Why does my SVG import at the wrong size?
Updated Nov 11, 2026
Short answer: The SVG is sized in pixels, and programs count a different number of pixels per inch (Illustrator 72, most others 96). Save it with real units.
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Why it happens
An SVG can store its size in real units (millimeters or inches) or in pixels. A pixel has no fixed size, so each program has to guess how many pixels make an inch:
| Program | Pixels per inch | A 4 in design saved in pixels opens as |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Illustrator (saving) | 72 | 288 px |
| Inkscape, browsers, most laser software (reading) | 96 | 288 px = 3 in |
That is why an Illustrator SVG often comes in at three quarters of its size. Other causes: the design was drawn at the wrong scale, or the laser software scaled it to fit the bed on import.
How to fix it
- Drop the SVG into the checker above. It shows the size it will cut at, in millimeters and inches, and warns if the file is sized in pixels.
- Correct the size if needed: type the width you meant, or press "Illustrator fix (×1.33)" for Illustrator files.
- Download the SVG. It is saved in millimeters, so every program opens it at the same size.
By hand in Illustrator, set the document units to inches or millimeters before exporting; some users report that unticking "Responsive" in the SVG export options keeps the size. In Inkscape, set the document's display units and scale in Document Properties.
Real example: before and after
What the checker found
- Size may be wrong: 74.1 mm (2.92 in) wide × 74.1 mm (2.92 in) tall
What was fixed
- Grew it by a third to its real size: 4 inches across (Illustrator counts 72 pixels per inch, laser software 96).
Download: before (SVG) · after (SVG)
Questions
Why is my Illustrator SVG three quarters of the size in my laser software?
Illustrator saves SVGs in pixels and counts 72 pixels per inch. Most laser software counts 96 pixels per inch, so 72 pixels comes in as three quarters of an inch instead of one inch. Scale by 1.333, or use the "Illustrator fix" button in the checker.
Why does xTool Creative Space shrink my SVG?
When a design is bigger than the canvas, xTool can offer to scale it down on import. Choose "No, display it in the original size", or set the import option to keep the size.
What size does the fixed SVG use?
Millimeters, written into the file. LightBurn, xTool software and the Glowforge app all read millimeter SVGs at the right size.