How to Crop an Image to an Exact Size (2026): Pixels and Aspect Ratios

Cropping an image to an exact size, in short: crop to the target aspect ratio first, then resize to the exact pixels. On Windows, Paint shows the selection size in pixels as you drag; on a Mac, Preview's Crop Inspector shows it. iPhone and Android crop only to ratios such as 1:1 or 9:16, so finish in a resizer. For 1080×1350, crop to 4:5 and resize.

More on this topic: Photo editing how-tos, every guide in one place.

Most "exact size" requests are really two jobs. Cropping decides which part of the picture you keep and sets its shape; resizing sets how many pixels that shape has. Few built-in apps take a crop size in pixels, but all of them crop to a ratio, and once the ratio is right any resizer hits the exact size without stretching. Below: Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and online, plus the crop math.

What is the difference between cropping and resizing?

Cropping cuts away the edges of an image; resizing scales the whole image up or down. A crop changes what's in the frame and often the shape, but leaves the remaining pixels untouched. A resize keeps everything in the frame but changes the pixel count. If you resize to a different shape without cropping, the image gets stretched or squashed.

So to turn a 4032×3024 phone photo into a 1080×1350 Instagram portrait, you crop it to 4:5 (about 2419×3024), then resize that down to 1080×1350. More on resizing cleanly is in how to resize an image without losing quality.

How do you work out the crop for an exact size?

Divide the target width by the target height to get the ratio, then keep as much of your image as that ratio allows. If your photo is wider than the target shape, keep the full height and set the width to height × ratio. If it's taller, keep the full width and set the height to width ÷ ratio.

A crop doesn't have to be the largest possible. Cropping tighter is fine as long as the crop stays at least as big as the target, because shrinking keeps images sharp. The full list of common shapes is in our aspect ratio guide.

How do you crop an image to an exact size on Windows?

Use Paint for exact pixels, because it shows the size of your selection as you drag. The Photos app is quicker for standard ratios but doesn't show or accept pixel sizes for a crop.

In Paint (exact pixels)

1. Right-click the image, choose Open with > Paint.
2. Click Select and choose Rectangle.
3. Drag over the area you want to keep. Watch the selection size in the status bar at the bottom of the window and adjust until it reads your target, for example 1080 × 1350 px.
4. Click Crop (or press Ctrl+Shift+X). Everything outside the selection is removed.
5. Choose File > Save as and pick JPG or PNG, so the original stays untouched.

If the selection is a pixel or two off, Paint's Image properties dialog (Ctrl+E) lets you type the canvas width and height in pixels; making the canvas smaller trims from the right and bottom edges. To hit a size bigger or smaller than your crop, use Resize, enter pixels and keep Maintain aspect ratio ticked.

In the Photos app (preset ratios)

1. Open the image in Photos and select Edit image (Ctrl+E).
2. In the Crop section, choose an aspect ratio preset such as square, or drag the corners freely.
3. Drag the photo inside the frame to choose what stays in.
4. Save, choosing to save a copy if you want to keep the original.

Photos doesn't take crop dimensions in pixels, so resize afterwards if you need exact pixels.

The crop menus and steps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Google Photos were checked in October 2026. Marketplaces change their rules, so confirm the current requirements in your seller dashboard before you upload a large batch.

How do you crop an image to an exact size on a Mac?

Preview shows your selection's dimensions in its Crop Inspector, so you can match a pixel size by eye; Photos for Mac lets you type any custom ratio.

In Preview

1. Open the image in Preview. If the Markup toolbar is hidden, click Show Markup Toolbar.
2. Click the Rectangular Selection tool and drag over the area to keep.
3. Choose Tools > Show Inspector, click the Crop Inspector and set the unit to pixels. Adjust the selection handles until the size matches your target.
4. Click the Crop button in the Markup toolbar.
5. To change the pixel count afterwards, use Tools > Adjust Size, set pixels, keep Scale proportionally and Resample image on, and enter the width.

