Wall Art Sizes: Standard Sizes and How to Choose for Your Wall
Two questions decide wall art size: which standard sizes exist, and which one suits the wall and furniture in front of you. This page answers both, with size charts by aspect ratio, measurements for sofas, beds and consoles, hanging heights and gallery-wall layouts.
Standard wall art sizes are 8 × 10, 11 × 14, 16 × 20, 18 × 24, 24 × 36 and 30 × 40 in (20 × 25 to 76 × 102 cm). Above furniture, choose art about two thirds of the furniture's width, hang it 6 to 10 in (15 to 25 cm) above the furniture, and on an open wall put its center 57 to 60 in (145 to 152 cm) from the floor.
- Art width
- 2/3 of furniture
- Center height
- 57–60 in (145–152 cm)
- Gap above sofa
- 6–10 in
- Gallery wall gaps
- 2–3 in (5–8 cm)
On this page
Standard wall art sizes by aspect ratio
Prints and frames come in fixed ratios. Art made in one ratio enlarges or shrinks to any size in the same row without cropping, which is why print sellers and frame shops organize sizes this way.
| Ratio | Sizes (in) | Same sizes in cm |
|---|---|---|
| 2:3 | 4 × 6, 8 × 12, 12 × 18, 16 × 24, 20 × 30, 24 × 36 | 10 × 15, 20 × 30, 30 × 46, 41 × 61, 51 × 76, 61 × 91 |
| 3:4 | 6 × 8, 9 × 12, 12 × 16, 18 × 24, 30 × 40 | 15 × 20, 23 × 30, 30 × 41, 46 × 61, 76 × 102 |
| 4:5 | 4 × 5, 8 × 10, 16 × 20, 24 × 30 | 10 × 13, 20 × 25, 41 × 51, 61 × 76 |
| ISO (1:1.414) | A5, A4, A3, A2, A1 | 14.8 × 21, 21 × 29.7, 29.7 × 42, 42 × 59.4, 59.4 × 84.1 |
| 11:14 | 11 × 14, 22 × 28 | 28 × 36, 56 × 71 |
| 5:7 | 5 × 7, 10 × 14, 20 × 28 | 13 × 18, 25 × 36, 51 × 71 |
| 1:1 | 8 × 8, 10 × 10, 12 × 12, 20 × 20, 24 × 24, 30 × 30 | 20, 25, 30, 51, 61, 76 cm square |
| 1:2 and 1:3 (panoramic) | 10 × 20, 12 × 24, 20 × 40; 12 × 36, 20 × 60 | 25 × 51, 30 × 61, 51 × 102; 30 × 91, 51 × 152 |
European shops also stock round metric sizes that do not belong to any inch family: 30 × 40, 40 × 50, 50 × 70, 60 × 90 and 70 × 100 cm. Frames for these are listed on the picture frame sizes page.
Deliver five files: 2:3, 3:4, 4:5, ISO and 11 × 14. Make each at 300 DPI for the largest size in its row (for 2:3, 24 × 36 in, 7200 × 10800 px) and a buyer can print every size in that ratio. Pixel sizes for large formats are in the poster print-file guide.
Wall art size categories
Shops describe art as small, medium, large or oversized. The labels are loose, but they follow the long side of the piece, frame included.
| Category | Long side | Examples | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Up to about 14 in (36 cm) | 5 × 7, 8 × 10, 11 × 14 | Shelves, desks, gallery groups, narrow walls |
| Medium | About 16 to 24 in (41 to 61 cm) | 12 × 16, 16 × 20, 18 × 24 | Above nightstands, in hallways, pairs above a sofa |
| Large | About 30 to 40 in (76 to 102 cm) | 24 × 36, 24 × 30, 30 × 40 | Above sofas, beds and sideboards |
| Oversized | Over 40 in (102 cm) | 36 × 48, 40 × 60, 48 × 72 | Feature walls, high ceilings, open-plan rooms |
How big should wall art be?
Most mistakes come from art that is too small for the wall. These proportions are rules of thumb used by designers, not fixed standards, but they reliably produce balanced results.
- Above furniture: the art, or the whole group, should be about two thirds of the furniture's width, and never wider than it.
- On an open wall: fill about 60 to 75% of the wall's width between doors, windows or corners.
- Gallery groups count as one piece: measure the outer edges of the whole arrangement, including gaps.
- Frames and mats count: a 16 × 20 in print in a wide mat and frame can measure 24 × 28 in on the wall.
| Furniture | Typical width | Art width (2/3) | Example pieces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loveseat | 60 in (152 cm) | 40 in (102 cm) | 30 × 40 in landscape, or two 18 × 24 in portrait with 4 in gap |
| Three-seat sofa | 84 in (213 cm) | 56 in (142 cm) | 40 × 60 in, or two 24 × 36 in portrait with 6 in gap |
| Large sofa | 96 in (244 cm) | 64 in (163 cm) | Three 18 × 24 in portrait with 3 in gaps (60 in total) |
| Queen bed headboard | about 62 in (157 cm) | 41 in (104 cm) | 30 × 40 in landscape, or 12 × 36 in panoramic |
| King bed headboard | about 78 in (198 cm) | 52 in (132 cm) | Two 24 × 36 in portrait with 4 in gap, or three 16 × 20 in with 2 in gaps |
| Console or entry table | 48 in (122 cm) | 32 in (81 cm) | 24 × 30 in, or a 30 in mirror |
| Dresser or sideboard | 60 to 72 in (152 to 183 cm) | 40 to 48 in | 30 × 40 in landscape |
Furniture widths vary by model; measure yours and multiply by 0.67. For typical sofa widths by type, see sofa dimensions.
