Guide
What Size Poster Should You Choose?
Poster sizes are easy to get wrong from a screen: A2 sounds big until it hangs alone on a wide wall, and A0 sounds huge until it fills the space above a sofa perfectly. This guide translates the standard sizes into real rooms so you can order once and hang it with confidence.
Updated 2026-09-08
The standard sizes, in plain numbers
Poster sizing mixes two systems: the international A-series and popular inch formats. These are the sizes we print, from smallest to largest:
- A3 — 29.7 × 42 cm (11.7 × 16.5″): desk-side and shelf territory, or one tile of a gallery wall.
- 12×18″ — 30.5 × 45.7 cm: the classic small print, slightly taller than A3.
- 40×50 cm (about 16 × 20″): a versatile mid-size for hallways and paired arrangements.
- A2 — 42 × 59.4 cm (16.5 × 23.4″): the safe default for most single walls.
- 18×24″ — 45.7 × 61 cm: the most popular size in our editor; noticeably present without dominating.
- 50×70 cm (about 20 × 28″): a strong statement above furniture.
- A1 — 59.4 × 84.1 cm (23.4 × 33.1″): commands a wall; best with breathing room around it.
- A0 — 84.1 × 118.9 cm (33.1 × 46.8″): gallery scale — one poster becomes the room’s focal point.
Matching size to the wall
The rule interior designers use: art above furniture should span roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the furniture’s width. Above a standard 2.2 m sofa, that means an A1 or A0 poster (or a pair of A2s). Above a bedside table or desk, A3 to 18×24″ reads right.
For a standalone wall with no furniture beneath, hang the center of the poster at eye level — about 145 cm from the floor — and size up rather than down: small art on a large empty wall looks accidental, large art looks intentional.
When in doubt between two sizes, take painter’s tape and mark the poster’s outline on the wall. Thirty seconds of tape answers the question better than any chart.
How framing changes the footprint
A wooden frame adds a little to each side and, more importantly, visual weight — a framed A2 occupies the wall like an unframed 50×70. If you plan to frame, you can usually go one size down from your unframed instinct.
Our frames ship ready to hang in black, white, dark wood, and natural wood; the editor previews the framed poster at true proportions so you can judge the final look before ordering.
Printing a digital file yourself
If you order the high-resolution PDF instead of a printed poster, it is delivered at 300 DPI for the size you designed. Any local print shop can print it same-day; ask for 200–250 gsm matte stock for a result close to our own production.
Frequently asked
What is the most popular poster size?
18×24″ (45.7 × 61 cm) is the most ordered size in our editor — large enough to be a clear focal point, small enough to fit most walls and standard frames.
What size poster should go above a couch?
Aim for two-thirds to three-quarters of the couch width: above a typical 2.2 m sofa that means A1, A0, or a pair of A2 posters hung side by side.
Is A2 bigger than 18×24 inches?
They are close: A2 is 42 × 59.4 cm, while 18×24″ is 45.7 × 61 cm — the inch format is slightly wider and taller.
Can I change the size after designing my map?
Yes — sizes switch instantly in the editor and the layout adapts, so you can compare how your design reads at each size before ordering.
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