Poster sizes are written as two numbers, and on a product page they all look alike. On a wall, an 8 × 10 and a 24 × 36 have almost nothing in common: one is the size of a sheet of printer paper and the other is as tall as a kitchen counter. This guide shows what each size is for, so you can order the right one the first time. Kiyo Arts posters are made to order and can't be exchanged for a different size, so it is worth two minutes of measuring.
The sizes we offer
Our matte posters come in portrait rectangles from 8 × 10 inches to 24 × 36 inches, plus squares from 10 × 10 to 18 × 18. All measurements are in inches, width first.
| Size | In centimetres | About the size of | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 10 | 20 × 25 | A sheet of printer paper | Desks, shelves, small gallery walls |
| 11 × 14 | 28 × 36 | A magazine, opened flat | Gallery walls, beside a mirror |
| 12 × 16 and 12 × 18 | 30 × 41 and 30 × 46 | A large laptop | Above a desk, narrow walls |
| 16 × 20 | 41 × 51 | A bed pillow | The all-rounder |
| 18 × 24 | 46 × 61 | A small window | A single piece on a medium wall |
| 20 × 30 | 51 × 76 | A carry-on suitcase | Above a chest of drawers or a desk |
| 24 × 36 | 61 × 91 | A classic movie poster | A statement on its own |
Small: 8 × 10 and 11 × 14
Small posters are for close viewing. They work on a desk, a bookshelf, a bedside table, or as part of a group. On their own in the middle of a large wall they look stranded. The 11 × 14 is the most useful small size: big enough to read from across a room, small enough to fit almost anywhere, and one of the most common frame sizes in shops.
Medium: 12 × 16, 12 × 18, 16 × 20
This is the range most people should start with. A 16 × 20 is large enough to hang alone above a desk or a bedside table and small enough to combine with others. If you only buy one poster and have no particular wall in mind, buy this size.
The 12 × 18 is narrower and taller for its width, a 2:3 shape, which suits tall subjects and tight spaces such as the strip of wall beside a door.
Large: 18 × 24, 20 × 30, 24 × 36
Large posters are meant to be seen from across the room. An 18 × 24 holds a wall above a small sofa or a desk. A 24 × 36 is the traditional movie-poster size and can carry a wall on its own. Detailed artwork, such as a neon city street full of signs, rewards the larger sizes because there is more to look at up close.
Squares: 10 × 10 to 18 × 18
Square prints suit grids. Four or six squares in neat rows look ordered and modern, and they are the easiest gallery wall to hang straight. A single square also fits spaces where a rectangle looks awkward, such as above a square side table. Check the product photos first: a square crops the artwork differently from a rectangle, and some designs lose part of the image.
The shape matters as much as the size
Poster sizes come in different proportions, called aspect ratios.
- 4:5 (8 × 10, 16 × 20): a slightly squat rectangle.
- 3:4 (12 × 16, 18 × 24): a little taller.
- 2:3 (12 × 18, 20 × 30, 24 × 36): the tallest and narrowest.
The same artwork has to be cropped a little differently to fit each shape. If a detail near the edge matters to you, look at the preview for the exact size you are ordering. And if you plan to hang several posters in a row, choosing sizes with the same ratio makes them line up cleanly.
How big should art be above furniture?
A reliable rule: the art, or the group of art, should span about two-thirds of the width of the furniture below it.
- Bedside table (about 20 in wide): 11 × 14 or 12 × 16.
- Desk (about 48 in): two 16 × 20s side by side, or one 24 × 36 centred.
- Chest of drawers (about 36 in): 18 × 24.
- Sofa (about 84 in): a poster alone will be too small. Use three 18 × 24s in a row.
Sizes that work together
For a gallery wall, mix no more than three sizes. Two combinations that always work:
- One anchor and two supports: a 24 × 36 with two 16 × 20s stacked beside it.
- A row of three: three 12 × 18s or three 18 × 24s, evenly spaced about two to three inches apart.
Our guide to building a gallery wall goes into layout in more detail.
Test before you order
Cut a sheet of newspaper or wrapping paper to the size you are considering and tape it to the wall with painter's tape. Leave it up for a day. If it looks small, it is. People almost always wish they had gone one size larger, and almost never the other way.
Don't forget the frame
A poster is a print only. If you plan to frame it, the common sizes (8 × 10, 11 × 14, 16 × 20, 18 × 24, 24 × 36) are the easiest to find ready-made frames for. A frame adds one to three inches on every side, so allow for that when you measure the wall. If you would prefer it to arrive finished, the same designs are available as framed posters with hanging hardware included. Our comparison of canvas, poster and framed poster covers the trade-offs.
Quick picks
- Not sure: 16 × 20.
- Desk or shelf: 8 × 10 or 11 × 14.
- One piece to carry a wall: 24 × 36.
- A grid: four 12 × 12 squares.
- Detailed artwork: 18 × 24 or larger.
Browse every design in the poster prints collection.