Question
What resolution are AI-generated images?
It depends on the model and the size you ask for. Many models return about 1 megapixel by default, such as 1024 x 1024 pixels, and some can produce 2K or 4K images. The output size is set when the image is made, not when you download it.
Published defaults vary. OpenAI's image generation guide recommends 1024 x 1024, 1536 x 1024 and 1024 x 1536, and says sizes above 2560 x 1440 are experimental. Other makers document larger 2K and 4K outputs for some of their models.
Resolution is not the same as quality. A 4K image can still have a soft face or a misspelled sign, and a 1K image can look sharp on a phone. Decide where the image will be used first: a social post needs far fewer pixels than a poster. The print math is on What resolution do I need to print an image?.
If an image is too small for its use, an upscaler can enlarge it, but it adds detail the model invents rather than detail that was there.
In ImageQuarry, you compare versions side by side, choose the one that works and download it. Check the pixel size of the download against where the image will appear.
Sources: Google's developer documentation, Gemini image generation; OpenAI's image generation guide; both checked October 20, 2026.
Related questions
Last reviewed October 20, 2026 by ImageQuarry
Create an image. Edit it with words. Keep refining.
Make the version you need, then download it
Compare versions in ImageQuarry, choose one, and check the pixel size before you use it.
Start creatingAlready have an account? Sign in