How high to hang wall art
- Open wall: put the center of the art (or group) 57 to 60 in (145 to 152 cm) above the floor, the eye-level convention used by many galleries and museums.
- Above a sofa: leave 6 to 10 in (15 to 25 cm) between the top of the sofa back and the bottom of the frame, so the art reads as part of the same group.
- Above a bed: leave 8 to 12 in (20 to 30 cm) above the headboard, enough to sit up without hitting the frame.
- Above a console, mantel or dresser: 4 to 10 in (10 to 25 cm) above the surface, lower when objects stand in front of the art.
- Find the nail: measure from the top of the frame to the taut hanging wire or the D-ring. Nail height = target top-of-frame height minus that distance.
A 24 × 36 in portrait frame centered at 58 in has its top edge at 76 in. If the wire pulls up to 3 in below the top of the frame, the hook goes at 73 in.
In rooms with ceilings above about 10 ft, or on staircase walls, raise the center slightly and use larger or taller pieces so the art does not look stranded low on the wall. On stairs, keep each piece's center 57 to 60 in above the step directly below it.
Gallery wall layouts and spacing
Keep 2 to 3 in (5 to 8 cm) between frames in a gallery wall. Wider gaps make the group read as separate pieces. Work out the overall size before you hang anything.
| Layout | Frames | Overall size | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Row of 3 | 16 × 20 in portrait | 52 × 20 in | 84 in sofa, king bed |
| Grid 3 × 2 | 16 × 20 in portrait | 52 × 42 in | 84 in sofa with ceilings over 8 ft |
| Grid 2 × 2 | 11 × 14 in portrait | 24 × 30 in | Console, hallway, nightstand wall |
| Grid 3 × 3 | 8 × 10 in portrait | 28 × 34 in | Dining or entry wall |
| Pair | 24 × 36 in portrait | 50 × 36 in | Loveseat to standard sofa, king bed |
For mixed sizes, lay the frames on the floor or cut paper templates, tape them to the wall, and adjust until the outer edges form a rough rectangle of the target size. Keep one large piece near the center and align either the centers or one edge of the frames along a single line.
Common wall art sizing mistakes
- Buying art before the frame: an A3 or 30 × 40 cm print bought online will not fit a US 11 × 14 or 12 × 16 in frame without a mat. Check the ratio first.
- Ignoring the mat: a 16 × 20 in print with 3 in mat borders needs a frame of about 22 × 26 in, which is not a stock size. Choose the border to suit a standard frame instead: 20 × 24 in gives 2 in borders, 24 × 30 in gives 4 to 5 in.
- Hanging too high: art hung near the ceiling, or more than 12 in above furniture, floats away from the room.
- Too many small pieces: on a large wall, three or four 8 × 10 frames look scattered. Use larger frames, or group at least 6 to 9 small pieces tightly.
Canvas depths and wrap options are on the canvas sizes page, poster formats on poster sizes, and print sizes and pixel needs for photos on photo print sizes. If a mirror will hang instead of art, the same proportions apply; see mirror sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What wall art sizes should I offer for digital download prints?
Sell one file per ratio so buyers can print any size: 2:3 (4 × 6 to 24 × 36 in), 3:4 (6 × 8 to 18 × 24 in), 4:5 (8 × 10 to 16 × 20 in), ISO (A5 to A1) and 11 × 14 in. Five files at 300 DPI for the largest size in each ratio cover almost every standard frame.
What are the 4:5 wall art sizes in inches?
4 × 5, 8 × 10, 16 × 20, 24 × 30, 32 × 40 and 40 × 50 in. In cm, 4:5 sizes include 20 × 25, 40 × 50 and 60 × 75 cm. 11 × 14 is close to 4:5 but not exact (1.27 vs 1.25).
How big should wall art be above a sofa?
About two thirds of the sofa's width. For a typical 84 in (213 cm) three-seat sofa that is around 56 in (142 cm), which can be one large piece, two 24 × 36 in portrait prints with a gap, or a gallery group of that overall width.
What sizes are slim or narrow wall art?
Panoramic and slim pieces are usually 1:2 or 1:3: 10 × 20, 12 × 24 and 20 × 40 in (1:2), or 12 × 36 and 20 × 60 in (1:3). Hung vertically, 12 × 36 in suits the narrow wall between two windows or beside a door.
What size is considered large wall art?
Retailers usually call pieces with a long side of about 30 to 40 in (76 to 102 cm) large, such as 24 × 36 and 30 × 40 in, and anything over 40 in oversized. A single large piece should still be narrower than the furniture beneath it.