5×5 cm (50×50 mm) Photo

The 50×50 mm photo is a square document format measuring 2×2 inches in metric terms. Its equal sides make it instantly recognisable and it is one of the more common square requirements for identity documents, applications and institutional cards. Being a generic square size, it is asked for by authorities in many regions, so what matters is matching the 50 by 50 millimetre dimensions and the framing rules precisely.

Our service produces a clean, correctly proportioned 50×50 mm image that is ready for both printing and digital submission.

Where this size is used

Square 50×50 mm photos turn up on a range of identity cards, application packets, examination registrations and membership documents. The square shape suits forms and card slots designed around a 1:1 portrait, and it gives a balanced composition with the face centred. As with any generic size, confirm with the requesting office that they want 50×50 mm specifically, since a square 50×50 differs from rectangular formats and from the pixel-based square sizes used elsewhere.

Exact specification

The finished image is 50 millimetres on each side, exactly 2×2 inches. At 300 dpi this corresponds to about 591×591 pixels. The head height target is approximately 37.5 mm, which places the face within a band of roughly 50 to 69 percent of the frame height; the wider square leaves more visible margin around the head than a tight rectangular crop. The background must be plain white (#FFFFFF), evenly lit and shadow-free, with the subject centred, facing forward and holding a neutral expression.

• Dimensions: 50×50 mm (2×2 in), 300 dpi, about 591×591 px
• Head height: approximately 37.5 mm (about 50–69% of frame height)
• Background: plain white, uniform and free of shadows
• Expression: neutral, mouth closed, no smile
• Glasses: not allowed
• Headwear: not permitted except for everyday religious coverings that keep the face visible
• File: JPG, up to 2 MB

Common rejection reasons

For the square 50×50 mm format, the head being too large is a frequent error: because the frame is wide, people often crop in too tightly, pushing the head beyond the intended share of the image. The opposite, a head that is too small and lost in the square, also occurs. A background that is not pure white, shadows behind the head, glasses of any kind (which are not allowed for this size), a smile or open lips, and hair obscuring the eyes are the other common reasons for refusal. Low-resolution files that appear soft at print size are rejected as well.

How we prepare your photo

Upload a regular photo on any background. We separate you from the original surroundings, set you against a uniform white field, and centre the portrait within the square frame. The head is scaled to the approximately 37.5 mm target so it sits correctly inside the 50×50 mm crop, with balanced margins on all sides. We verify lighting, the neutral expression and the no-glasses rule, then export a 300 dpi JPG at exactly 50×50 mm, kept under 2 MB and ready to use.

Print vs digital

The 50×50 mm square works as both a print and an upload. For physical submission, the 300 dpi file prints sharply at its true 2×2 inch size, and the square format cuts cleanly to a card or form slot. For online forms, the same JPG stays within the 2 MB limit and uploads without further editing. Delivering one accurately sized file means you can print it or attach it digitally without preparing the photo twice.

Square framing made simple

Square portraits behave differently from rectangular ones, and that is where most mistakes happen. With equal sides, there is a temptation to fill the frame with the face, but the 50×50 mm standard expects clear space above the head and on both sides so the portrait does not look crowded. We treat the square as a balanced composition: the head is centred horizontally, set at the approximately 37.5 mm height, and given even margins all around. This keeps the face within the 50 to 69 percent band the format allows. If you are taking the original yourself, leave plenty of room around your head when you shoot, because it is always easy for us to crop inward to the exact square, but impossible to add space that was never captured.

Getting the 50×50 mm square right once gives you a versatile, reusable portrait for any document or institution that asks for this familiar 2×2 inch size.