14 × 20 frame size
A nominal 14×20 frame corresponds to a 14×20-inch insert reference, or 35.56×50.8 cm. The rectangle has a 7:10 ratio; the full sheet, intended image area, cut window and exterior frame size are different measurements.
Artwork is the full sheet. Nominal frame size is the stated insert reference. The visible opening is the area left after the frame lip or mat covers the edges. Actual frames, mats, rabbets and listed openings vary by manufacturer; these dimensions do not guarantee fit, preservation, hanging safety, load capacity or compatibility.
14 × 20 inches in cm, mm and both orientations
| Measurement | Portrait / listed order | Landscape / reversed order |
|---|---|---|
| Inches | 14 × 20 | 20 × 14 |
| Centimeters | 35.56 × 50.8 | 50.8 × 35.56 |
| Millimeters | 355.6 × 508 | 508 × 355.6 |
| Aspect ratio | 7:10 | 10:7 |
Swapping width and height changes portrait to landscape without changing area. Product features determine which orientations a particular frame supports. A matching ratio preserves shape when scaling an image; it does not make different physical sheet sizes interchangeable.
Without a mat: start with the full 14 × 20 sheet
Compare a frame described for a 14 × 20-inch insert. Measure any printed paper margin as part of that sheet. Do not subtract the front lip from the artwork dimensions unless the supplier explicitly asks for a visible-window measurement. The back opening, depth and clearance must come from the specific product; no universal rabbet allowance is assumed here.
A 12×18 image on a 14×20 paper sheet
Centering the smaller image on that sheet leaves a 1-inch printed paper margin around every edge. The nominal frame comparison still starts with the complete 14×20 paper. A window around the 12×18 image would be different from the 13.75×19.75 full-sheet window illustrated below. Decide whether the paper margin should remain visible before specifying a cut size.
The 7:10 shape is close to, but different from, 2:3
A 2:3 image enlarged to 14 inches wide becomes 14×21. Filling a 14×20 print removes 1 inch of scaled height in total. Fitting the whole image to 20 inches tall instead gives about 13.333×20, leaving about 0.667 inch of total side space. Similar-looking proportions do not make 12×18, 14×20 and 16×24 sheets interchangeable.
Two smaller sheets, two equal-border examples
A full 12×18 picture behind a 14×20 board produces equal 1.125-inch borders at the sample overlap. An 11×17 sheet produces equal 1.625-inch borders in the same board. Both have equal dimension differences, although neither shares the board’s 7:10 ratio. To mat a full 14×20 print instead, the larger-board table uses 18×24 and 20×28.
With a mat around a full 14 × 20 print
These centered examples use ⅛ inch overlap on each artwork edge, producing a 13.75 × 19.75-inch window. This is an editable illustration, not a prescribed cut. Board sizes are comparison scenarios, including possible custom dimensions; stock availability is not asserted.
| Outer board / nominal frame (in) | Window (in) | Left / right border (in) | Top / bottom border (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 × 24 | 13.75 × 19.75 | 2.125 | 2.125 |
| 20 × 28 | 13.75 × 19.75 | 3.125 | 4.125 |
Window = artwork − 2 × overlap
Centered border = (outer board − window) ÷ 2
Open this 18 × 24 mat example in the calculator to change the board or overlap. Some suppliers take artwork dimensions and make their own deduction; others want the final window size.
Smaller artwork inside a 14 × 20 outer board
This reverses the question: keep the nominal frame at 14 × 20, then compare smaller pictures. It is useful when a listing says “matted to” a smaller photo size. These are calculated scenarios, not a claim about an included mat.
| Full artwork (in) | Window (in) | Left / right border (in) | Top / bottom border (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 18 | 11.75 × 17.75 | 1.125 | 1.125 |
| 11 × 17 | 10.75 × 16.75 | 1.625 | 1.625 |
Before comparing a frame listing
- Confirm the full sheet and the portion of the image that must remain visible.
- Identify the nominal insert, outer mat board and exact cut window separately.
- Request the actual back opening, rabbet depth and manufacturer tolerances. Width and height alone cannot establish suitability for thick artwork.
- Use the listed outside dimensions for a visual gallery layout; these tables do not provide them.
Questions about 14 × 20 frames
Is 20×14 a separate frame size?
It is the landscape order of the same nominal rectangle: 50.8×35.56 cm with a 10:7 ratio. Product orientation specifications remain separate.
Can I use 35×50 cm as the exact size?
No. 14×20 inches is 35.56×50.8 cm, exceeding that metric rectangle by 5.6 mm and 8 mm.
Does an 18×24 board give equal borders around a 14×20 sheet?
Yes in the centered example: a 13.75×19.75 window leaves 2.125 inches on each side. Actual cutting conventions and the frame’s visible lip must still be verified.
Compare related frame sizes
Return to the frame-size directory · Work backward from a frame you already own · Understand mat terminology