How to Pick the Right Print Size for Your Wall

A print that fits is a matter of two measurements and one rule of thumb. Here is the arithmetic, the common mistakes, and how to choose between canvas and framed formats once the numbers are settled.

Auvrique Editorial · Fine Art Editions

The short answer

Measure the wall space in centimetres, then aim for the print to cover roughly two thirds to three quarters of that width. A 120 cm wall suits a print of 80 to 90 cm wide. Leave 15 to 25 cm of clearance on each side and hang the centre at about 145 to 152 cm from the floor.

Measure the wall before anything else

Start with the wall itself, not the print. Measure the width of the open space where the work will hang, ignoring skirting boards and switches. If the print will sit above a sofa or a sideboard, measure the furniture instead and add 15 to 20 cm on either side. The rule of thumb is simple. A print should span about two thirds of the width of the space above a piece of furniture, or up to three quarters if the wall is bare.

Height matters as much as width. The centre of the print should sit at roughly 145 to 152 cm from the floor, which is standard gallery height and reads correctly to a standing eye. Above a sofa, leave 15 to 25 cm between the top of the furniture and the bottom edge of the frame. Write both numbers down before you look at any edition, because a print chosen from memory is almost always chosen too small.

Turn measurements into a print size

Subtract the clearance from your wall measurement and you have your target. A 150 cm stretch of bare wall wants a print between 90 and 110 cm wide. A 120 cm wall suits 80 to 90 cm. For a smaller nook, a 40 to 60 cm print holds its own without crowding. If you are torn between two sizes, take the larger one. Undersized prints are the most common regret, and the wall will make an undersized work look lost rather than modest.

Format changes the calculation slightly. Canvas editions often read larger because they have no frame, so a canvas can sit closer to the top of your range. Framed posters add several centimetres to the stated dimensions, so check whether a listed size refers to the image or the outer frame. The same logic applies across formats, as explained in the comparison of canvas prints and framed posters. For a wide wall, two smaller works hung as a pair can work better than one, an approach covered in the guide to Sudeikin prints for a modern living room.

Sizing rules that hold

A print should cover two thirds to three quarters of the wall width it hangs on.
Keep 15 to 25 cm of clearance between furniture and the bottom of the frame.
Hang the centre of the print about 145 to 152 cm from the floor.
When choosing between two sizes, the larger one is usually the safer choice.

Common sizing mistakes to avoid

The first mistake is buying for the wall you imagine rather than the wall you have. Tape a sheet of newspaper or masking tape to the wall at the exact dimensions of the print you are considering. Stand back. Most people adjust at least once, and it costs nothing to do this before ordering. The second mistake is forgetting the frame. A framed poster listed at 60 by 90 cm may measure closer to 65 by 95 cm once the moulding is included.

The third mistake is ignoring proportion to the room. A tall, narrow wall takes a vertical format well, while a print above a wide sideboard should be horizontal. If you are weighing canvas against framed formats for a specific wall, the choice guide for Boberg canvas versus framed poster walks through the same decision. And if the wall is awkward, the Stettheimer sizing guide at Stettheimer canvas sizing covers narrow stairwells and sloped ceilings. Similar proportion questions come up in the popular sizes for Ekster prints overview.

The most common sizing error is not a wall that is too small. It is a buyer who trusts memory over a tape measure.

Wall or furniture width	Recommended print width	Typical use
60 to 90 cm	40 to 60 cm	Hallway, small nook, powder room
120 cm	80 to 90 cm	Above a console or single armchair
150 to 180 cm	100 to 130 cm	Above a standard sofa
200 cm or wider	130 cm and up, or a pair	Large bare wall, dining room

Wall width to recommended print width

Key takeaways

Measure the wall or the furniture beneath it, then choose a print covering two thirds to three quarters of that width.
Hang the centre of the print at 145 to 152 cm from the floor for a natural eye line.
Leave 15 to 25 cm between the top of a sofa and the bottom edge of the frame.
Tape the intended dimensions to the wall before ordering, and check whether a listed size includes the frame.

Related questions

How much wall space should a print actually cover?

Aim for the print to span two thirds to three quarters of the width of the wall section or the furniture beneath it. On a 150 cm stretch of bare wall, that means a print between 100 and 115 cm wide. Anything smaller tends to look isolated, and anything wider than the furniture it hangs over will feel unbalanced.

Should I measure the print size or the frame size?

Measure the outer frame, because that is what occupies the wall. Framed poster editions add several centimetres to the stated image dimensions, so a 60 by 90 cm print may need closer to 65 by 95 cm of wall. Canvas editions usually match their listed dimensions closely, since there is no moulding around the edges.

How high should I hang a print on the wall?

Place the centre of the print about 145 to 152 cm from the floor, which is the height galleries use and reads comfortably to a standing eye. Above a sofa or sideboard, leave 15 to 25 cm between the furniture and the bottom of the frame. In a dining room, you can hang slightly lower because viewers are seated.

From the Auvrique collection

Made to order · Every size