Which five ratios does every listing need?
Frames are sold in a handful of proportions, not a handful of sizes. A 4 × 6, an 8 × 12 and a 24 × 36 are all the same shape — 2:3 — so one correctly sized 2:3 file prints perfectly at every one of them. That is why experienced sellers think in ratios first and sizes second. Five ratios cover the market:
- 2:3 — the photo-print and poster standard: 4 × 6, 8 × 12, 12 × 18, 16 × 24, 20 × 30 and 24 × 36 in. Also the shape of 61 × 91 cm frames.
- 3:4 — 6 × 8, 9 × 12, 12 × 16 and 18 × 24 in; the shape of 30 × 40 cm frames across Europe.
- 4:5 — 4 × 5, 8 × 10 and 16 × 20 in. 8 × 10 is one of the most widely sold frame sizes in the US, and 40 × 50 cm frames share the ratio.
- 11:14 — one size, 11 × 14 in, but it is a frame-store staple with its own mat openings and no other ratio reproduces it.
- A-series — A5 to A1, the ISO 216 standard used everywhere outside North America. Its 1:√2 proportion doesn't match any US size, so international buyers need their own file.
Two optional extras: 1:1 square for gallery-wall sets and Instagram-style prints, and 5:7 for 5 × 7 in cards and the popular 50 × 70 cm frame. Add them when the artwork suits them; most listings don't need them.
| Ratio | Sizes covered | Common frames | Who buys it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:3 | 4 × 6, 8 × 12, 12 × 18, 16 × 24, 20 × 30, 24 × 36 in | Photo and poster frames, 61 × 91 cm | Poster and photo buyers everywhere |
| 3:4 | 6 × 8, 9 × 12, 12 × 16, 18 × 24 in | 30 × 40 cm, 12 × 16, 18 × 24 | Illustration buyers, Europe |
| 4:5 | 4 × 5, 8 × 10, 16 × 20 in | 8 × 10, 16 × 20, 40 × 50 cm | US buyers — the 8 × 10 family |
| 11:14 | 11 × 14 in | 11 × 14, matted 8 × 10 | US frame-store buyers |
| A-series | A5, A4, A3, A2, A1 | A4, A3, A2 frames | UK, EU, Australia — international buyers |
| 1:1 (optional) | 4 × 4, 5 × 5, 6 × 6, 8 × 8, 10 × 10, 12 × 12, 16 × 16, 20 × 20 in | Square frames, 30 × 30 cm | Gallery walls and sets |
| 5:7 (optional) | 5 × 7 in | 5 × 7, 50 × 70 cm | Cards, desk frames, Europe |
What pixel size does every Etsy print size need at 300 DPI?
Pixel dimensions are simply inches × 300. Save one file per ratio at the largest size in its column that your art has the pixels for; a buyer printing 8 × 10 from a 16 × 20 file gets a perfect result, because downscaling loses nothing. The right-hand column shows the minimum source resolution you need to call that size "print-ready" without upscaling.
