Have you ever been in the middle of an aisle at a store looking at a plethora of frames and asking yourself whether a 5x7 or 8x10 frame will suit your needs? I guarantee that you certainly are not alone here because despite how obvious picture frame sizes should be, they rarely are at the moment of purchase.

Think of this as the handy little guide you will actually want to bookmark and keep.

How Frame Sizes Actually Work

Firstly, it should be remembered that the measurement of any picture frame is expressed in inches and is determined in width x height. For example, a 4x6 frame held in portrait form will be measured four inches by six inches; however, if we change the position of the frame and make it landscape, it will become six inches by four inches.

Just a small reminder that in case of the size of a picture frame, it is referring to the size of the picture opening, and not the actual size of the entire frame, which will depend on its width.

The Most Common Picture Frame Sizes and Where to Use Them

4x6 is pretty much the gold standard for smallest sizes and is what most of us get when we print standard photos. These are perfect for your desk, little clusters on a bookshelf, or those close-up shots that do not need a ton of room to stand out.

5x7 gives you that extra bit of "pop." It is a great choice for portraits or milestone shots where you want a bit more presence than a 4x6 but are not ready to commit to a massive wall piece. It is the ultimate "middle-ground" size for both tabletop and wall displays.

8x10 is when your photo starts feeling like real-deal wall art. There is a reason this is one of the most popular picture frame sizes out there. Whether it is hanging above your workspace, sitting on a dresser, or acting as the anchor for a gallery wall, it always looks intentional.

11x14 takes you right into "statement piece" territory. This size is big enough to hold its own as a solo frame or to be the star of your gallery wall. It takes up a little more real estate, but the visual payoff is totally worth it.

16x20 and larger are what I like to call the "hero pieces." One well-placed photo at this scale can literally anchor an entire room. Just make sure the image is high-resolution enough to look sharp when you blow it up this big!

Standard vs. Custom: Which Path Should You Take?

Standard picture frame sizes are your best friend when you are framing standard prints from your phone or camera. Most printing services default to these dimensions anyway, so it is usually a simple "plug and play" situation.

However, if your picture does not have a proper aspect ratio, or if you wish to frame some unusual artwork or some old document, then you will be needing custom size frames. This works very well when you need your frame to fit into an absolutely unique place on your wall. With custom size framing at Art to Frames, you can get your exact dimensions tailored to fit your art.

A Quick Word on Mats

Putting a mat in your picture will give your photograph a completely new feeling. For instance, using a mat for framing an 8x10 photograph of 5x7 will give you a very professional look. The mat will help the image to breathe and look more like a professional piece of work.

If you are going this route, just remember to check the mat opening size, not just the frame size. Art to Frames offers a huge variety of photo mats in different colors and sizes to match any of their standard frames perfectly.

Quick Reference

Ready to Find Your Perfect Fit?

Now that you have got the hang of it, all that is left is matching your wall to your favorite photo. Art to Frames has pretty much every standard picture frame size you could ever want, and they will build custom ones if you have something extra special in mind. Have a question? Just reach out to our team. We are always happy to help.

No more guessing games at the store. You are officially a framing pro!