How to measure picture frame sizes.

Framing a picture can help you to display your memories in a visually pleasing way. It’s also a great way to showcase work you’ve created, perhaps with the intention to sell it. Yet, choosing the correct frame size can be confusing if you’re unfamiliar with standard photo dimensions.

Whether it’s framed artwork for your business, preserving an important moment or a project, this guide will explore popular picture frame sizes and how to measure and prepare your images to fit them perfectly. We’ll also look at how Adobe Express can help you edit, resize and enhance your photos in all kinds of creative ways.

What are the most popular picture frame sizes?

It’s a good idea to understand some of the most common photo frame sizes and what they’re commonly used for, so you know what you’re looking for when it comes to buying the right size. Here’s how picture frames are measured:

Picture frame sizes for 6” x 4” photos.

6” x 4” is one of the most popular photo sizes and is perfect for holiday pictures and small prints. They’re typically used for small photo frames that sit on tables. If you want your picture to have more visual impact, you can use a border mount and perhaps opt for a larger frame, such as 8” x 6”.

Picture frame sizes for 7” x 5” photos.

A little bit bigger than 6” x 4”, a 7” x 5” frame is a popular choice for portrait images, as they offer a little more display space. They’re still compact enough for shelves and tables, although you can add a mount and use a 9” x 7” or 12” x 10” frame size.

Picture frame sizes for 8” x 6” photos.

With additional space, 8” x 6” picture frames are a good choice when you want to frame landscape prints, certificates or group portraits. If you want to add a mount border for more impact, then want a 10” x 8” frame for an 8” x 6” photo.

Picture frame sizes for 10” x 8” photos.

This frame size works well for art prints, professional portraits and photos that make a real statement and might be wall-mounted. With an added border, you’d be looking at a frame size of 14” x 11”.

Picture frame sizes for A4 photos.

A4 (21cm x 29.7cm) is the size of standard printer paper, so it’s a common frame size for small posters, digital art, documents and certificates. If you want a border mount, consider using an A3-sized frame.

Picture frame sizes for A3 photos.

A3 (29.7cm x 42cm) is a popular size of frame for larger prints. Great for photo collages and visuals for presentations, they’re often wall-mounted and therefore suitable for your best pictures or digital art.

Picture frame sizes for 20” x 16” photos.

This larger size works particularly well for gallery prints, family portraits and high-impact wall art. Images at this size will need to be high quality, as the scale can highlight any flaws or issues with low resolution.

How to measure a picture frame.

To make sure that your photo or document fits correctly into a picture frame, it’s important to accurately measure the dimensions of what you’re framing. Use a ruler or tape measure and make a note of the width and height of the visible image. Don’t include any borders or mounts.

If you have a frame and want to measure it, flip it over and measure the ‘rebate’ – the gap between the borders, not the complete frame. Similarly, if you’re going to use a mount, measure the opening of the window in the mount, not the full mount itself. While many frame sizes are shown in inches or centimetres, it’s a good idea to measure in millimetres for the most accurate result.

How can Adobe Express help you prep your pictures for framing?

Adobe Express makes it simple to edit, enhance and resize your photos before you frame them. There are lots of intuitive but impressive ways it can help, whether you’re designing for your home, business or social content:

1. Resize your photos for different frame sizes with Adobe Express.

You can quickly and easily adjust your image dimensions to fit common frame sizes using the image resize tool in Adobe Express. It’s ideal for preparing your images for A3, A4 or even custom frames.

2. Experiment with different editing tools.

Adobe Express has a free online image editor that offers a variety of different editing tools and effects. It’s easy to turn an image into a flyer or social media post, change backgrounds and fine tune it so it’s perfect for printing.

3. Create a photo collage with your pictures.

It’s simple to use Adobe Express to combine multiple images into one stylish collage. This technique is perfect for all kinds of frame sizes, but especially larger ones, such as A3, where you might want to capture multiple memories.

4. Add fun filters to your photos.

Use the filter tool to bring new life to your photos before you frame them. You can experiment with different looks such as black and white, vintage sepia, high-contrast and more. Perfect your colour palette, then go even further by adding text or other elements.

5. Opt for a digital frame.

If you don’t want to print out the finished result, you can use the frame design tool to create digital frame effects for virtual display or sharing online. Create something completely new or opt for one of the professional templates.

Resize your photos with the Adobe Express AI resize tool.

If you need to resize your image for a specific frame, you can use the AI image resize tool to change the size of your photos to fit perfectly in seconds. Simply upload your image and choose the size you want it to be – the AI will do the hard work, filling in missing edges so that you can resize it for a standard frame size. It will also preserve the quality and layout.

It’s a tool that’s particularly useful for small business owners who want to make quick and professional-looking edits before sending work to print. It’s also easy to convert your images into social posts with just a few clicks.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

What are pictures frames measured in?

This can vary depending on the country, but, in the UK, picture frames are usually measured in inches or millimetres – based on the size of the image they are meant to display. Some frames will also be called A2, A3 etc, based on the standard print size they’re made for.

How do I know if the picture frame will fit my photo?

To see if your picture frame is right, measure the dimensions of your photo and then match it to the frame size. If you want to know more, we’ve got a comprehensive guide on how to choose the right picture frame size.

Where can I resize my picture if it doesn’t fit the frame?

It’s easy to resize your photo to fit any size of frame using the resize tool in Adobe Express. The innovative tool uses AI to avoid stretching or cropping and delivers a seamless effect.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features, including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.