Framing guideFrames are sold in a handful of standard sizes, and if your print matches one of them, framing is cheap and quick. If it doesn't, you're paying for custom framing or trimming your art to fit. This guide covers the common frame sizes, what mat openings go with them, metric equivalents, and how to order a print that drops straight into a frame you can buy anywhere.
One note up front: IMPRESO doesn't sell frames. We make fine art prints to standard frame sizes so they fit off-the-shelf frames from any framing store or online retailer.
01
How frame sizes are measured
A frame's listed size is the size of the artwork it holds, not the outside dimensions of the frame. An 11×14 frame takes an 11×14 piece of paper (or mat). The outside of the frame will be bigger, depending on how wide the moulding is.
That means:
- No mat: order a print the same size as the frame. An 11×14 print goes in an 11×14 frame.
- With a mat: order a print to fit the mat opening, and the mat fills the rest of the frame.
02
Common picture frame sizes
These are the sizes you'll find stocked at most framing shops, big box stores and online.
| Frame size (in) | Approx. metric (cm) | Common uses |
|---|---|---|
| 4×6 | 10.2×15.2 | Snapshots, desk and shelf |
| 5×7 | 12.7×17.8 | Desk frames, small gifts |
| 8×10 | 20.3×25.4 | Portraits, small art prints |
| 8.5×11 | 21.6×27.9 | Certificates, diplomas, letter-size art |
| 11×14 | 27.9×35.6 | Small wall art, matted 8×10s |
| 11×17 | 27.9×43.2 | Tabloid posters, art prints |
| 12×12 | 30.5×30.5 | Square art, album covers (12 in record sleeves are slightly larger) |
| 12×16 | 30.5×40.6 | Phone photos, small posters |
| 12×18 | 30.5×45.7 | Camera photos, posters |
| 16×20 | 40.6×50.8 | Classic wall art, matted 11×14s |
| 18×24 | 45.7×61.0 | Posters, large art |
| 20×24 | 50.8×61.0 | Large fine art, matted 16×20s |
| 24×36 | 61.0×91.4 | Large posters, statement pieces |
You'll also see 24×30, 27×40 (the standard US movie poster) and 30×40 at larger sizes, though they're stocked less often.
03
Standard matted frame sizes
A mat is the cardboard border between the art and the frame. It gives the work breathing room, keeps the print from touching the glass, and makes a small print look more substantial on the wall.
Mats in ready-made frames come with standard openings. The typical pairings are:
| Frame size | Mat opening fits print | Typical cut opening |
|---|---|---|
| 5×7 | 4×6 | about 3.5×5.5 |
| 8×10 | 5×7 | about 4.5×6.5 |
| 11×14 | 8×10 | about 7.5×9.5 |
| 12×16 | 8×12 | about 7.5×11.5 |
| 16×20 | 11×14 | about 10.5×13.5 |
| 18×24 | 12×18 | about 11.5×17.5 |
| 20×24 | 16×20 | about 15.5×19.5 |
| 24×36 | 20×30 | about 19.5×29.5 |
Notice the opening is a little smaller than the print it's meant for. Mats overlap the edges of the print, usually by about a quarter inch on each side, so the paper can be taped behind the mat without showing. That small overlap means you lose a sliver around the edge of your image, so keep important detail away from the very edges.
Exact openings vary by brand. Before you finalize a print size, measure the opening on the mat you actually have.
04
Metric frame sizes and the inch vs centimeter trap
Outside the US, frames are sold in centimeters. Common European and metric sizes include:
- 13×18 cm
- 18×24 cm
- 24×30 cm
- 30×40 cm
- 40×50 cm
- 50×70 cm
- 60×80 cm
- 70×100 cm
Paper-based "A" sizes are also popular for frames:
| A size | mm | Inches (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | 210×297 | 8.3×11.7 |
| A3 | 297×420 | 11.7×16.5 |
| A2 | 420×594 | 16.5×23.4 |
| A1 | 594×841 | 23.4×33.1 |
Watch out for numbers that look the same in both systems. An 18×24 cm frame is about 7×9.5 inches, while an 18×24 inch frame is a large poster frame. Retailers selling globally sometimes list both, so read the units.
Metric and imperial sizes almost never line up exactly. A4 is close to 8.5×11 but taller and narrower, and a 30×40 cm frame is close to 12×16 inches but a little short on both sides. If you've bought a metric frame, order a custom print size to match it rather than forcing an inch size in.
05
How to choose a frame size
Start with the wall
Measure the space first. For art over a sofa, bed or console, a common guideline is to make the art (including frame) about two thirds the width of the furniture. A 16×20 can look lost over a full-size sofa, while a 24×36 fills the space.
Decide on mat or no mat
- Matted looks gallery-like and classic. It's the usual choice for fine art prints and black and white photography.
- Full bleed (no mat) looks modern and lets the image do the work. It's common for posters and large color photographs.
A mat also lets you put a smaller, less expensive print in a bigger frame. An 8×10 print in an 11×14 matted frame reads as a much larger piece on the wall.
Match the image's shape
Most frame sizes have their own aspect ratio. An 8×10 or 16×20 is 5:4, which is squarer than a 3:2 camera photo, so some cropping is unavoidable. If you shoot on a camera and don't want to crop, look at 12×18 or 24×36 frames (both 3:2). For phone photos, 12×16 and 18×24 (both 4:3) are the closest match. Our standard photo print sizes guide covers the pixels you need for each, and the free file check on our order page shows the crop live.
Plan a gallery wall
For a grid or salon-style wall, stick to two or three sizes and one frame style. Common combinations are 8×10 and 11×14, or 11×14 and 16×20. Keep spacing between frames consistent, usually 2 to 3 inches.
06
Print size vs frame size: what to order
This is where most framing mistakes happen. Use this rule:
- Frame with no mat: print size equals frame size.
- Frame with a mat: print size equals the size the mat is designed for (slightly larger than the opening).
- Custom mat: decide the print size first, then have the mat cut to it.
Some examples:
- You bought an 11×14 frame with a mat. Order an 8×10 print.
- You bought a 16×20 frame and want no mat. Order a 16×20 print.
- You bought a 24×36 poster frame. Order a 24×36 print.
- You have a metric 50×70 cm frame. Order a custom print at about 19.7×27.6 inches, or have a mat cut for a standard inch size.
07
Print sizes we make at IMPRESO
Our standard sizes match the most common US frames: 8×10, 8.5×11, 10×12, 11×14, 12×16, 16×20, 18×24, 20×24, 24×24, 24×32 and 24×36. Each is printed as a fine art giclée on Epson Signature Worthy paper with archival pigment inks, and checked by hand in our Ridgewood, Queens studio. Custom sizes up to 24 inches wide are available by quote, which is handy for metric frames or vintage frames you've picked up.
Prices start at $30 for an 8×10 on Ultra Premium Luster. Full prices by size and paper, plus volume discounts for gallery walls, are on our pricing page.
08
Quick framing checklist
- Measure the frame's mat opening or inside rabbet, not the outside.
- Decide mat or no mat before you order the print.
- Keep important detail away from the edges if a mat will overlap.
- Check units on any metric or imported frame.
- Choose a paper that suits glass: luster and matte papers both frame well.
Get a print that fits
Tell us the frame size and we'll make a print that drops right in. There's no minimum order, standard turnaround is 3 to 5 business days, and pickup at our Ridgewood studio is free. Build your print, choose your size and paper, and use the free file check to see exactly how it will look.
Build your print → See giclée printing →More guides
