Poster sizes, drawn to scale
In Europe, posters come in A sizes, from A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) to A0, and in frame sizes such as 30 × 40, 50 × 70 and 70 × 100 cm. In the US and Canada, 18 × 24 and 24 × 36 in are the usual sizes. A sizes and frame sizes don’t quite match, so buy the frame first, then print that size.
Every size above a sofa
Poster sizes in cm and inches
A frame is named after the picture it holds without a mat (mount). With its mat, it holds a smaller size.
| Size | cm | Inches | With a mat, in a frame of |
|---|---|---|---|
| A6 | 10.5 × 14.8 | 4.1 × 5.8 | – |
| 21 × 30 cm | 21 × 30 | 8.3 × 11.8 | 30 × 40 cm |
| A3 | 29.7 × 42 | 11.7 × 16.5 | – |
| 30 × 40 cm | 30 × 40 | 11.8 × 15.7 | 40 × 50 cm |
| 40 × 50 cm | 40 × 50 | 15.7 × 19.7 | 50 × 70 cm |
| A2 | 42 × 59.4 | 16.5 × 23.4 | – |
| 40 × 60 cm | 40 × 60 | 15.7 × 23.6 | – |
| 50 × 70 cm | 50 × 70 | 19.7 × 27.6 | 61 × 91 cm and 70 × 100 cm |
| A1 | 59.4 × 84.1 | 23.4 × 33.1 | – |
| 70 × 100 cm | 70 × 100 | 27.6 × 39.4 | – |
| A0 | 84.1 × 118.9 | 33.1 × 46.8 | – |
| Size | cm | Inches | With a mat, in a frame of |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in | 10.2 × 15.2 | 4 × 6 | 5 × 7 in |
| 11 × 14 in | 27.9 × 35.6 | 11 × 14 | 16 × 20 in |
| 12 × 18 in | 30.5 × 45.7 | 12 × 18 | – |
| 16 × 20 in | 40.6 × 50.8 | 16 × 20 | – |
| 18 × 24 in | 45.7 × 61 | 18 × 24 | – |
| 20 × 30 in | 50.8 × 76.2 | 20 × 30 | – |
| 24 × 36 in | 61 × 91.4 | 24 × 36 | – |
| 27 × 40 in | 68.6 × 101.6 | 27 × 40 | – |
| 36 × 48 in | 91.4 × 121.9 | 36 × 48 | – |
Every A size, A0 to A10
| Size | mm | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| A0 | 841 × 1,189 | 33.1 × 46.8 |
| A1 | 594 × 841 | 23.4 × 33.1 |
| A2 | 420 × 594 | 16.5 × 23.4 |
| A3 | 297 × 420 | 11.7 × 16.5 |
| A4 | 210 × 297 | 8.3 × 11.7 |
| A5 | 148 × 210 | 5.8 × 8.3 |
| A6 | 105 × 148 | 4.1 × 5.8 |
| A7 | 74 × 105 | 2.9 × 4.1 |
| A8 | 52 × 74 | 2 × 2.9 |
| A9 | 37 × 52 | 1.5 × 2 |
| A10 | 26 × 37 | 1 × 1.5 |
A sizes and frame sizes don’t match
A sizes are paper sizes, set by ISO 216. Each one is half the size above it, they all have the same shape, and A0 is one square metre. Most frames in European shops come in 21 × 30, 30 × 40, 40 × 50, 50 × 70, 61 × 91 and 70 × 100 cm instead. Frames in A sizes exist, but fewer shops sell them.
- An A3 poster is 2 cm too tall for a 30 × 40 cm frame.
- An A2 poster is 2 cm too wide for a 40 × 60 cm frame.
- An A1 poster is too small for a 61 × 91 cm frame, and too big for its mat.
- A 16 × 20 in print is 6–8 mm too big for a 40 × 50 cm frame.
A mat’s window is about 1 cm smaller than the picture, so it covers about 5 mm of each edge.
Which size for your wall
- Above a sofa or bed, art looks right at about two thirds of its width. Two or three frames count as one piece.
- Hang the centre about 145 cm (57 in) from the floor, or 15–25 cm (6–10 in) above the back of a sofa.
- A 220 cm (87 in) sofa takes about 145 cm (57 in) of art: two 70 × 100 cm frames, or two 24 × 36 in frames.
- Above a 160 cm (63 in) bed: two 50 × 70 cm or 18 × 24 in frames.
- Above a desk, in a hallway or on a shelf: 21 × 30 or 30 × 40 cm, 11 × 14 or 12 × 18 in.
Not sure? Take 50 × 70 cm in Europe, or 18 × 24 in in the US and Canada. Frames in these sizes are easy to find.
Four shapes
A design made for one shape gets cropped, or white edges, at another: an A-shaped poster printed at 40 × 50 cm loses about 12% of its height.
- 1 : 1.41, like A sizes A6, 21 × 30 cm, A3, A2, 50 × 70 cm, A1, 70 × 100 cm and A0
- 2 : 3 40 × 60 cm, 4 × 6 in, 12 × 18 in, 20 × 30 in, 24 × 36 in and 27 × 40 in
- 3 : 4 30 × 40 cm, 18 × 24 in and 36 × 48 in
- 4 : 5 40 × 50 cm, 11 × 14 in and 16 × 20 in
posterspin draws each poster again for every size, so it fills the paper without cropping.
Questions
- What is the standard poster size?
- There isn’t one. In Europe, A3 to A1 and 50 × 70 cm are usual, and most poster shops and frame ranges are built around 50 × 70 cm. In the US and Canada, it’s 18 × 24 and 24 × 36 in.
- How big is a B2 poster?
- 50 × 70.7 cm (19.7 × 27.8 in), so it nearly fits a 50 × 70 cm frame.
- What size is a movie poster?
- In the US, 27 × 40 in (68.6 × 101.6 cm). It is 1.6 cm too tall for a 70 × 100 cm frame, so it needs a 27 × 40 in one.
