Figure size for scientific publications

Figure size guide forNature, Science, IEEE & more.

The complete reference for figure dimensions in major scientific journals — plus a free tool to export correctly-sized, publication-ready figures directly from Excel.

Figure size requirements by journal

JournalSingle columnDouble columnMax heightMin DPI
Nature88 mm180 mm225 mm300+
Science57 mm119 mm178 mm300+
Cell85 mm170 mm225 mm300+
PNAS87 mm178 mm230 mm300+
ACS Journals84 mm177 mm230 mm300+
IEEE Journals88 mm180 mm234 mm300+
Elsevier90 mm190 mm240 mm300+
PLOS ONE83 mm174 mm225 mm300+

Dimensions are approximate. Always verify with the current author guidelines of your target journal.

Why researchers use FigureReady for sizing

Correct sizing

FigureReady exports figures at the exact pixel dimensions specified by Nature, ACS, and IEEE.

300 dpi output

All PNG exports are 3× resolution — meeting the minimum 300 dpi requirement of all major journals.

SVG for scaling

SVG exports are resolution-independent — scale to any journal dimension without quality loss.

No reformatting

No more resizing in PowerPoint or Photoshop. Export once, submit directly.

Font-size correct

Axis labels and tick marks are sized to remain legible at single-column width after printing.

Free

No subscription, no trial. Just upload, configure, and export the correctly-sized figure.

Get a correctly-sized figure in three steps

1

Upload your Excel file

Drag and drop a .xlsx file. Columns are detected automatically.

2

Select journal style

Choose Nature, ACS, IEEE or Clean. The correct dimensions and fonts are applied instantly.

3

Export at correct size

Download a high-resolution PNG or SVG sized for single- or double-column layout.

Frequently asked questions

What figure size does Nature require?

Nature requires single-column figures to be 88 mm wide and double-column figures to be 180 mm wide, with a maximum height of 225 mm. Resolution must be at least 300 dpi for raster images. FigureReady exports PNG at 3× resolution, which meets this requirement.

What is the standard figure size for scientific publications?

Most journals follow similar conventions: single-column figures are roughly 85–90 mm wide and double-column figures are 170–190 mm wide, with a maximum height around 225 mm. The resolution requirement is universally 300 dpi minimum for print quality.

How do I resize a figure for a journal submission?

The safest approach is to use a vector format (SVG, EPS, or PDF) and scale it to the target dimensions without resampling. If using a raster format (PNG, TIFF), ensure the resolution is at least 300 dpi at the final print size. FigureReady exports SVG (scalable, lossless) and high-resolution PNG.

What DPI do I need for a scientific figure?

Most journals require a minimum of 300 dpi for photographs and combination figures, and 1000 dpi for pure line art. FigureReady exports PNG at 3× screen resolution (typically 288–300 dpi at single-column width), which satisfies the 300 dpi requirement for combined figures.

Can FigureReady automatically format figures to the correct journal size?

Yes. FigureReady includes built-in styles for Nature, ACS, and IEEE that set font sizes, line widths, and axis formatting to match each journal's guidelines. Export as SVG and scale to the exact column width specified in the journal's author instructions.

Export a correctly-sized figure in seconds

No account needed. Nature, ACS, and IEEE styles built in. Free during the beta.

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