Guides · Printing and framing
Frame size, mat opening and print size, explained
A frame is sold by the size it holds: an 11x14 frame takes an 11 × 14 in print, or a mat cut for a smaller print, often 8x10. The mat window is about ¼ in smaller than the print on each side, so an 8x10 behind a mat shows about 7.5 × 9.5 in.
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What does a frame size measure?
A frame is named for what goes inside it, not its outside edge: an 11x14 frame takes an 11 × 14 in print or mat, and the moulding adds its own width around that. With a mat, three sizes matter: the frame size (the mat's outer size), the print size, and the window the mat shows, which is a little smaller than the print so the print's edges stay hidden and it can't slip through.
Which mat fits which print?
Common pairings, with the window at the usual ¼ in overlap on each side and the mat border that leaves around it:
| Frame with mat | Mat window | Border, sides | Border, top and bottom | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4×6 | 5 × 7 in | 3.5 × 5.5 in | 0.75 in | 0.75 in |
| 5×7 | 8 × 10 in | 4.5 × 6.5 in | 1.75 in | 1.75 in |
| 8×10 | 11 × 14 in | 7.5 × 9.5 in | 1.75 in | 2.25 in |
| 8.5×11 | 11 × 14 in | 8 × 10.5 in | 1.5 in | 1.75 in |
| 11×14 | 16 × 20 in | 10.5 × 13.5 in | 2.75 in | 3.25 in |
| 12×16 | 16 × 20 in | 11.5 × 15.5 in | 2.25 in | 2.25 in |
| 12×18 | 18 × 24 in | 11.5 × 17.5 in | 3.25 in | 3.25 in |
| 16×20 | 20 × 24 in | 15.5 × 19.5 in | 2.25 in | 2.25 in |
| 18×24 | 24 × 30 in | 17.5 × 23.5 in | 3.25 in | 3.25 in |
| 20×30 | 24 × 36 in | 19.5 × 29.5 in | 2.25 in | 3.25 in |
| 8×8 | 12 × 12 in | 7.5 × 7.5 in | 2.25 in | 2.25 in |
Why are the mat borders uneven?
When the print and the frame have different shapes, the leftover space can't be equal on all sides. An 8x10 is 4:5 and an 11x14 is 11:14, so its mat is wider at the top and bottom than at the sides. A 12x16 in a 16x20 comes out even. If you want a different balance, a framer can cut a custom mat.
Should I print smaller to fit the mat?
No: print at the size the mat is cut for. The ¼ in overlap is what holds the print in place behind the window. What you do need is room at the edges: keep faces, signatures and words at least ¼ in (6 mm) inside the print. Some precut mats are labelled with the print size they take, others with the window size, so check which one the label gives before you print.
And without a mat?
The frame's own lip still covers a thin strip at every edge. Print at the frame size and keep the same margin clear. In Photo to Frame, the dashed line on the preview shows the strip a mat would cover.
Step by step
- Measure the mat's window, or read the print size on the mat's label.
- Pick that print size (or the frame size, without a mat) and crop the image to its shape.
- Keep anything important ¼ in or more from the edges.
- Print at 100% or “Actual size” and check it against the window before framing.
Frequently asked questions
What size print goes in an 11x14 frame with a mat?
The size the mat is cut for, most often 8 × 10 in. Without a mat, an 11 × 14 in print.
What size is the mat opening for an 8x10 print?
About 7.5 × 9.5 in: a mat overlaps the print by about ¼ in on each side, so the print's edges stay hidden and it can't slip through.
Do I need to print bigger so the mat doesn't cover my picture?
No. Print at the size the mat is cut for and keep important details ¼ in or more from the edge. Some precut mats list the window size instead of the print size, so check which one the label gives.
Can I put an A4 print in an 11x14 frame?
Yes, with a mat cut for A4: the window is about 7.8 × 11.2 in, leaving about 1.6 in at the sides and 1.4 in at the top and bottom.
Why are the top and bottom mat borders wider than the sides?
The print and the frame are different shapes. An 8x10 (4:5) in an 11x14 (11:14) frame leaves 1.75 in at the sides and 2.25 in at the top and bottom; a 12x16 in a 16x20 frame comes out even at 2.25 in.
Sources and how the numbers were worked out
Pixel, crop and size figures on this page are calculated from the same size data the FrameReady tools use (inches or millimetres × DPI), not copied from elsewhere.