Picture frame sizes
Standard frame sizes in inches and centimetres, with the print each one holds behind a mat. Tap any size to see that frame at its real size on a photo of your own wall.
Chart
Standard picture frame sizes
Standard picture frame sizes run from 4 × 6 in and 5 × 7 in for photos, through 8 × 10, 11 × 14 and 16 × 20 in for art prints, to 18 × 24 and 24 × 36 in for posters. Outside the US, frames come in A sizes and 50 × 70 cm.
Updated November 2026
| Frame size | Inches | Centimetres | With a mat, holds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 frame at true size on your wallPhoto · See on your wall | 4 × 6 in | 10.2 × 15.2 cm | - | Standard photo prints, a desk, a shelf or a small gallery wall |
| 5 × 7 frame at true size on your wallSee on your wall | 5 × 7 in | 12.7 × 17.8 cm | - | Photos and small art cards, shelves and side tables |
| 8 × 10 frame at true size on your wallSee on your wall | 8 × 10 in | 20.3 × 25.4 cm | - | Portraits and small art prints, the smallest wall frame |
| 11 × 14 frame at true size on your wallSee on your wall | 11 × 14 in | 27.9 × 35.6 cm | - | Small art prints, a narrow wall, the small frames of a gallery wall |
| 11 × 17 frame at true size on your wallSee on your wall | 11 × 17 in | 27.9 × 43.2 cm | - | Small posters beside a desk or in a gallery wall |
| 12 × 18 frame at true size on your wallSee on your wall | 12 × 18 in | 30.5 × 45.7 cm | - | Art prints and photo posters, gallery walls |
| 16 × 20 frame at true size on your wallSee on your wall | 16 × 20 in | 40.6 × 50.8 cm | 11 × 14 in print | Photo prints and art above a desk or dresser |
| 18 × 24 frame at true size on your wallMedium · See on your wall | 18 × 24 in | 45.7 × 61 cm | - | The everyday medium poster: bedrooms, a wall of its own |
| 20 × 24 frame at true size on your wallSee on your wall | 20 × 24 in | 50.8 × 61 cm | 16 × 20 in print | Near-square art and photos, a 16 × 20 print with a mat |
| 24 × 36 frame at true size on your wallLarge · See on your wall | 24 × 36 in | 61 × 91.4 cm | - | The standard large poster: above a bed or a sofa |
| 27 × 40 frame at true size on your wallMovie poster · See on your wall | 27 × 40 in | 68.6 × 101.6 cm | - | Movie posters (one sheet) and statement art |
| A3 frame at true size on your wallSee on your wall | 11.7 × 16.5 in | 29.7 × 42 cm | - | Small posters and prints outside the US |
| A2 frame at true size on your wallSee on your wall | 16.5 × 23.4 in | 42 × 59.4 cm | - | Medium posters: bedrooms, offices, gallery walls |
| A1 frame at true size on your wallSee on your wall | 23.4 × 33.1 in | 59.4 × 84.1 cm | - | Large posters above a bed or sofa |
| 50 × 70 cm frame at true size on your wallSee on your wall | 19.7 × 27.6 in | 50 × 70 cm | - | The standard European art print, above a bed or sofa |
Sizes are portrait (width × height). Inch sizes are exact and centimetres are converted at 2.54 cm per inch; A sizes and 50 × 70 cm are metric, converted to inches the same way. With a mat, the opening is cut about 1/4 in (6 mm) smaller than the print so the mat overlaps its edges. Without a mat, a print takes a frame of its own size.
Frame or print size
Frame size vs print size: with and without a mat
Without a mat, a print takes a frame of the same size: a 24 × 36 in poster goes in a 24 × 36 in frame.
With a mat, pick a frame 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) larger each way, with a mat opening about 1/4 in (6 mm) smaller than the print so the mat overlaps its edges. Common pairs: an 8 × 10 in print in an 11 × 14 in frame, 11 × 14 in a 16 × 20, and 16 × 20 in a 20 × 24.
A sizes and inch frames do not match. An A2 poster is 16.5 × 23.4 in, so it rattles in an 18 × 24 in frame. Buy an A2 frame, or an 18 × 24 in frame with a mat cut for A2. For large posters (24 × 36 in and up), acrylic is lighter and safer than glass, especially above a bed.
On the wall
How big, and how high to hang it
Hang a picture so its centre is 145 to 152 cm (57 to 60 in) from the floor, about eye level.
Above furniture, art looks right at 60 to 75% of the furniture's width. One frame rarely gets there above a bed or sofa, so pick the largest that fits or hang two or more side by side. Posters by size are in the poster sizes chart.
For a gallery wall, space frames 5 to 8 cm apart and plan the whole group to the same proportion. Start from gallery wall layouts with exact frame sizes, then open one on your own wall.
See a frame on your own wall
Upload a photo, mark how wide the wall is, and place frames at their real sizes before you buy or drill.
Picture frame size FAQ
What size frame do I need for my print?
Without a mat, buy a frame the same size as the print: a 24 × 36 in poster goes in a 24 × 36 in frame. With a mat, choose a frame 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) larger each way, with a mat opening about 1/4 in (6 mm) smaller than the print so the mat overlaps its edges.
What size frame does an 8x10 print need with a mat?
An 11 × 14 in frame. The same step works up the range: an 11 × 14 in print goes in a 16 × 20 in frame, and a 16 × 20 in print in a 20 × 24 in frame.
Does an A2 poster fit an 18x24 frame?
Not snugly. An A2 poster is 16.5 × 23.4 in, so it rattles in an 18 × 24 in frame. Buy an A2 frame, or an 18 × 24 in frame with a mat cut for A2.
How high should I hang a picture frame?
Hang it so its centre is 145 to 152 cm (57 to 60 in) from the floor, about eye level, the standard used by galleries and museums.
Glass or acrylic for a large frame?
For large posters (24 × 36 in and up), acrylic is lighter and safer than glass, especially above a bed.
How do I know which frame size looks right on my wall?
Upload a photo of the wall to the walldecor.io wall art visualizer, mark how wide the wall is, and place frames at their real size. It is free to try, with no signup.