| Print size (in) | Size (cm) | Pixels @ 300 DPI | Pixels @ 150 DPI (floor) | Typical frames |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2:3 | ||||
| 4 × 6 in | 10.2 × 15.2 cm | 1200 × 1800 | 600 × 900 | Photo frames |
| 8 × 12 in | 20.3 × 30.5 cm | 2400 × 3600 | 1200 × 1800 | Photo frames |
| 12 × 18 in | 30.5 × 45.7 cm | 3600 × 5400 | 1800 × 2700 | Poster frames · 30 × 45 cm |
| 16 × 24 in | 40.6 × 61 cm | 4800 × 7200 | 2400 × 3600 | Poster frames |
| 20 × 30 in | 50.8 × 76.2 cm | 6000 × 9000 | 3000 × 4500 | Poster frames |
| 24 × 36 in | 61 × 91.4 cm | 7200 × 10800 | 3600 × 5400 | Poster frames · 61 × 91 cm |
| 3:4 | ||||
| 6 × 8 in | 15.2 × 20.3 cm | 1800 × 2400 | 900 × 1200 | Desk frames |
| 9 × 12 in | 22.9 × 30.5 cm | 2700 × 3600 | 1350 × 1800 | Shelf frames |
| 12 × 16 in | 30.5 × 40.6 cm | 3600 × 4800 | 1800 × 2400 | Wall frames · 30 × 40 cm |
| 18 × 24 in | 45.7 × 61 cm | 5400 × 7200 | 2700 × 3600 | Wall frames · 45 × 60 cm |
| 4:5 | ||||
| 4 × 5 in | 10.2 × 12.7 cm | 1200 × 1500 | 600 × 750 | Mini frames |
| 8 × 10 in | 20.3 × 25.4 cm | 2400 × 3000 | 1200 × 1500 | Standard frames · 11 × 14 matted |
| 16 × 20 in | 40.6 × 50.8 cm | 4800 × 6000 | 2400 × 3000 | Large wall · 40 × 50 cm |
| 11:14 | ||||
| 11 × 14 in | 27.9 × 35.6 cm | 3300 × 4200 | 1650 × 2100 | Standalone · outer size of matted 8 × 10 |
| A-series | ||||
| A5 (5.8 × 8.3 in) | 14.8 × 21 cm | 1748 × 2480 | 874 × 1240 | Small frames |
| A4 (8.3 × 11.7 in) | 21 × 29.7 cm | 2480 × 3508 | 1240 × 1754 | Home printing · A4 frames |
| A3 (11.7 × 16.5 in) | 29.7 × 42 cm | 3508 × 4961 | 1754 × 2480 | A3 frames |
| A2 (16.5 × 23.4 in) | 42 × 59.4 cm | 4961 × 7016 | 2480 × 3508 | Poster frames |
| A1 (23.4 × 33.1 in) | 59.4 × 84.1 cm | 7016 × 9933 | 3508 × 4967 | Poster frames |
| 1:1 (optional) | ||||
| 4 × 4 in | 10.2 × 10.2 cm | 1200 × 1200 | 600 × 600 | Mini frames · 10 × 10 cm |
| 5 × 5 in | 12.7 × 12.7 cm | 1500 × 1500 | 750 × 750 | Mini frames |
| 6 × 6 in | 15.2 × 15.2 cm | 1800 × 1800 | 900 × 900 | Small frames · 15 × 15 cm |
| 8 × 8 in | 20.3 × 20.3 cm | 2400 × 2400 | 1200 × 1200 | Square frames · 20 × 20 cm |
| 10 × 10 in | 25.4 × 25.4 cm | 3000 × 3000 | 1500 × 1500 | Square frames |
| 12 × 12 in | 30.5 × 30.5 cm | 3600 × 3600 | 1800 × 1800 | Record-sleeve · 30 × 30 cm |
| 16 × 16 in | 40.6 × 40.6 cm | 4800 × 4800 | 2400 × 2400 | Square frames |
| 20 × 20 in | 50.8 × 50.8 cm | 6000 × 6000 | 3000 × 3000 | Square frames · 50 × 50 cm |
| 5:7 (optional) | ||||
| 5 × 7 in | 12.7 × 17.8 cm | 1500 × 2100 | 750 × 1050 | Desk frames · 50 × 70 cm posters |
Why 300 DPI, and what does "enlarged" mean?
300 pixels per inch is the resolution at which a print viewed at arm's length shows no visible pixel structure; it is what print shops ask for and what buyers have been told to look for. The DPI number stored in a file's metadata doesn't change the pixels, but it tells printing software the intended size, which is why FrameReady writes each file's DPI into its metadata: 300 for full-size files, and the real, lower figure for a Free file capped at 3600 px.
If your source has fewer pixels than a size needs, the file must be enlarged. Good resampling (Lanczos) keeps the edges clean, but it can't add detail, so an enlarged print looks a little softer up close — more so the further it is stretched, and fine line art or photographs show it first. Beyond 2× — below 150 effective DPI — drop that size from the listing or recreate the art larger. FrameReady's badges use exactly these thresholds, so "Print-ready", "Enlarged +35%" and "Too small" mean the same thing every time, and each ratio exports its largest sharp size unless you choose a bigger one.
