How to pick the right frame size

The most common mistake we see is ordering a frame to match the old frame. Old frames lie. The rabbet (the little ledge the art sits in) hides part of the art, and years of swaps mean the old frame may never have fit right. Picking the right frame size starts with the art itself.

Measure the art, not the frame

1. Lay the piece flat on a table.
2. Measure the exact width and height with a ruler or tape. Measure twice.
3. Write both numbers down to the closest 1/8 inch.
4. If the art is old or hand cut, measure both sides. They can differ, and the bigger number wins.

That number is your frame size. When you order from us, the size you pick equals the frame's opening. An 8x10 order fits an 8x10 photo. No math needed.

Canvas is the one exception. Measure width, height, and the depth of the stretcher bars too, since a stretched canvas needs a deeper frame than paper does.

Common sizes to know

Prints and photos usually come in a handful of sizes. If your art is one of these, you're done. Order that size.

• 4x6 and 5x7: snapshots and small prints.
• 8x10: school photos and portraits.
• 11x14 and 16x20: art prints and enlargements.
• 18x24 and 24x36: posters and statement pieces.

Posters run bigger. Most store posters are 24x36. Movie one-sheets are 27x40. Magazine covers, records, and playbills each have their own sizes, which is why we build specialty frames for them. Records in their sleeves run 12.5x12.5. Standard playbills are 5.5x8.5.

Adding a mat changes the size you order

A mat sits between your art and the frame. It has an outside size and a window size. Order the frame to match the mat's outside size, not the art.

The classic pairing is an 8x10 photo in an 11x14 mat, inside an 11x14 frame. That border of blank space makes a small photo feel like a big deal. Our precut mats cover the common pairings.

A few pairings worth writing down:

• 5x7 photo: 8x10 mat and frame.
• 8x10 photo: 11x14 mat and frame.
• 11x14 print: 16x20 mat and frame.
• 16x20 print: 20x24 or 24x30 mat and frame.

Odd size? Order odd

Old family photos, foreign prints, kids' art, and cross stitch almost never come in standard sizes. Don't trim your art to fit a frame. We cut every frame to order, so a 13 3/4 by 19 1/2 inch frame costs no extra fuss. Measure true and order true from our picture frames.

Something simple like our black wood picture frame comes in dozens of sizes. The frame should match the art, never the other way around.

A4, A3, and other paper sizes

Art from Europe, Japan, or a home printer often comes in A sizes. A4 is 8.3x11.7 inches. A3 is 11.7x16.5. These sit close to 8.5x11 and 11x14, but close doesn't fit. An A3 print rattles in an 11x14 frame and falls short of a 12x16 window.

Order the true size and the print drops right in. We build A3 frames for exactly this reason.

Between two sizes? Size up with a mat

Say your print is 9x12. Not a standard frame size, and that's fine. You have two good options.

Order a custom 9x12 frame, since we cut to order anyway. Or size up: put the 9x12 in a 12x16 frame with a mat cut to an 8.5x11.5 window. The mat overlaps the print by a quarter inch on each side and holds it in place. The matted route costs a little more, but the finished look is worth it for art you love.

How wide should the moulding be?

Frame width changes how art feels on the wall.

• Thin moulding, under 1 inch: clean and modern. Suits photos and small prints.
• Medium moulding, 1 to 2 inches: the safe middle. Works for almost everything.
• Wide moulding, 2 inches and up: formal weight. Suits large art and anything you want to feel important.

Small art in a wide frame with a wide mat is an old gallery trick. A 5x7 photo in a chunky 12x14 setup feels like an heirloom.

How high should it hang?

Frame size and hanging height work together. Galleries hang art so the center of the piece sits 57 inches from the floor. That keeps the middle at eye level for most people.

To find the nail spot: take 57, add half the frame's height, then subtract the distance from the frame's top edge down to the hook or tight wire.

Say the frame is 20 inches tall and the hanger sits 2 inches below the top edge. 57 plus 10 is 67. Minus 2 is 65. Drive the nail at 65 inches.

Check the wall before you buy

A frame that fits the art can still fight the wall. Cut a piece of paper (or tape a few together) to the frame's outside size and tape it up where the frame will hang. Live with it for a day.

Above a couch, aim for art about two thirds the couch's width, hung 6 to 10 inches above the couch back. In a hallway, keep the center of the frame near eye level. Small frames get lost on big walls, which is where a mat or a gallery grouping earns its keep.

Questions we hear a lot

What size frame do I need for an 8x10 photo?

An 8x10 frame with no mat, or an 11x14 frame with a mat that has an 8x10 window. The matted version looks more finished.

Should a frame be bigger than the picture?

Only if a mat fills the gap. Art floating loose in an oversized frame can slip, and it looks off.

How do I measure art that's already framed?

Take it out and measure the art alone. The rabbet hides about 1/4 inch on every side, so measuring through the front comes up short.

Our framing guide covers mats, hanging, and care in one place. Still not sure? Send us the size of your art through our contact page and we'll talk it through with you.