What Size Should You Print Your Photos?

What Size Should I Print My Photos? A Practical Guide

Choosing print sizes is the step where many clients feel uncertain — the measurements mean little until you can visualise them on your wall. This guide gives you practical reference points for the most common print sizes and how they work in real domestic spaces.

Understanding Print Dimensions

Print dimensions are quoted in centimetres (or inches). The most common professional print sizes: 10x15cm (4x6"), 15x20cm (6x8"), 20x25cm (8x10"), 20x30cm (8x12"), 30x40cm (12x16"), 30x45cm (12x18"), 40x50cm (16x20"), 50x70cm (20x28"), and A-series sizes (A4, A3, A2, A1).

For reference: an A4 sheet of paper is 21x29.7cm. An A3 is 29.7x42cm. These give a useful reference frame — most people know what A4 looks like.

Recommended Sizes by Use

Small accent prints (10x15 to 20x25cm): For desk frames, bedside tables, small collections in a gallery wall arrangement. Not strong enough as standalone statement pieces on a large wall.

Medium prints (20x30 to 30x45cm): The most versatile size range. A 30x40cm framed print works well above a console table, in a study, or as part of a gallery arrangement. This is the most commonly ordered size for family portrait sessions.

Large statement prints (40x50cm and above): For the main living room wall, above a fireplace, the central image in an entrance hall. A single large print requires a clear wall with no competing visual elements. At this size, the quality of the original photograph is critical — only sharp, well-exposed images should be printed large.

A Practical Test

Cut a piece of paper or cardboard to the exact print size you are considering, tape it to the wall, and live with it for an hour. It is a much more reliable method than visualising from dimensions alone.