Which sizes should you actually include?
Include every size your source supports honestly. Buyers can't print larger than your largest file, so advertise the biggest size your source supports — which is why making your originals at least 7200 × 10800 px pays off. Don't pad the listing with twenty near-duplicate files: five ratio files at their largest sharp size are easier for buyers to understand, and a one-page size guide ("Which file do I print?") removes the most common pre-sale question.
What are Etsy's file limits for digital downloads?
Etsy allows up to 5 digital files per listing, each 20 MB or less (Etsy Help Center, checked October 2026). A 24 × 36 JPG at quality 92 is typically 10–18 MB, so five ratio files rarely fit in one archive. The reliable approach is to zip the files into two or three archives that each stay under 20 MB, name them clearly (…_1-of-3.zip), and use the fifth slot for the PDF size guide. If one image alone exceeds 20 MB, lower the JPEG quality a step or two (FrameReady steps it down for you, never below quality 70) before resorting to a smaller size. PNG is only worth it for flat graphics with few colours; for anything photographic or textured it is several times larger than JPG.
Should you crop or pad artwork for different ratios?
Because the five ratios are different shapes, an artwork can't fill all of them without either cropping or adding a border. For most designs, cropping is right: keep the focal point safe and let the edges go. For art with a hard edge — a bordered illustration, a composed poster with text near the margins — use "fit + pad": the whole artwork is placed inside the frame on a plain or edge-blurred background. Make the decision per ratio; a design that crops happily to 4:5 may need padding at 2:3.
Frequently asked questions about Etsy wall art sizes
What is the most common wall art size on Etsy?
8 × 10 in (4:5) is one of the most common frame sizes in the US, alongside 11 × 14 and 16 × 20; for posters, 18 × 24 and 24 × 36 are the usual choices.
How many files can an Etsy digital listing have?
Up to 5 files, each 20 MB or smaller (Etsy Help Center, checked October 2026). A ZIP counts as one file, so sellers usually zip the five ratio files into two or three archives under 20 MB and keep a slot for a PDF size guide.
What resolution should Etsy printable wall art be?
300 pixels per inch at the largest size you sell: 7200 × 10800 px for 24 × 36 in, 4800 × 6000 px for 16 × 20 in. Also set the file's DPI metadata to 300. The pixel count decides quality, but printing software reads the DPI value to work out the size.
Do I need a separate file for every print size?
No — one file per ratio. Every size in a ratio has the same shape, so a 2:3 file at 24 × 36 in also prints at 4 × 6, 8 × 12, 12 × 18, 16 × 24, 20 × 30 in without cropping. Five ratio files (2:3, 3:4, 4:5, 11:14 and A-series) cover the standard frames.
Should printable wall art be JPG or PNG?
JPG for almost everything: at quality 85–92 it is several times smaller than PNG, so files stay under Etsy's 20 MB limit. Use PNG only for flat graphics with few colours; large PNGs often break that limit.
What's the difference between 2:3 and 3:2?
Same shape, rotated. 2:3 is portrait (4 × 6, 24 × 36) and 3:2 is landscape (6 × 4, 36 × 24). One file covers both orientations' sizes once it's rotated.
Do I need both 2:3 and 3:4?
Yes — they look similar but neither frames the other without a visible crop. Together with 4:5 they cover every standard US frame.
Should I offer sizes in centimetres?
Include an A-series file; it covers A4, A3 and A2 frames sold everywhere outside the US. Listing cm equivalents in the description helps, but a separate file is what makes the print fit.
Is 150 DPI good enough for a large poster?
For a 24 × 36 poster viewed from across a room, 150 DPI is acceptable, but buyers can't tell in advance and reviews punish softness. Treat 150 DPI as the floor, not the goal.
How do I resize one design to all these sizes quickly?
Use a ratio-aware tool: load the artwork once, check the crop for each ratio, export the pack. FrameReady does this in the browser and zips the files to Etsy's limits.