Choosing a size is mostly about the wall, not the photograph. Below are the most common sizes with a sense of where each one works. Every size available for a particular image is listed on that image page once you tap Order a Print — sizes are filtered to suit the shape of each photograph.
Paper sizes at a glance
| Size | Metric | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| A5 | 21 × 15 cm | A desk, a shelf, or a small cluster of prints |
| A4 | 30 × 21 cm | Alcoves, hallways, alongside other frames |
| A3 | 42 × 30 cm | Above a radiator or sideboard; part of a gallery wall |
| A2 | 59 × 42 cm | The most popular single print — living room, bedroom, hallway |
| A1 | 84 × 59 cm | A statement piece; fills a chimney breast |
| A0 | 119 × 84 cm | A feature wall in a large room |
Inch and centimetre sizes
Alongside the A sizes there is a full range in inches, from 7×5″ up to 60×40″, including square formats (8×8″ through 40×40″) and panoramic ratios (20×10″ through 60×20″) for the wider images. Metal prints are sized in centimetres, from 20×20 cm up to 120×80 cm.
A quick way to judge it
- Measure the wall, not the room. A print generally looks right filling somewhere between half and two thirds of the width of the wall or the furniture it hangs above.
- Hang at eye level. Around 145–150 cm from the floor to the centre of the image is the usual convention.
- Mark it out first. Cut a sheet of newspaper to size and tape it to the wall for a day. It is a far better test than trying to imagine it.
- Allow for the mount and frame. A framed print finishes roughly 2″ larger than the image in each dimension, because of the 1″ mount border.
- When in doubt, size up. A print that is slightly too small is a much more common regret than one that is slightly too big.
Not sure?
Tell me the room, the width of the wall and roughly where it will hang, and I will tell you what I would choose: liam@liamhancox.co.uk.