Reference · Updated September 2026
Photo Print Sizes Chart
Every standard photo print size from wallet to 24 x 36, with the aspect ratio, how much of your photo each size crops away, the pixels you need, and the frame and mat that fit.
By the Austin Gallery editors · September 24, 2026
The quick answer
The standard photo sizes are 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, 11 x 14, 16 x 20 and 20 x 30 inches. Only the 2:3 sizes (4 x 6, 8 x 12, 12 x 18, 20 x 30, 24 x 36) print a camera photo without cropping. For a sharp print, multiply each side in inches by 300 to get the pixels you need.
Standard photo print sizes
The sizes photo labs and home printers offer, in inches and centimeters, with the shape of each one.
| Size (in) | Metric | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 x 3.5 (wallet) | 6.4 x 8.9 cm | 5:7 |
| 3.5 x 5 | 8.9 x 12.7 cm | 7:10 |
| 4 x 6 | 10.2 x 15.2 cm | 2:3 |
| 5 x 7 | 12.7 x 17.8 cm | 5:7 |
| 8 x 8 | 20.3 x 20.3 cm | 1:1 |
| 8 x 10 | 20.3 x 25.4 cm | 4:5 |
| 8 x 12 | 20.3 x 30.5 cm | 2:3 |
| 8.5 x 11 | 21.6 x 27.9 cm | 17:22 |
| 11 x 14 | 27.9 x 35.6 cm | 11:14 |
| 12 x 12 | 30.5 x 30.5 cm | 1:1 |
| 12 x 18 | 30.5 x 45.7 cm | 2:3 |
| 16 x 20 | 40.6 x 50.8 cm | 4:5 |
| 16 x 24 | 40.6 x 61.0 cm | 2:3 |
| 18 x 24 | 45.7 x 61.0 cm | 3:4 |
| 20 x 30 | 50.8 x 76.2 cm | 2:3 |
| 24 x 36 | 61.0 x 91.4 cm | 2:3 |
Sizes cross-checked against the print menus of Mpix and the photo size guides from Frame Destination. Labs round some sizes; wallet prints are sometimes 2.5 x 3.25.
Which sizes crop your photo
A photo only fills a print without trimming when the two share a shape. Most cameras shoot 3:2; most phones shoot 4:3. Anything else gets cut to fit. This is how much each print size trims:
| Print size | 3:2 camera | 4:3 phone |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 6, 8 x 12, 12 x 18, 20 x 30, 24 x 36 | None | 11% of the short side |
| 5 x 7 | 7% of the long side | 5% of the short side |
| 8 x 10, 16 x 20 | 17% of the long side | 6% of the long side |
| 11 x 14 | 15% of the long side | 5% of the long side |
| 18 x 24 | 11% of the long side | None |
| 8 x 8, 12 x 12 | 33% of the long side | 25% of the long side |
The practical rule: if you shot on a camera and want the whole frame, print 8 x 12 instead of 8 x 10 and 12 x 18 instead of 11 x 14. If you shot on a phone, 18 x 24 is the one large size that matches it exactly. The same ratio logic applies to canvas; our canvas aspect ratio chart groups every size by shape.
Pixels you need at 300 and 150 DPI
Multiply the print size in inches by the DPI. 300 DPI is the standard for photos you look at up close. 150 DPI is the practical floor for large prints seen from across a room.
| 300 DPI | 150 DPI | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 6 | 1200 x 1800 | 600 x 900 |
| 5 x 7 | 1500 x 2100 | 750 x 1050 |
| 8 x 10 | 2400 x 3000 | 1200 x 1500 |
| 8 x 12 | 2400 x 3600 | 1200 x 1800 |
| 11 x 14 | 3300 x 4200 | 1650 x 2100 |
| 12 x 18 | 3600 x 5400 | 1800 x 2700 |
| 16 x 20 | 4800 x 6000 | 2400 x 3000 |
| 16 x 24 | 4800 x 7200 | 2400 x 3600 |
| 18 x 24 | 5400 x 7200 | 2700 x 3600 |
| 20 x 30 | 6000 x 9000 | 3000 x 4500 |
| 24 x 36 | 7200 x 10800 | 3600 x 5400 |
A 24 megapixel camera file (6000 x 4000) covers every size to 24 x 36 at 150 DPI and to about 13 x 20 at 300. The full breakdown by camera megapixels, and how to check a file before sending it to a lab, is in our print resolution and DPI chart.
