Independent framing reference
Frame sizes with the actual numbers
35 guides covering every standard picture, photo and poster frame size, what each one holds once you add a mat, and how to build, mat and hang a frame properly — plus 5 free calculators that tell you what fits before you spend anything.
- 35 in-depth guides
- 5 free calculators
- No sign-up, no ads in your way
Most-read guides
Frame sizesStandard picture frame sizes explained
Every standard picture frame size in inches and centimetres, which print each one fits, and how matting changes the frame size you need to buy.
Frame sizesThe 11x14 frame, measured properly
What an 11x14 frame actually holds, the mat openings that turn it into an 8x10 or 8.5x11 display, and how to buy one that fits.
Frame sizesPoster frame sizes and what they fit
Standard poster frame sizes from 11x17 to 27x40, the odd sizes posters actually ship in, and how to frame a poster without trimming it.
MaterialsPicture frame mats and mat sizes
How a mat is measured, the overlap that stops a print falling through, standard mat openings by frame size, and custom mat maths.
How-toWhat size frame do I need?
Measure the artwork, decide on a mat, then pick the frame — with a lookup table for every common print size, matted and unmatted.
Frame sizesDiploma and graduation frames
Diploma frame sizes by school, how to measure a certificate before you buy, double-diploma layouts, and why diploma frames cost what they do.
All 35 guides
Open the full index →Frame sizes17
Exact outside dimensions, matting maths and print pairings for every standard frame size.
Standard picture frame sizes explained
Every standard picture frame size in inches and centimetres, which print each one fits, and how matting changes the frame size you need to buy.
Frame size chart
A printable frame size chart pairing every common frame with its photo, poster and art print size in both inches and centimetres.
The 11x14 frame, measured properly
What an 11x14 frame actually holds, the mat openings that turn it into an 8x10 or 8.5x11 display, and how to buy one that fits.
Poster frame sizes and what they fit
Standard poster frame sizes from 11x17 to 27x40, the odd sizes posters actually ship in, and how to frame a poster without trimming it.
Diploma and graduation frames
Diploma frame sizes by school, how to measure a certificate before you buy, double-diploma layouts, and why diploma frames cost what they do.
The 12x18 frame
12x18 is a true 2:3 frame size, which makes it perfect for DSLR photos and awkward for everything else. Here is what fits and what does not.
The 20x30 frame
A 20x30 frame fits a 2:3 enlargement edge to edge. Here are the mat options, weight limits and hanging hardware a frame that size needs.
5x7 picture frames
The 5x7 frame is the desk and shelf standard. Here is what fits it, the mat that drops a 4x6 inside, and how to group them well.
The 8x10 frame
How big an 8x10 frame really is on the wall, the 5x7 and 4x6 mat openings that fit it, and when to size up to a matted 11x14 instead.
The 18x24 frame
18x24 is the small poster standard and a 3:4 art size. Mat options, moulding width, glazing choice and hanging hardware for an 18x24 frame.
The 16x20 frame
16x20 is the most useful mid-size frame there is: it takes an 11x14 mat, a 12x16 print or a full-bleed 16x20 canvas. Here are the numbers.
The 8.5x11 frame
8.5x11 frames hold letter paper, certificates and awards. Why they are rarer than 8x10, and the mat that makes an 11x14 frame do the job better.
The 24x36 frame
24x36 is the default large poster size. Weight, glazing, moulding width and the hanging hardware a frame that big genuinely needs.
27x40 movie poster frames
27x40 is the modern one-sheet. Why real posters measure 27x40 or 27x41, how to frame both, and the hardware a frame this big needs.
Metric frame sizes and their inch equivalents
A-series and centimetre frame sizes converted to inches, with the nearest US frame for each — and where the conversion quietly fails.
Mini and small picture frames
Wallet, 2x3, 3x5 and 4x6 frames — what each holds, where they work, and how to group small frames without making a mess of a shelf.
Large picture frames
Past about 24x36 a frame stops being decor and starts being engineering. Glazing, moulding, weight limits and hanging for big frames.
Materials4
Mouldings, mats, glazing and backing — what each one costs you in money, weight and protection.
Picture frame mats and mat sizes
How a mat is measured, the overlap that stops a print falling through, standard mat openings by frame size, and custom mat maths.
