300×400 px Photo

The 300x400 pixel document photo is a compact, pixel-defined portrait format used by many online application systems that expect a precise image size rather than a printed card. At 300 dpi the image measures 25.4 by 33.87 millimetres, which is roughly 1.0 by 1.33 inches. Because the requirement is expressed in pixels, the most important thing is that the final file is exactly 300 pixels wide and 400 pixels tall, with the subject correctly scaled inside that frame.

This guide explains exactly what the 300x400 standard demands, why submissions are sometimes refused, and how our service prepares a file that lands inside the accepted range on the first attempt.

Where this size is used

A 300x400 pixel photo is most often requested by web-based portals, account verification pages, electronic forms and digital identity uploads that store your portrait as part of a record. These systems usually validate the upload automatically, checking pixel dimensions, file type and the position of the head before they accept it. Because the check is mechanical, an image that is a few pixels off, or a face that sits too high or too low, is rejected without explanation. A correctly built 300x400 file removes that friction.

Exact specification

The portrait must be produced to the following measurements. The head height should be approximately 25.4 millimetres, which corresponds to between 55 and 75 percent of the total image height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the hair. The background must be a clean, even white (#FFFFFF) with no shadows, gradients or visible edges. The expression should be neutral with the mouth closed and no smile, eyes open and looking straight at the camera.

• Output size: exactly 300 x 400 pixels at 300 dpi (25.4 x 33.87 mm, about 1.0 x 1.33 in)
• Head height: around 25.4 mm, roughly 55-75 percent of the frame
• Background: plain white #FFFFFF, evenly lit, no shadow
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, both eyes open
• Glasses: permitted, provided the eyes are clearly visible with no glare or heavy frames
• Headwear: not permitted
• File: JPG up to 2 MB

Glasses, head covering and expression

Ordinary prescription glasses are allowed in this format as long as the lenses do not reflect light into the camera and the frames do not cover any part of the eyes. If you wear glasses every day, keep them on, but tilt your head slightly or adjust the lighting to remove glare. Tinted or dark lenses are not acceptable because the eyes must remain visible. Head coverings such as hats, caps or hoods are not permitted; the full outline of the head and hairline should be visible against the white background.

Common rejection reasons

Most failures come down to a handful of repeated mistakes. The image is the wrong pixel size, so the portal resizes or rejects it. The head is too large and gets cropped at the top, or too small and leaves too much empty space. The background is a wall that looks grey or uneven once the photo is taken indoors. There is a shadow behind the shoulders or under the chin. The person is smiling or the eyes are partly closed. Each of these is easy to avoid once you know what the validator is looking for.

How we prepare your photo

When you upload an everyday portrait, our service handles the technical work for you. We isolate the subject and replace the background with a uniform white field, then scale and centre the face so the head height and eye line fall inside the 55-75 percent window. We export the result as a 300 by 400 pixel JPG at 300 dpi, compressed to stay under the 2 MB limit while keeping the detail sharp. You receive a file that already matches the dimensional and quality rules of the format.

Print and digital

Although the 300x400 format is built for screen upload, the same file can be printed if a physical copy is ever needed. Because the file carries a true 300 dpi resolution it reproduces cleanly at its small native size. For most people, however, this is a digital-first format: you keep the JPG, upload it to the system that asked for it, and reuse the same file wherever the 300x400 specification appears.