Frame and mat sizes for each print
Put a print in a frame the same size and it sits edge to edge. Put it in the next frame up with a mat and it looks finished. These are the standard pairings; the border is the frame minus the print, divided by two. The mat window itself is cut about 1/4 inch smaller than the print so it overlaps the edges.
| Frame | Mat border | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 x 6 | 5 x 7 frame | 0.5 in all round |
| 4 x 6 | 8 x 10 frame | 2 in all round |
| 5 x 7 | 8 x 10 frame | 1.5 in all round |
| 8 x 10 | 11 x 14 frame | 1.5 in sides, 2 in top and bottom |
| 8 x 12 | 12 x 16 frame | 2 in all round |
| 8.5 x 11 | 11 x 14 frame | 1.25 in sides, 1.5 in top and bottom |
| 11 x 14 | 16 x 20 frame | 2.5 in sides, 3 in top and bottom |
| 12 x 18 | 18 x 24 frame | 3 in all round |
| 16 x 20 | 20 x 24 frame | 2 in all round |
| 18 x 24 | 22 x 28 frame | 2 in all round |
| 20 x 30 | 24 x 36 frame | 2 in sides, 3 in top and bottom |
| 24 x 36 | 30 x 40 frame | 3 in sides, 2 in top and bottom |
Every ready-made frame size is listed in our standard picture frame sizes chart, and how wide should a mat be covers when a wider or bottom-weighted mat looks better. Printing large? The bigger formats overlap with our standard poster sizes chart.
Frames with the mat already cut
Ready-made frames for the common pairings
Pre-matted frames for the four pairings people print most, plus one printer for making the prints at home. Prices were checked on Amazon on September 24, 2026 and move often; links go to Amazon with our affiliate tag.
Giftgarden
Giftgarden 5 x 7 Frames Matted to 4 x 6, Set of 4
The 4 x 6 print in a 5 x 7 frame with a thin mat, or a 5 x 7 print with the mat removed.
$13.99 for 4 · Check price on Amazon
Americanflat
Americanflat 8 x 10 Frame Matted to 5 x 7
The standard 1.5 inch border for a 5 x 7, the combination most desk and shelf photos use.
$9.99 · Check price on Amazon
Americanflat
Americanflat 11 x 14 Frame Matted to 8 x 10
The frame for the most printed enlargement size, with the mat already cut.
$9.99 · Check price on Amazon
Americanflat
Americanflat 16 x 20 Frame Matted to 11 x 14
Turns an 11 x 14 into a wall piece with a 2.5 to 3 inch mat.
$23.99 · Check price on Amazon
Canon
Canon PIXMA PRO-200S 13 inch Photo Printer
For printing at home: 8-color dye ink and borderless prints up to 13 x 19 inches, per Canon.
$549 · Check price on Amazon
Which size to print
Albums and fridge doors: 4 x 6, which matches a camera photo exactly. Desk and shelf frames: 5 x 7, matted into an 8 x 10. A single photo on the wall: 11 x 14 matted to 16 x 20 at minimum; smaller prints disappear on a wall. The main piece in a room: 20 x 30 or 24 x 36, both 2:3, so a camera photo prints whole. Our guide to what size art for your wall sizes it against your furniture, and the best large format printers covers printing at home past 13 x 19.
Frequently asked questions
What are the standard photo print sizes?
The standard photo print sizes in the US are 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, 11 x 14, 16 x 20 and 20 x 30 inches, plus wallet (2.5 x 3.5) and the 2:3 enlargements 8 x 12, 12 x 18 and 24 x 36. 4 x 6 is the most printed size because it matches the 3:2 shape of most camera sensors.
How many pixels do I need for an 8 x 10 print?
2400 x 3000 pixels for a sharp print at 300 DPI, which is 7.2 megapixels. At 150 DPI, fine for a print viewed from a few feet away, 1200 x 1500 pixels is enough.
Why does my photo get cropped when I print 8 x 10?
Because 8 x 10 is a 4:5 shape and most camera photos are 3:2. To fill the 8 x 10 the lab trims about 17% off the long side. Phone photos are usually 4:3, which is closer to 4:5, so they lose only about 6%. Print 8 x 12 instead if you want the whole camera frame.
What size print is a phone photo?
Most phone cameras shoot 4:3, which matches 18 x 24 exactly and is close to 8 x 10 and 11 x 14. On a 4 x 6 a 4:3 phone photo loses about 11% of its short side. A 12 megapixel phone file (4032 x 3024) prints sharp at 300 DPI up to about 13 x 10 inches.
What frame do I need for a 5 x 7 photo?
A 5 x 7 frame for the photo on its own, or an 8 x 10 frame with a mat cut for 5 x 7, which gives an even 1.5 inch border. The mat opening is cut slightly smaller than the print, usually 4.5 x 6.5 inches, so the mat holds the edges.
Is 300 DPI necessary for photo prints?
300 DPI is the standard for photos seen up close, like anything under 11 x 14 on a desk or in an album. Larger prints hung on a wall are seen from farther away, so 150 to 200 DPI usually looks sharp at 16 x 20 and above.