Picture Frame Sizes
Standard picture frame sizes in inches and centimeters, which frame to buy for each photo size when you add a mat, and how big the mat opening should be. Enter your print size in the finder to get the right frame.
What size frame do I need?
Enter 0 for the border if you are framing without a mat.
11 × 14 in frame
Smallest standard size that fits. Border: 1.5 in on the sides, 2 in top and bottom.
Exact frame for a 1.5 in border: 11 × 13 in. Mat opening: 7.5 × 9.5 in (¼ in overlap on each edge).
Standard picture frame sizes
| Frame size (in) | Centimeters | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 | 10.2 × 15.2 | Standard photo prints |
| 5 × 7 | 12.7 × 17.8 | Photos; small prints |
| 8 × 10 | 20.3 × 25.4 | Portraits; 5×7 photo with a mat |
| 8.5 × 11 | 21.6 × 27.9 | US letter: certificates, documents |
| 11 × 14 | 27.9 × 35.6 | 8×10 photo with a mat; art prints |
| 12 × 12 | 30.5 × 30.5 | Square prints |
| 12 × 16 | 30.5 × 40.6 | Art prints |
| 16 × 20 | 40.6 × 50.8 | 11×14 or 12×16 print with a mat |
| 16 × 24 | 40.6 × 61 | Prints from 2:3 camera photos |
| 18 × 24 | 45.7 × 61 | Small posters; 12×18 print with a mat |
| 20 × 24 | 50.8 × 61 | 16×20 print with a mat |
| 24 × 36 | 61 × 91.4 | Standard posters; 20×30 print with a mat |
| 27 × 40 | 68.6 × 101.6 | Movie posters |
| 30 × 40 | 76.2 × 101.6 | Large art and posters |
The frame size is the size of what goes inside it. The outside edge is larger by the width of the moulding.
Frame sizes with a mat
A mat adds a border between the picture and the frame, so the frame is one size up from the print. The mat opening is cut ½ inch smaller than the print in each direction so the mat overlaps the edges by 0.25 inch all around.
| Photo or print | Frame with mat | Mat opening | Border (sides × top) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in | 5 × 7 in | 3.5 × 5.5 in | 0.5 × 0.5 in |
| 5 × 7 in | 8 × 10 in | 4.5 × 6.5 in | 1.5 × 1.5 in |
| 8 × 10 in | 11 × 14 in | 7.5 × 9.5 in | 1.5 × 2 in |
| 11 × 14 in | 16 × 20 in | 10.5 × 13.5 in | 2.5 × 3 in |
| 12 × 16 in | 16 × 20 in | 11.5 × 15.5 in | 2 × 2 in |
| 12 × 18 in | 18 × 24 in | 11.5 × 17.5 in | 3 × 3 in |
| 16 × 20 in | 20 × 24 in | 15.5 × 19.5 in | 2 × 2 in |
| 20 × 30 in | 24 × 36 in | 19.5 × 29.5 in | 2 × 3 in |
Borders are measured from the edge of the print. The visible mat is 0.25 inch wider because of the overlap. Some framers pair 20×30 prints with a 24×34 frame instead.
A4, A3 and other metric sizes
Outside North America, prints and frames often use ISO A sizes. Each size is half of the one above it.
| Size | Millimeters | Centimeters | Inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| A5 | 148 × 210 | 14.8 × 21 | 5.8 × 8.3 |
| A4 | 210 × 297 | 21 × 29.7 | 8.3 × 11.7 |
| A3 | 297 × 420 | 29.7 × 42 | 11.7 × 16.5 |
| A2 | 420 × 594 | 42 × 59.4 | 16.5 × 23.4 |
| A1 | 594 × 841 | 59.4 × 84.1 | 23.4 × 33.1 |
An A4 sheet will not fit an 8.5×11 frame because it is about 0.7 in longer; the smallest US size that holds it is 11 × 14. A3 fits a 16 × 20 frame without a mat.
How to measure for a frame
- Measure the artwork, not the paper margin you want to hide. Write it width × height.
- Decide on a mat. Without one, buy a frame the same size as the print. With one, add twice the border to each dimension.
- Round up to a standard size from the chart, or order a custom frame if the gap is large.
- Check the outside size on the product page if you are fitting a frame into a tight spot.
Picture Frame Sizes FAQ
What are the standard picture frame sizes?
The most common frame sizes in the US are 4×6, 5×7, 8×10, 11×14, 16×20, 18×24, and 24×36 inches. Other standard sizes include 8.5×11 for documents, 12×12 for square prints, 12×16, 16×24, 20×24, 27×40 for movie posters, and 30×40.
What size frame do I need for an 8×10 photo with a mat?
An 11×14 frame. The mat leaves about a 1.5 to 2 inch border around the photo, and the mat opening is about 7.5 × 9.5 inches so the mat overlaps the photo's edges. For a wider border, use a 16×20 frame.
Is the frame size the inside or outside measurement?
The size printed on a frame is the size of the artwork or mat it holds, not the outside edge. The outside of the frame is larger by the width of the moulding, so check the product's outer dimensions if wall space is tight.
How much smaller should the mat opening be than the picture?
About 0.25 inch smaller on each edge, so ½ inch smaller in each direction. The mat then overlaps the print and holds it in place. An 8×10 print gets a 7.5 × 9.5 inch opening.
What frame size fits an A4 print?
An A4 sheet is 210 × 297 mm, or about 8.3 × 11.7 inches. It is a little longer than US letter, so without a mat the smallest standard US frame it fits is 11 × 14, or use a frame sold as A4.
How do I pick a frame size for a print with a mat?
Add twice the border width to each side of the print. For a 2 inch border, a frame about 4 inches larger than the print in each direction: an 8×10 print needs about 12×14 for a full 2 inch border, so the standard 11×14 gives slightly less on the sides. The finder above does this for you.
Sources
Frame sizes and print-to-mat pairings are listed only where at least two of these agree: CustomPictureFrames.com standard frame size chart, American Flat size guide (mat opening table and ¼ in overlap), SLR Lounge frame and mat opening table, and Austin Gallery's standard frame size table. ISO 216 A sizes as listed in Wikipedia's “Paper size” article; inch and cm conversions are calculated (1 in = 25.4 mm).