FRAME SIZE LAB
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PICTURE FRAME SIZE DIRECTORY

Picture frame sizes, compared

Look up standard frame-size labels, compare their proportions, then follow a guide for your full print or mat board.

Find a frame for your artwork ↗Browse guides by size

A frame-size label is only the starting rectangle. Measure the full artwork sheet; an included mat can reveal a smaller picture, while molding changes the outside dimensions. “Standard” describes reference formats here, not guaranteed inventory, fit or manufacturing tolerances.

49 reference sizes

Nominal artwork / frame reference dimensions. Inches converted exactly at 25.4 mm per inch; displayed values rounded.
SizeInchesCentimetersRatioCategory
4 × 6 in4 × 6 10.16 × 15.24 0.667:1photo
5 × 7 in5 × 7 12.7 × 17.78 0.714:1photo
8 × 10 in8 × 10 20.32 × 25.4 0.8:1photo
8 × 12 in8 × 12 20.32 × 30.48 0.667:1photo
8½ × 11 in8.5 × 11 21.59 × 27.94 0.773:1photo
9 × 12 in9 × 12 22.86 × 30.48 0.75:1photo
11 × 14 in11 × 14 27.94 × 35.56 0.786:1photo
11 × 17 in11 × 17 27.94 × 43.18 0.647:1poster
12 × 16 in12 × 16 30.48 × 40.64 0.75:1poster
12 × 18 in12 × 18 30.48 × 45.72 0.667:1poster
16 × 20 in16 × 20 40.64 × 50.8 0.8:1poster
18 × 24 in18 × 24 45.72 × 60.96 0.75:1poster
20 × 24 in20 × 24 50.8 × 60.96 0.833:1poster
20 × 30 in20 × 30 50.8 × 76.2 0.667:1poster
24 × 36 in24 × 36 60.96 × 91.44 0.667:1poster
8 × 8 in8 × 8 20.32 × 20.32 1:1square
12 × 12 in12 × 12 30.48 × 30.48 1:1square
16 × 16 in16 × 16 40.64 × 40.64 1:1square
12 × 36 in12 × 36 30.48 × 91.44 0.333:1panoramic
10 × 20 in10 × 20 25.4 × 50.8 0.5:1panoramic
6 × 8 in6 × 8 15.24 × 20.32 0.75:1photo
8 × 11 in8 × 11 20.32 × 27.94 0.727:1photo
13 × 19 in13 × 19 33.02 × 48.26 0.684:1poster
20 × 28 in20 × 28 50.8 × 71.12 0.714:1poster
24 × 30 in24 × 30 60.96 × 76.2 0.8:1poster
27 × 40 in27 × 40 68.58 × 101.6 0.675:1poster
20 × 20 in20 × 20 50.8 × 50.8 1:1square
10 × 10 in10 × 10 25.4 × 25.4 1:1square
14 × 18 in14 × 18 35.56 × 45.72 0.778:1poster
12 × 24 in12 × 24 30.48 × 60.96 0.5:1panoramic
11 × 16 in11 × 16 27.94 × 40.64 0.688:1poster
10 × 14 in10 × 14 25.4 × 35.56 0.714:1photo
10 × 13 in10 × 13 25.4 × 33.02 0.769:1photo
10 × 12 in10 × 12 25.4 × 30.48 0.833:1photo
11 × 13 in11 × 13 27.94 × 33.02 0.846:1photo
7 × 7 in7 × 7 17.78 × 17.78 1:1square
14 × 20 in14 × 20 35.56 × 50.8 0.7:1poster
13 × 16 in13 × 16 33.02 × 40.64 0.813:1poster
16 × 24 in16 × 24 40.64 × 60.96 0.667:1poster
24 × 24 in24 × 24 60.96 × 60.96 1:1square
24 × 32 in24 × 32 60.96 × 81.28 0.75:1poster
12 × 15 in12 × 15 30.48 × 38.1 0.8:1photo
A033.11 × 46.811 84.1 × 118.9 0.707:1a-series
A123.386 × 33.11 59.4 × 84.1 0.706:1a-series
A216.535 × 23.386 42 × 59.4 0.707:1a-series
A311.693 × 16.535 29.7 × 42 0.707:1a-series
A48.268 × 11.693 21 × 29.7 0.707:1a-series
A55.827 × 8.268 14.8 × 21 0.705:1a-series
A64.134 × 5.827 10.5 × 14.8 0.709:1a-series

Compare two frame sizes

Compare nominal opening areas and proportions. Outside dimensions depend on each frame profile.

Find your print or frame size

Each guide compares the named nominal frame, a full print with a larger mat board, and smaller artwork inside the named frame.

