Ratio guide
Print aspect ratios for wall art and photos
5 aspect ratios cover almost every standard frame: 2:3, 3:4, 4:5, 11:14, A-series, with 1:1 and 5:7 as optional extras. Every size within a ratio has the same shape, so one file at the ratio's largest size prints all of them without cropping.
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| Ratio | Sizes | Largest @ 300 DPI | Common frames |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:3 | 4 × 6, 8 × 12, 12 × 18, 16 × 24, 20 × 30, 24 × 36 in | 24 × 36 in: 7200 × 10800 px | Photo and poster frames, 61 × 91 cm |
| 3:4 | 6 × 8, 9 × 12, 12 × 16, 18 × 24 in | 18 × 24 in: 5400 × 7200 px | 30 × 40 cm, 12 × 16, 18 × 24 |
| 4:5 | 4 × 5, 8 × 10, 16 × 20 in | 16 × 20 in: 4800 × 6000 px | 8 × 10, 16 × 20, 40 × 50 cm |
| 11:14 | 11 × 14 in | 11 × 14 in: 3300 × 4200 px | 11 × 14, matted 8 × 10 |
| A-series | A5, A4, A3, A2, A1 | A1: 7016 × 9933 px | A4, A3, A2 frames |
| 1:1 (optional) | 4 × 4, 5 × 5, 6 × 6, 8 × 8, 10 × 10, 12 × 12, 16 × 16, 20 × 20 in | 20 × 20 in: 6000 × 6000 px | Square frames, 30 × 30 cm |
| 5:7 (optional) | 5 × 7 in | 5 × 7 in: 1500 × 2100 px | 5 × 7, 50 × 70 cm |
What is an aspect ratio?
An aspect ratio is a print's width compared with its height, written as two numbers. 2:3 means 2 units wide for every 3 tall, so 4 × 6, 8 × 12 and 24 × 36 in are all 2:3. Frames are sold in a few of these shapes, which is why sellers make one file per ratio rather than one per size.
How do you find the aspect ratio of a print size?
Divide both sides by their greatest common divisor. For 16 × 20 in that is 4, giving 4:5. A-sizes are different: every A size is 1:√2 (about 1:1.414), so A4, A3 and A1 all share one shape. The print size chart lists the ratio of every common size.
Which ratio should a printable listing include?
Start with the five standard ratios — the Etsy wall art size guide explains why — and add 1:1 or 5:7 when the artwork suits a square or a 50 × 70 cm frame.
2:3: 2:3 print sizes are 4 × 6, 8 × 12, 12 × 18, 16 × 24, 20 × 30 and 24 × 36 in; at 300 DPI the largest, 24 × 36 in, needs 7200 × 10800 px.
3:4: 3:4 print sizes are 6 × 8, 9 × 12, 12 × 16 and 18 × 24 in; at 300 DPI the largest, 18 × 24 in, needs 5400 × 7200 px.
4:5: 4:5 print sizes are 4 × 5, 8 × 10 and 16 × 20 in; at 300 DPI the largest, 16 × 20 in, needs 4800 × 6000 px.
11:14: The 11:14 print size is 11 × 14 in; at 300 DPI it needs 3300 × 4200 px.
A-series: A-series print sizes are A5, A4, A3, A2 and A1; at 300 DPI the largest, A1, needs 7016 × 9933 px.
1:1: 1:1 print sizes are 4 × 4, 5 × 5, 6 × 6, 8 × 8, 10 × 10, 12 × 12, 16 × 16 and 20 × 20 in; at 300 DPI the largest, 20 × 20 in, needs 6000 × 6000 px.
5:7: The 5:7 print size is 5 × 7 in; at 300 DPI it needs 1500 × 2100 px.