Guides · Etsy sellers
Printable wall art checklist: from artwork to listing
Make one file per ratio (2:3, 3:4, 4:5, 11:14, A-series) at the largest size the art has pixels for and check each at 100% zoom. Name files by ratio and size, pack them into ZIPs under 20 MB (Etsy takes up to 5 files per listing), and tell buyers which file prints which frame, at what scale.
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The checklist
Nine steps from finished artwork to a listing buyers can print without asking. Each links to the guide with the details.
| Step | What to check | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pick the ratios | One file per ratio: 2:3, 3:4, 4:5, 11:14 and A-series. Add 1:1 or 5:7 if the art suits square or 5x7 frames. | Etsy wall art sizes |
| 2. Check the pixels | Each file needs its largest size × 300 pixels for a sharp print (table below). Below 150 DPI, leave the size out. | Print size calculator |
| 3. Crop each ratio yourself | Each shape cuts different edges: 2:3 art filling 4:5 loses 17% of its height. Keep words and faces ¼ in from the edge. | Why prints get cut off |
| 4. Upscale only once, and check | If the art is too small, enlarge it once to the largest size, then inspect faces, hands and lettering at 100% zoom. | Print sizes for AI art |
| 5. Save the files | JPG for painted or photographic art, PNG for flat colour and type, with the real DPI written into each file. | DPI explained |
| 6. Name the files | Artwork, ratio, largest size: sunset_4x5_16x20in.jpg. Letters, digits, hyphens and underscores only. | File names and instructions |
| 7. Pack the ZIPs | Up to 5 files per listing, each under 20 MB; number them (sunset_etsy-files_1-of-3.zip). | Etsy's file limits |
| 8. Write the buyer instructions | Which file for which frame, the scale for home printing (50% for 8x10 from the 16 × 20 in file) and where to print big sizes. | Printing a digital download |
| 9. Test-print one size | Print one file at home at the scale you tell buyers and measure it with a ruler; check the colour on paper. | Printing at home |
How many pixels does each ratio file need?
A ratio file is saved at the largest size of its ratio and prints every smaller size of the same shape. FrameReady's badges rate it Print-ready from 294 effective DPI and Enlarged down to 150, so these are the source pixels each needs:
| Ratio | Prints | Pixels at 300 DPI | Print-ready from | Enlarged down to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2:3 | 4×6 · 8×12 · 12×18 · 16×24 · 20×30 · 24×36 in | 7,200 × 10,800 | 7,056 × 10,584 | 3,600 × 5,400 |
| 3:4 | 6×8 · 9×12 · 12×16 · 18×24 in | 5,400 × 7,200 | 5,292 × 7,056 | 2,700 × 3,600 |
| 4:5 | 4×5 · 8×10 · 16×20 in | 4,800 × 6,000 | 4,704 × 5,880 | 2,400 × 3,000 |
| 11:14 | 11×14 in | 3,300 × 4,200 | 3,234 × 4,116 | 1,650 × 2,100 |
| A-series | A5 · A4 · A3 · A2 · A1 | 7,016 × 9,933 | 6,876 × 9,735 | 3,508 × 4,967 |
At what scale do buyers print each size at home?
Because every file is saved at its ratio's largest size, printing it at 100% gives that largest size. For a smaller size at home, the print dialog's scale is the print size ÷ the file's size. These are the sizes that fit on one Letter or A4 sheet inside a home printer's margins; put the ones you sell in your instructions, and send bigger sizes to a print shop, which scales the file to the size ordered.
| File | To print | Scale | Copies per Letter / A4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:3 (24 × 36 in) | 4 × 6 in | 16.7% | 3 / 2 |
| 3:4 (18 × 24 in) | 6 × 8 in | 33.3% | 1 / 1 |
| 4:5 (16 × 20 in) | 4 × 5 in | 25% | 4 / 2 |
| 4:5 (16 × 20 in) | 8 × 10 in | 50% | 1 / — |
| A-series (A1) | A5 | 25% | 1 / 1 |
Which of these steps does FrameReady do?
Drop one artwork into FrameReady and it does steps 2 to 7 in your browser: a crop preview you can move for every ratio, a badge for every size (Print-ready, Enlarged or Too small), JPG or PNG files with their real DPI written in, the names above, and ZIPs under 19.5 MB. Free exports stop at 3,600 px on the long side (12 in at 300 DPI), and bigger sizes carry their real, lower DPI. Nothing is uploaded.
Before you publish the listing
- List every ratio and size included, and say the buyer gets digital files, not a print.
- Show which file prints which frame, in the description and in a PDF inside the first ZIP.
- Download your own listing's files once, unzip them and open each file.
- Keep the originals: re-exporting from a compressed copy loses detail.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes should a printable wall art listing include?
One file per ratio covers every size of that shape: 2:3, 3:4, 4:5, 11:14 and A-series cover 19 standard sizes, from 4x5 to 24x36 and A5 to A1. Add 1:1 or 5:7 if the art suits square or 5x7 frames.
What resolution should printable wall art be?
Enough pixels for the largest size of each ratio at 300 DPI: 7,200 × 10,800 for 24 × 36 in, 4,800 × 6,000 for 16 × 20 in. Below 150 DPI (half those pixels) a print looks soft, so offer only the sizes your art can reach.
How many files can I upload to an Etsy digital listing?
Up to 5, each 20 MB or less (Etsy Help Center, checked 24 October 2026). A ZIP counts as one file, so a full pack usually goes in two or three ZIPs.
Should buyers print my files at 100%?
Only a file that is already the size they want. Each ratio file is saved at its largest size, so tell buyers the scale: an 8x10 from the 16 × 20 in file prints at 50%. Fit to page is fine for an approximate size; for an exact or large size, a print shop scales it.
Do I need separate A4 and US Letter files?
Not for wall art: the A-series file prints A5 to A1, and an 8.5 × 11 frame takes the 11:14 file, which trims 2% from the sides. Planners and worksheets are different; the A4 vs US Letter guide explains the options.
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.
- Etsy Help Center: How to Manage Your Digital Listings (up to 5 files per listing, 20 MB each), checked
- FrameReady print size chart (pixels at 300 DPI)
- Etsy wall art sizes (the five standard ratios)