11 × 14 framePrints, Mats & Frame Dimensions16 × 20 frameMat Openings & Print Comparisons12 × 16 frameArt Prints, 3:4 Ratio & Mats20 × 30 framePoster Dimensions, Mats & 2:3 Prints5 × 7 framePhoto Size, 8×10 Mats & Openings11 × 17 framePoster Frames, Tabloid Sheets & Mats12 × 18 frame2:3 Photo Prints & Mat Options18 × 24 framePoster Dimensions & Larger Mat Boards24 × 36 framePoster Size, 2:3 Prints & Movie Posters8 × 12 frame2:3 Photos, 8×10 Comparisons & Mats8 × 8 frameSquare Prints, Square Mats & Rectangular Photos8 × 10 framePhoto Frames, 11×14 Mats & Print Fit12 × 12 frameSquare Art, Mats & Rectangular Pictures20 × 28 frame5:7 Poster Prints & Neighboring Sizes6 × 8 frame3:4 Photos, 5×7 Differences & Mats9 × 12 frameDrawing Sheets, 3:4 Art & Mats20 × 24 frame5:6 Prints, 16×20 Mats & Borders24 × 30 frame4:5 Art Prints & Mat Proportions27 × 40 frameMovie Poster Frames & Sheet Variations8.5 × 11 frameLetter Paper, Certificates & Mat Openings13 × 19 framePhoto Paper, Image Margins & Frame Fit20 × 20 frameSquare Prints, Larger Mats & Photo Borders8 × 11 frameExact Sheet Size & Letter-Paper Differences10 × 10 frameSquare Prints, Image Margins & Mat Windows14 × 18 frame7:9 Artwork, 12×16 Comparisons & Mat Borders12 × 24 framePanoramic Prints, 1:2 Proportions & Mat Geometry11 × 16 framePrint Edges, 11×17 Differences & Mat Options10 × 14 frame5:7 Photo Enlargements & Equal-Border Mats10 × 13 framePortrait Prints, 11×14 Comparisons & Mat Windows10 × 12 frame5:6 Photos, Compact Mats & 8×10 Comparisons11 × 13 frameExact Sheet Size, 11×14 Differences & Centered Mats7 × 7 frameSmall Square Prints, 5×5 Mats & Exact Measurements14 × 20 frame7:10 Prints, Paper Margins & Larger Mat Boards13 × 16 frameNear-4:5 Prints, Drawing Sheets & Mat Comparisons16 × 24 frameMat Openings, 2:3 Prints & Larger Frames24 × 24 frameLarge Square Prints, Metric Labels & Rectangular Photos24 × 32 frame3:4 Posters, 24×36 Differences & Mat Boards12 × 15 frame4:5 Enlargements, Nearby Labels & Unequal Mat BordersPuzzle frame sizesFinished puzzle measurements, not piece count

How to choose a standard frame size

  1. Measure the full sheet width and height, including any paper margins.
  2. For no mat, compare that rectangle with the frame’s stated insert size.
  3. For a mat, choose the visible window and a larger outer board. The board must also accommodate the full sheet behind it.
  4. Confirm the manufacturer’s back opening, visible opening and allowances before deciding on a product.

Common photo-to-mat comparisons

Examples at ⅛ inch overlap per edge, not manufacturer cutting specifications.
Full photo (in)Outer board (in)Illustrative window (in)Guide
5 × 78 × 104.75 × 6.755 × 7 frame
8 × 1011 × 147.75 × 9.758 × 10 frame
11 × 1416 × 2010.75 × 13.7511 × 14 frame
12 × 1616 × 2011.75 × 15.7512 × 16 frame

Same proportions do not mean the same frame

The 2:3 group includes 8×12, 12×18, 16×24, 20×30 and 24×36. The 3:4 group includes 6×8, 9×12, 12×16 and 18×24. The 4:5 group includes 8×10, 16×20 and 24×30. Digital images can scale within a ratio family without changing their proportions, but their physical sheet sizes remain different. Use the aspect-ratio calculator to compare fill and whole-image fit.

Portrait, landscape, square and panoramic

Swapping width and height rotates a rectangle; check the actual product’s orientation specifications. Square formats have a 1:1 ratio. “Panoramic” is a category rather than one ratio: 10×20 is 1:2 and 12×36 is 1:3. Use the A-series references in the directory to compare metric paper sizes.

Which frame dimensions matter?

The nominal insert, visible opening and external dimensions answer different questions. A front opening can hide edges; outside molding enlarges the displayed rectangle. A frame’s rabbet depth and allowance cannot be inferred from a number pair. See the illustrated terminology guide for those distinctions.

Photo print sizesPoster and art-print sizesPuzzle dimensions