Print Mat Sizes for Standard Frames— Complete Guide
Find the right frame and mat for any print size. Standard matchups, mat window dimensions, and pixel sizes for Etsy digital sellers.
Quick Answer
Which frame fits my print with a mat?
How Print Mats Work
A mat (or mount) is a flat border placed between your print and the frame glass. It serves two purposes: it prevents the print from touching the glass (which can cause condensation damage), and it creates visual breathing room that draws the eye to your artwork.
The mat window is the opening cut in the mat board — the part where your print shows through. The window is always slightly smaller than your print size, so the mat overlaps your print edges by a few millimeters and holds it in place.
- Mat border: the visible white/cream space between frame edge and print
- Mat window: the cut opening (slightly smaller than print, overlaps edges ~3–6mm)
- Standard border width: 1.5 inches on all sides (gallery standard)
- Bottom-weighted: 1.5" sides/top, 2" bottom — traditional formal look
Standard Frame Sizes for Common Prints
Mat window sizes are approximate standard cuts. Verify with your specific frame or matboard supplier — exact openings can vary ±0.125 inches.
| Print Size | Mat Window | Mat Border | Frame Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4×6 | ~3.75×5.75" | ~1 inch | 5×7 |
| 5×7 | ~4.75×6.75" | ~1.5 inch | 8×10 |
| 8×10 | ~7.75×9.75" | ~1.5 inch | 11×14 |
| 8.5×11 | ~8×10.5" | ~1.25 inch | 11×14 |
| 11×14 | ~10.5×13.5" | ~1.5 inch | 16×20 |
| 12×16 | ~11.5×15.5" | ~1.5 inch | 16×20 |
| 16×20 | ~15×19" | ~1.5–2 inch | 18×24 |
| 18×24 | ~17×23" | ~1.5 inch | 20×26 or 24×30 |
| 20×24 | ~18.5×22.5" | ~1.5–2 inch | 24×30 |
| 20×30 | ~19×29" | ~1.5 inch | 24×36 |
| A4 | ~7.75×11.25" | ~1.5 inch | 11×14 |
| A3 | ~11×16" | ~1.5 inch | 16×20 |
Know the exact pixels for any frame size
Upload your artwork once — SnapToSize exports the exact pixel dimensions for your print size at 300 DPI. No manual calculations, no size chart hunting.
Mat Window Pixel Dimensions at 300 DPI
If you want your digital file sized to fill the mat window exactly (so the mat overlaps only the very edge of your artwork), use these pixel dimensions. This is called sizing to the mat opening.
| Print Size | Mat Window | Pixels @ 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|
| 4×6 | 3.75×5.75" | 1125×1725 px |
| 5×7 | 4.75×6.75" | 1425×2025 px |
| 8×10 | 7.75×9.75" | 2325×2925 px |
| 11×14 | 10.5×13.5" | 3150×4050 px |
Full print dimensions differ from mat window dimensions. The full 8×10 at 300 DPI is 2400×3000 px; the mat window version (to fill the mat opening exactly) is 2325×2925 px.
What SnapToSize exports from one upload
5×7, 8×10, 11×14, 16×20 — every mat-compatible print size, all at 300 DPI, named and Etsy-ready in one ZIP. No pixel math, no manual resizing.
Exporting each frame-compatible print size separately — calculating pixels, resizing, renaming — for every listing?
SnapToSize exports all your mat-compatible sizes (5×7, 8×10, 11×14, 16×20 and 25 more) at 300 DPI from one upload, organized into ZIPs ready for Etsy.
No account needed · No credit card required
How to Include Mat Info in Your Etsy Listings
Buyers who know exactly which frame to buy are more likely to purchase. Add a sentence to your listing description mentioning the recommended frame size.
Example listing copy
Consider offering both the full print size and the mat-window size in one ZIP file. Buyers with pre-cut mats can use the smaller version; buyers cutting their own mat use the full size.
Standard Mat vs Wide Mat — Aesthetic Guide
Standard (1.5 inch borders)
- Most common — works with off-the-shelf frames
- Casual, modern, everyday framing
- 1 frame size up from print (8×10→11×14)
Wide (2.5–4 inch borders)
- Gallery-style — creates impact around smaller prints
- Formal, museum, luxury aesthetic
- 2 frame sizes up from print (8×10→16×20)
For Etsy listings targeting the gallery wall market, mention that prints look great with wide mats. Buyers shopping for a “gallery look” often prefer 2.5+ inch borders, which means a larger frame size than the standard matchups above.
Related: IKEA Frame Sizes for Prints
IKEA frames are the most common off-the-shelf choice for Etsy print buyers. See which print sizes fit IKEA RIBBA, KNOPPÄNG, and SILVERHÖJDEN frames.
IKEA Frame Print Size Guide →Get the exact pixel dimensions for your frame size
SnapToSize calculates the exact pixel dimensions for any print size at 300 DPI. Upload your artwork once and get all the files your buyers need — including sizes that fit standard frames.
Frequently Asked Questions
An 8×10 print needs an 11×14 frame to accommodate a mat. The standard mat window is approximately 7.75×9.75 inches, leaving 1.5-inch borders on each side. You can find 11×14 frames at IKEA, Target, Amazon, and most frame stores.
An 11×14 print fits in a 16×20 frame with a mat. The mat window is approximately 10.5×13.5 inches. This is the most common large-format framing combination for wall art prints.
Standard mat borders are 1.5–2 inches on all sides. Some framers use a slightly wider bottom border (bottom-weighted matting) for a formal gallery look — for example, 1.5 inch sides/top with a 2 inch bottom. For casual framing, equal borders look clean.
Yes — listing which frame fits your print removes buyer hesitation. Example: 'This 8×10 print fits standard 11×14 frames with a mat (available at IKEA, Target, or Amazon).' Buyers who know the frame size are more likely to purchase.
Yes — this is called a 'full bleed to mat window' or 'mat opening size' print. If your mat window is 7.75×9.75 inches, create your artwork at exactly those dimensions (2325×2925 pixels at 300 DPI). The mat hides the edges, so your composition should allow for the border overlap.
The full 8×10 print at 300 DPI is 2400×3000 pixels. If you want to size to the mat window (7.75×9.75 inches), that's 2325×2925 pixels at 300 DPI. Export both versions so customers can choose whether to show a white border inside the mat or fill it completely.