Canvas Print Sizes: How to Choose from 12x18 to 40x60

Picking a size is the hardest part of buying wall art online. A picture that looked right on a screen can feel tiny once it hangs above a sofa. This guide explains our five canvas sizes in real inches and shows how to match each one to a wall.

The five sizes we make

Every print in the shop comes in the same five sizes. Each one has a 2:3 shape, so the long side is 1.5 times the short side.

Size	Centimeters	Price (USD)
12 x 18 inches	about 30 x 46 cm	$59
16 x 24 inches	about 41 x 61 cm	$89
24 x 36 inches	about 61 x 91 cm	$159
32 x 48 inches	about 81 x 122 cm	$229
40 x 60 inches	about 102 x 152 cm	$299

Most artworks are vertical, so they hang 12 inches wide and 18 inches tall. Some are horizontal, and those hang 18 inches wide and 12 inches tall. The page for each print shows which way it runs. Shipping is free anywhere in the United States.

What a 2:3 shape means

The 2:3 ratio is the same as 3:2 turned on its side. It is the shape of 35 mm film, which has an image area of 36 mm by 24 mm. Digital SLR cameras use sensors with the same proportions, according to Wikipedia's article on aspect ratio. A 4x6 photo print matches it too.

This helps if you plan to buy more than one print. Photos you already own in 4x6 have the same shape as our canvases, so a small photo wall and a canvas wall will look related. If you have standard frames in other shapes, they will not match our canvases, because we do not cut to other ratios.

How big each size looks

A 12x18 canvas covers 216 square inches. A 16x24 covers 384 square inches, which is almost twice as much. A 24x36 covers 864 square inches, which is four times the area of the smallest size. A 32x48 covers 1,536 square inches, and a 40x60 covers 2,400 square inches, more than eleven times the smallest.

Those jumps matter. Each size is not a little bigger than the one before. The 24x36 is more than twice the area of the 16x24, and the 40x60 is close to three times the 24x36. The large sizes are the first thing you see in a room.

Choosing a size by wall

Start with the space, not the artwork. Measure the width of the wall or of the furniture below it. Then compare it to the widths in the table above.

• Above a sofa or bed. Leave 6 to 8 inches between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the canvas. That gap is the advice in both Frameology's gallery wall guide and Bob Vila's picture height guide. A single 24x36 works over a narrow sofa. A wide sofa often needs a pair or a trio of smaller prints.
• A narrow wall or hallway. A vertical 12x18 or 16x24 fits where a wide frame would crowd the door. Hang it so the center sits at eye level, as explained in our guide on how high to hang pictures.
• A bedside or desk. The 12x18 is the right scale for small spaces. It also works as part of a set.
• A bare wall with nothing near it. The 24x36 gives you a single clear focal point.

If you are between two sizes, ask which wall you are filling. A small print on a big wall looks lost. A large print in a small room can feel heavy, but it is rarely a mistake in a living room.

Sizes for sets and gallery walls

Several canvases of the same size make a tidy row. Three 12x18 prints with 2.5 inches between them measure 41 inches across. Three 16x24 prints with the same gaps measure 53 inches across.

You can also mix sizes. One 24x36 between two 12x18 prints, with 2.5-inch gaps, is 53 inches wide. The tall center print gives the group a clear anchor. Frameology suggests a large anchor in the middle with smaller pieces around it and a 2 to 3 inch space between frames. Our gallery wall layout guide shows how to plan this with paper templates.

You can browse ready-made groups in sets and gallery walls.

Vertical or horizontal

The shape of the artwork decides the direction. We do not rotate a print to fit a size, because that would crop it. A tall subject such as a sunflower or a heron is usually vertical. A branch with several flowers or a row of shells may be horizontal.

Look at the print page before you choose a size. The page shows the shape and the room preview, so you can see how the canvas sits on a wall.

What the canvas is made of

Up to 24x36, the canvas is a synthetic fiber fabric with a water-resistant layer, stretched over a pine frame that is 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) deep and printed with archival pigment inks. The 32x48 and 40x60 canvases are 360 gsm poly-cotton, printed with archival-quality inks and stretched over solid wood bars 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) deep. Every size is made and shipped in the United States.

Up to 24x36, the frame is shallow, so the canvas sits close to the wall. The large sizes stand out further, like a gallery canvas. If you want to hang it without nails, read how to hang art without nails.

Delivery and returns

Orders arrive in about 5 to 7 business days. Production takes about 2 business days, and delivery takes 3 to 5 business days. Each canvas is made to order, so we cannot accept returns when you change your mind. If it arrives damaged or defective, tell us within 30 days with a photo and we will replace it for free. Details are on the help page.

Because returns are limited, measure the wall first. A paper cutout taped to the wall is a cheap way to test a size. Cut a sheet to 12x18, 16x24 or 24x36 inches and look at it for a day.

A quick way to decide

1. Measure the wall or the furniture below it.
2. Pick the size that fills about the right share of that width.
3. Check that the bottom edge will sit 6 to 8 inches above any furniture.
4. Tape a paper cutout to the wall to confirm.

That is usually enough. Browse the shop when you are ready, or start with a collection such as flowers or birds.

Sources

• Aspect ratio (image), Wikipedia: 3:2 shape of 35 mm film, DSLR sensors and 4x6 prints.
• Simple no-fail gallery wall formula, Frameology: spacing of 2 to 3 inches, a large anchor piece, and 6 to 8 inches above furniture.
• How high to hang pictures, Bob Vila: 6 to 8 inches above furniture and the 57-inch center line.