Picture frame glass and acrylic glazing
Standard, non-glare, UV and museum glass compared with acrylic on price, weight, clarity and protection — and when each one is the right call.
The best wood for picture frames
Poplar, oak, maple, walnut, ash and pine ranked for stability, finish and cost — plus the woods that warp and ruin a mitre.
Picture frame moulding explained
Rabbet depth, face width, profiles and lineal-foot pricing — how to read a moulding spec and buy the right length for your frame.
Frame styles7
Gold, black, vintage, floater, gallery wall — choosing a finish that suits the artwork and the room.
Gold picture frames
Real gold leaf, composition gilt and gold-toned metal compared, plus which artwork suits an ornate gold frame and which one it kills.
Black picture frames
Matte, satin, gloss and stained black frames compared, why black is the safe gallery default, and when it flattens the artwork instead.
Vintage and antique picture frames
How to date an antique frame, spot a reproduction, repair gesso and compo damage, and safely fit modern art into an old frame.
Float frames and floater frames
A float frame suspends paper between glass; a floater frame surrounds a canvas with a gap. They are not the same thing — here is how to use each.
Acrylic and lucite picture frames
Magnetic acrylic blocks, standoff panels and lucite box frames — how each mounts a print, what they cost, and how to keep them scratch-free.
Gallery wall frames
Frame size mixes that actually work, the 2–3 inch spacing rule, how to plan a grid or salon wall on paper, and hanging it straight the first time.
Digital picture frames
How digital frames get photos onto the screen, the specs that matter, whether they play video, and which features suit a gift for a grandparent.
How-to7
Build it, mat it, hang it and keep it straight — step-by-step framing projects.
Puzzle frames
Finished puzzle sizes by piece count, the frames that fit them, and how to glue, lift and mount a puzzle without cracking it.
How to make a picture frame
Cut, join and finish a wooden picture frame with basic tools — including the rabbet, the mitre maths and the assembly order that keeps it square.
How to frame a picture
The order of operations for framing art at home: clean the glazing, hinge the print, fit the mat, seal the back and avoid the mistakes that damage paper.
How to hang a picture frame
Hanging height, hardware by weight, drywall versus plaster, and the paper-template method that gets a gallery wall right the first time.
What size frame do I need?
Measure the artwork, decide on a mat, then pick the frame — with a lookup table for every common print size, matted and unmatted.
Aspect ratio and frame sizes
Why a 4:3 photo will not fit an 8x10 frame, which frame sizes share a ratio, and how to resize a print without losing someone's head.
Where to buy picture frames
Big-box, craft store, online custom and secondhand compared on price, sizes and quality — plus what custom framing actually costs.
Free framing tools
All tools →- CalculatorAspect ratio calculatorFree aspect ratio calculator: solve any missing dimension, simplify the ratio, convert inches to cm, and see every standard frame size that fits without cropping.
- CalculatorPicture hanging height calculatorWork out exactly where the nail goes. Enter your frame height and hanger drop and get the fixing height, plus the correct gap above a sofa or sideboard.
- CalculatorPrint resolution and DPI calculatorCheck whether your file is sharp enough to print. Enter the pixel dimensions and print size to get the effective DPI, a quality verdict, and your largest usable print.
- CalculatorFrame depth and rabbet calculatorAdd up glazing, mats, artwork and backing to find the rabbet depth your frame actually needs — and see whether the frame you are looking at will close.
- CalculatorGallery wall plannerPlan a gallery wall to scale. Choose a frame size, grid and spacing, then get the total wall area, a scale drawing and the exact nail position for every frame.
How to use this site
Framing decisions come in a fixed order, and most of the money people waste comes from taking them out of order. Measure the artwork first. Decide whether it gets a mat second, because that is what determines the frame size you buy. Choose the frame size third. Only then think about finish, glazing and hanging.
If you already know your print size, go straight to what size frame do I need for the lookup table. If your print is an unusual shape, the aspect ratio calculator will tell you which standard frames it fits before you buy anything. If you are framing a document, a diploma or a poster, those have their own rules and their own guides.
We sell nothing. There are no affiliate links, no sponsored placements and no manufacturer relationships behind any recommendation on this site — see our editorial policy for how that is kept true.
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