Wall art size guide: which ratio fits which frame

6 min read · Sizing · Updated September 2026

Frames are sold in sizes; digital files are made in ratios. This is the translation table between the two, so you print the right file the first time.

The six ratios, and the sizes each one covers

Your download contains all six. Find your frame in the right column and print from that folder.

Ratio	Print sizes (inches)	Best for
2:3	4×6, 8×12, 12×18, 16×24, 20×30, 24×36	Tall statement pieces, US poster frames
3:4	6×8, 9×12, 12×16, 18×24	The most common IKEA and big-box frame shape
4:5	4×5, 8×10, 12×15, 16×20, 24×30	Off-the-shelf US frames and matted sets
5:7	5×7, 10×14	Small desk, shelf and nightstand frames
ISO A	A5, A4, A3, A2, A1	Europe, UK, Australia, Asia
11×14	11×14, 22×28	A US frame size that is its own ratio — never crop 4:5 to fit

11×14 is the trap. It looks close to 4:5 but is not: printing a 4:5 file into an 11×14 frame cuts about half an inch off one dimension. That is why it ships as its own file.

What 300 DPI means in pixels

Resolution is only meaningful next to a size. At 300 DPI, pixels = inches × 300, so:

Print size	Pixels at 300 DPI
8×10 in	2400 × 3000
11×14 in	3300 × 4200
18×24 in	5400 × 7200
24×36 in	7200 × 10800
A3	3508 × 4961

Files sold as "high resolution" without a stated print size are usually 72 DPI web images upscaled. Every file here is built at 300 DPI at its full size, which is why the ZIP is large.

Which size for which wall

A rough rule that holds up: the artwork should cover about two-thirds of the wall or furniture width beneath it. Over a standard 84-inch sofa that means roughly 55 inches of art — one 24×36 with two 16×20s, or a trio of 18×24s. Full working numbers are in what size art to hang above a sofa or bed.

Metric or imperial?

If you are in the US or Canada, buy frames first and print to them — inch sizes are what stores stock. In Europe, the UK, Australia and most of Asia, work in the ISO A folder: A4 and A3 are on every shelf, and A2 is the affordable statement size.

Questions we get asked

Which ratio is the safest single choice?

In the US, 4:5 — it covers 8×10 and 16×20, the two most stocked frame sizes. In Europe and Australia, ISO A. You do not have to choose here: all six ratios come in every download.

Can I print a smaller size from a large file?

Yes, printing down is always safe — a 24×36 file printed at 12×18 simply gets denser. Printing up is what softens an image, so never enlarge beyond the sizes listed for your ratio.

Do you include A-series and inch sizes in the same purchase?

Yes. One purchase includes all 24 sizes across six ratios, inches and ISO A together, so the same file works for a US frame and a European one.

What about square prints?

Square (1:1) is not included, because cropping a portrait composition to a square changes the artwork. If you need a square, tell us the print and we will say whether the composition survives it.