.9 cm |
| Inches | 36 × 48 in |
| Aspect ratio | 3:4 |
| Colour mode | CMYK or RGB (large-format printers accept both) |
| Bleed | 0.125 in (3 mm) |
| Safe zone | 0.5 in (12.7 mm) from trim |
Research Poster (36×48) in Pixels at Different DPI
The pixel count changes with DPI setting — choose the right one for your output.
| DPI | Width (px) | Height (px) | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 2,592 | 3,456 | Screen preview, PDF viewers |
| 96 | 3,456 | 4,608 | Windows screen standard, digital documents |
| 150 | 5,400 | 7,200 | Medium-quality print, home printers |
| 300 | 10,800 | 14,400 | Professional print, commercial offset |
Design Tips
- →Academic poster content is dense — use a clear column layout (2–3 columns) with distinct sections. Visitors spend 30–60 seconds on a conference poster, so hierarchy matters.
- →Body text at 18–24 pt is the minimum for comfortable reading at 0.5–1 metre viewing distance. Section headings at 32–36 pt.
- →Many conference organisers accept landscape 48×36 or portrait 36×48 — verify orientation before starting your layout.
- →For large-format printing, many print services accept RGB files for wide-format inkjet — check with your university print service, as they may not require CMYK conversion.
How to Make Research Poster (36×48) Designs in Playyy
Three steps, no design software. Set the size once — from the size options or straight in your prompt — and every design comes out at 10,800 × 14,400 px.
- 1
Open Playyy
Playyy runs in your browser, so there's nothing to download. Sign in and you'll land on the Home page.
- 2
Type your prompt and set the Research Poster (36×48) size
Describe what you want in the input box on the Home page, then set the size whichever way is quicker. Pick Research Poster (36×48) from the size options right underneath — print, poster, and social formats are all in that list. Or just say it in your prompt, like "Research Poster (36×48) at 10,800 × 14,400 px", and Playyy matches it. Either way you get 10,800 × 14,400 px at 300 DPI, with no converting from millimetres or inches.
- 3
Create your Research Poster (36×48) design and export it for print
Playyy generates the design at the full 10,800 × 14,400 px — that's Research Poster (36×48) at 300 DPI, the resolution commercial print expects. Allow 0.125 in (3 mm) of bleed and export a print-ready PDF. Colour mode: CMYK or RGB (large-format printers accept both).
Create Research Poster (36×48) designs with Playyy
Type a prompt, pick Research Poster (36×48) from the size options underneath it, and export at 10800 × 14400 px — no design software needed.
Start designing free →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard research poster size?+
The most common academic research poster size is 36 × 48 inches (914.4 × 1219.2 mm) in portrait orientation. At 300 DPI this is 10800 × 14400 pixels. Always check the specific conference requirements — some events use 48×36 landscape or A0 (841×1189 mm) depending on the region.
What size is an academic research poster?+
36 × 48 in (914.4 × 1219.2 mm) is the most common conference standard, or 10800 × 14400 px at 300 DPI. Always check the specific conference's guidelines first — 42 × 36 in and A0 (841 × 1189 mm) are also widely used, and boards are often sized to one specific format.
Should a research poster be portrait or landscape?+
Most conferences specify landscape, but 36 × 48 in is commonly used both ways. Landscape suits a three or four column layout that reads left to right; portrait suits a top-to-bottom narrative. The conference's board dimensions decide this, so confirm before designing.
What font size should a research poster use?+
Title at 72–100 pt, section headings at 36–48 pt, body text at 24–32 pt. The test is whether the body text reads from 1.5 metres — that is where a conference attendee stands. Anything below 24 pt on a 36 × 48 in poster forces people to lean in, and most will not.
How much text should a research poster have?+
Under 800 words in total. A poster is a conversation starter, not a paper — figures, one clear takeaway per section, and enough structure that someone can follow it in 90 seconds. Detail belongs in the handout or the QR-linked full paper.