16 × 20 frame size
A nominal 16×20 frame can be compared with a full 16×20 print without a mat, or with smaller artwork behind a 16×20 outer mat board. The window in a supplied mat is a separate dimension.
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.
16 × 20 inches in cm, mm and both orientations
| Measurement | Portrait / listed order | Landscape / reversed order |
|---|---|---|
| Inches | 16 × 20 | 20 × 16 |
| Centimeters | 40.64 × 50.8 | 50.8 × 40.64 |
| Millimeters | 406.4 × 508 | 508 × 406.4 |
| Aspect ratio | 4:5 | 5:4 |
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 16 × 20 sheet
Compare a frame described for a 16 × 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.
Choose the artwork first when comparing included mats
An included mat does not make every 16×20 frame an 11×14 picture frame. The “matted to” field tells you the intended picture size; the exact cut window can be smaller. Compare 8×10, 11×14 and 12×16 artwork in the fixed-board table below. They produce quite different border widths even though the frame label stays the same.
Why 12×16 gives equal borders in a 16×20 board
The board is 4 inches larger than a 12×16 sheet in each direction. With a centered 11.75×15.75 window, each board-edge border is 2.125 inches. An 11×14 print instead yields 2.625-inch side borders and 3.125-inch top and bottom borders. Equal border width depends on dimension differences, not simply on choosing a smaller print with a similar ratio.
A full 16×20 print needs a larger board for matting
A 20×24 outer board adds the same 4 inches to both sheet dimensions, while a 24×30 board gives more space and unequal borders. These are geometry examples, not promises that a particular packaged mat is available. An 8×10 image scales exactly to 16×20 in ratio; other source images may need a crop or blank border before printing.
With a mat around a full 16 × 20 print
These centered examples use ⅛ inch overlap on each artwork edge, producing a 15.75 × 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 × 24 | 15.75 × 19.75 | 2.125 | 2.125 |
| 24 × 30 | 15.75 × 19.75 | 4.125 | 5.125 |
Window = artwork − 2 × overlap
Centered border = (outer board − window) ÷ 2
Open this 20 × 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 16 × 20 outer board
This reverses the question: keep the nominal frame at 16 × 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 10 | 7.75 × 9.75 | 4.125 | 5.125 |
| 11 × 14 | 10.75 × 13.75 | 2.625 | 3.125 |
| 12 × 16 | 11.75 × 15.75 | 2.125 | 2.125 |
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 16 × 20 frames
Can I use an 11×14 mat in a 16×20 frame?
Check what “11×14 mat” describes. The board must be sized for the nominal 16×20 opening; 11×14 may describe the intended artwork, not the outside board.
What is 16×20 in centimeters?
The nominal rectangle is 40.64×50.8 cm. This conversion does not supply manufacturing clearance or outside molding dimensions.
Compare related frame sizes
Return to the frame-size directory · Work backward from a frame you already own · Understand mat terminology