T-Shirt Design Size in Canva — Exact Pixel Dimensions

Canva defaults to pixels, but print shops want inches at 300 DPI. The disconnect trips up a lot of POD sellers — you design something that looks great on screen, upload it, and the print shop flags it as too low resolution.

Here are the exact Canva artboard sizes you need for every common t-shirt placement, plus how to verify your file before uploading.

Why Canva's Default Sizes Don't Match Print Requirements

When you open a new design in Canva and pick "T-Shirt" from templates, Canva creates an artboard at 4500 × 5400 px — which is fine. But if you start from a blank canvas or use a social media preset, the dimensions are for screens (72–96 DPI), not print (300 DPI).

The rule: print pixels = print inches × DPI. A 12 × 16 inch print area at 300 DPI = 3600 × 4800 pixels. Canva lets you set any custom size, so use these numbers directly.

Canva Artboard Sizes for Common T-Shirt Placements

Set your Canva artboard to one of these sizes when creating a t-shirt design:

Placement	Print Area	Canva Size (px)
Full front / Full back	12 × 16 in	3600 × 4800
Full front (large, 3XL+)	14 × 18 in	4200 × 5400
Chest logo (standard)	4 × 4 in	1200 × 1200
Chest logo (small)	3.5 × 3.5 in	1050 × 1050
Sleeve print	3 × 5 in	900 × 1500
Youth shirt front	9 × 11 in	2700 × 3300

To set a custom size in Canva: click Create a design → Custom size, enter the pixel dimensions, and make sure the unit dropdown shows "px".

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Exporting from Canva for Print

After designing, export as PNG (not JPG) if your design has transparent areas. Use JPG for solid-background designs — it produces smaller files.

In Canva's download dialog:

• File type: PNG (for transparent backgrounds) or PDF Print
• If PNG: make sure "Transparent background" is checked for designs without a white fill
• Avoid "JPG" for designs with fine text — PNG is sharper at the same pixel size

After exporting, verify your file is big enough using the Print Size Calculator before uploading to your POD platform.

How to Check Canva Export Resolution Before Uploading

Canva doesn't show you DPI on export — it just gives you pixels. To verify your design will print sharp:

1. Export your design from Canva as PNG
2. Open the Print Size Calculator
3. Select your product and print area (e.g., T-Shirt → Full Front)
4. Upload your exported file — the tool reads its pixel dimensions instantly
5. See pass/warning/fail based on whether your design meets the 300 DPI target

The check happens entirely in your browser — your file is never uploaded to any server.

Common Canva Mistakes for T-Shirt Designs

• Starting from the wrong template: Social media templates are 1080 × 1080 px — way too small for most print areas at 300 DPI.
• Using raster images at low resolution: Stock photos from Canva may look sharp on screen but be low resolution. Check them before using.
• Forgetting bleed: Some platforms require a bleed area (usually 0.125") around the design. For a 12 × 16" print area, your artboard might need to be 12.25 × 16.25".
• Downloading at "Compressed" quality: Always download at original or high quality — compressed JPG loses sharpness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should I make my Canva artboard for a t-shirt?

For a standard full-front print, set your Canva artboard to 3600 × 4800 pixels. This equals a 12 × 16 inch print area at 300 DPI — the recommended standard for DTG and screen printing.

Can I use Canva's t-shirt template?

Yes. Canva's built-in T-Shirt template is 4500 × 5400 px, which corresponds to a 15 × 18 inch print area — larger than the standard 12 × 16 inch zone. Your design will be scaled down on most POD platforms, but you'll have plenty of resolution.

Does Canva export at 300 DPI?

Canva doesn't explicitly set DPI on PNG exports — the resolution is determined purely by pixel dimensions. If you set your artboard to 3600 × 4800 px (matching a 12 × 16" print area), the effective DPI on a 12 × 16" print is exactly 300.