In Photos for Mac

1. Double-click the photo and click Edit, then Crop.
2. In the sidebar, pick a ratio such as Square, 4:5 or 16:9, or choose Custom and type your own (for example 1200 and 630).
3. Drag the photo to frame it and click Done.
4. Export with File > Export and set a custom size if you need exact pixels.

How do you crop a photo to a specific size on iPhone?

Use the Photos app's aspect ratio presets, then resize if you need exact pixels. The built-in crop tool doesn't take pixel dimensions.

1. Open the photo in Photos and tap the Edit button.
2. Tap Crop.
3. Tap the Aspect Ratio button and choose a preset such as Square, Wallpaper, 9:16 or 5:7.
4. Drag the photo or the corners to frame it. Corners keep the chosen ratio; to crop freely, tap the lock at the top-right corner of the photo to unlock it.
5. Tap Done. To get back the original later, open it, tap Edit and choose Revert.

Then open our free image resizer in Safari, type the exact width and height, and download.

How do you crop a photo to a specific size on Android?

In Google Photos, crop with an aspect ratio preset, then resize for exact pixels.

1. Open the photo in Google Photos and tap Edit, then Crop.
2. Tap Aspect ratio and pick a preset, such as square. The options vary by app version.
3. Touch and hold, then drag the crop handles to frame the photo.
4. Tap the checkmark, then Save (or Save as copy, to keep the original).

How do you crop an image to an exact size online?

Two free tools in your browser cover both halves of the job, and neither uploads your photo:

• Crop to a ratio and see the pixels. Our free image cropper locks to 1:1, 4:5, 9:16, 16:9, 3:2, 2:3 or 5:4 (or crops freely), shows the crop's width and height in pixels as you drag, rotates and flips, and saves as JPG, PNG or WebP. It keeps the original pixels and doesn't resize.
• Hit exact pixels in one step. The free image resizer takes any width and height up to 8000 px, with presets for Amazon, Shopify, Etsy, eBay and social sizes. Choose crop to fill and it fills the exact frame by trimming the center, or pad to fit the whole photo on a colored background instead.

Crop first when you care which part of the photo is kept (a product off to one side, say), then resize. Use crop to fill when the subject is centered and you just need the size.

Does cropping reduce image quality?

No, cropping doesn't change the pixels you keep, but it does leave you with fewer of them. That only becomes a problem when you crop small and then enlarge: a 600×750 crop resized to 1080×1350 is being stretched nearly 2× and will look soft. Saving as JPG again also adds a little compression each time, so work from the original and save once.

Common exact sizes sellers crop to

Check current specs before a big batch: Instagram post size, Etsy listing photo size and Amazon product image requirements. For squares specifically, how to make an image square covers padding as well as cropping.

Frequently asked questions

How do I crop an image to exact pixel dimensions?

Crop to the target aspect ratio, then resize to the exact pixels. On Windows, Paint shows the selection size in pixels while you drag, so you can crop straight to a size. Elsewhere, crop to the ratio and use a resizer for the final dimensions.

Can I crop to an exact size on iPhone?

Not in pixels with the built-in Photos app. Crop with an aspect ratio preset such as Square or 9:16, then resize to the exact width and height with an online resizer.

How do I crop a photo to 1080x1350?

Crop to a 4:5 ratio (a 4032×3024 photo gives about 2419×3024), then resize to 1080×1350. Most crop tools have a 4:5 preset, or you can enter 4:5 as a custom ratio.

What's the difference between cropping and resizing?

Cropping removes the edges of the image and can change its shape. Resizing changes the pixel count of the whole image and must keep the shape, or the image will stretch.

Does cropping a photo lower its quality?

No. The pixels you keep are unchanged. Quality only drops if the crop is smaller than the size you need and you enlarge it, or if you re-save a JPG many times.

How do I crop without distorting the image?

Lock the crop to the target ratio before you drag, and when you resize, keep the aspect ratio linked. Stretching happens when width and height are changed independently.

What if I can't crop without cutting off the product?

Pad the image instead: place it on a canvas of the target size with a white or colored background, or use an AI image extender to add matching background around it.