Standard Frame Sizes vs. Custom Framing: When to Size Up

Key Measurement Rules at a Glance

✓ Standard US frame sizes are based on interior rabbet dimensions, which match the glass and mat outer cut.

✓ Common US sizes: 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 8.5x11, 11x14, 12x16, 16x20, 18x24, and 24x36 inches.

✓ The 'Size Up' rule: Buy an off-the-shelf standard frame one size larger, then order an inexpensive custom mat.

✓ Custom frames cost 3x to 5x more than standard retail frames; custom-cut mats cost only $15–$25.

Custom picture framing at a local framing shop or specialty store easily costs $150 to $400 for a single medium-sized print. Yet ready-made frames in standard commercial sizes are available at home décor retailers for $25 to $60.

Understanding standard US frame dimensions allows you to leverage the “Size Up” rule: buying off-the-shelf retail frames while using custom-cut mats to achieve high-end museum presentation at a fraction of the cost.

                    THE "SIZE UP" FRAMING FORMULA
   
     1. Unstandard Art Print             2. Size Up to Standard Frame
        (e.g. 7″ × 11″)                     (Buy 16″ × 20″ Off-the-Shelf)
        ┌─────────────┐                     ┌─────────────────────────────┐
        │             │                     │                             │
        │             │                     │   ┌─────────────────────┐   │
        └─────────────┘                     │   │     Custom Cut      │   │
        Custom Frame Cost: $200+            │   │      Mat Board      │   │
                                            │   └─────────────────────┘   │
                                            │                             │
                                            └─────────────────────────────┘
                                            Retail Frame: $35 + Custom Mat: $18 = $53!

US Standard Picture Frame Dimensions Chart

Frame sizes always designate the interior rabbet opening—the exact width and height of the glass, backing board, and mat board that fit inside.

Standard Frame Size	Typical Art Print Displayed	Common Pre-Cut Mat Window	Best Uses
4″ × 6″	4″ × 6″ (unmatted)	3.5″ × 5″ window	Desk photos, postcards
5″ × 7″	5″ × 7″ (unmatted)	3.5″ × 5″ (matted)	Tabletop portraits, small watercolors
8″ × 10″	8″ × 10″ (unmatted)	5″ × 7″ (matted)	Family portraits, headshots
8.5″ × 11″	8.5″ × 11″ (unmatted)	None (document frame)	Diplomas, certificates, awards
11″ × 14″	11″ × 14″ (unmatted)	8″ × 10″ (matted)	Most popular gallery wall size
12″ × 16″	12″ × 16″ (unmatted)	9″ × 12″ (matted)	Modern fine art prints
16″ × 20″	16″ × 20″ (unmatted)	11″ × 14″ (matted)	Large photography, statement portraits
18″ × 24″	18″ × 24″ (unmatted)	12″ × 18″ (matted)	Medium posters, architectural drawings
20″ × 24″	20″ × 24″ (unmatted)	16″ × 20″ (matted)	Oil paintings on board, canvas prints
24″ × 36″	24″ × 36″ (unmatted)	20″ × 30″ (matted)	Movie posters, panoramic landscapes

The “Size Up” Technique: How to Save Hundreds

If your artwork measures an unusual size—such as a square 10″ × 10″ print, an antique 7″ × 11″ sketch, or a travel watercolor:

Do not order a custom wooden frame.
Find the next largest standard frame: For a 10″ × 10″ print, choose a standard 16″ × 20″ or 16″ × 16″ retail frame.
Order a custom mat board: Many online custom framing suppliers cut archival 4-ply mat boards to your exact inner opening for $12 to $25.
Assemble at home: Place the custom mat and artwork inside the standard retail frame. The wide, generous mat borders give your print the elevated look of a professional gallery exhibition.

Aspect Ratios: Avoiding Cropping

Photography and art prints are produced in distinct aspect ratios. Sizing errors occur when users attempt to force a photo into an incompatible aspect ratio frame:

2:3 Ratio: Standard 35mm DSLR sensor output (4×6, 8×12, 12×18, 16×24, 20×30, 24×36).
4:5 Ratio: Traditional fine art and medium format (8×10, 16×20, 24×30).
ISO A-Series: European/International standards (A4, A3, A2).

If you place a 4×6 photo (2:3 ratio) into an 8×10 frame without a mat, you will be forced to crop 2 inches off the sides of your image! Always use a mat board to bridge aspect ratio differences.

Calculate exact frame and mat border tolerances with our Picture Frame & Mat Size Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common standard picture frame sizes in the US? ▼

The most common sizes are 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 18x24, and 24x36 inches. These match standard photography printing ratios and off-the-shelf ready-made frames.

What is the 'Size Up' custom framing hack? ▼

Instead of ordering a costly custom frame for an oddly sized print, purchase a standard retail frame that is one size larger, then order an inexpensive custom mat board cut to fit your print inside that standard frame.

Does frame size refer to the inside or outside of the frame? ▼

Frame size always refers to the interior opening (the rabbet dimension), which corresponds exactly to the size of the glass and mat board, not the exterior outer molding.