The aspect ratio of your artwork determines which frames it's compatible with. Get it right and your buyers can pick up a ready-made frame from any store. Get it wrong and they need a custom order.
Here's every common frame aspect ratio explained, with the real sizes that use each ratio and practical notes for Etsy sellers.
Ratio vs. size, explained simply: A ratio describes the shape of your artwork. A "4:5 ratio" means for every 4 inches of width, there are 5 inches of height. Any print at this ratio — 8×10, 16×20, 4×5 — fits in any 4:5 frame, just at a different scale.
Common frame aspect ratios
1:1 — Square
Common sizes: 8×8, 10×10, 12×12, 16×16
Equal width and height. Common for abstract art, botanical prints, and Instagram-native artwork. Less common for traditional frame retailers, but widely available.
Etsy note: Not ideal as a primary listing image — Etsy search thumbnails are 4:5, which crops square images aggressively.
2:3 — Classic portrait / landscape
Common sizes: 4×6, 8×12, 20×30, 24×36
The standard 35mm film and DSLR photo ratio. Extremely widely supported by frame manufacturers globally. Great for movie poster formats and tall portrait compositions.
Etsy note: Works well for portrait orientations. 24×36" prints at 2:3 are popular Etsy statement pieces.
3:4 — Portrait standard
Common sizes: 6×8, 9×12, 12×16, 18×24
A natural portrait proportion. Slightly taller and narrower than 2:3. Very common for fine art prints globally. Note: despite looking similar, 3:4 is not the same as the ISO A-series ratio (1:√2 ≈ 1:1.414) — A4 and A3 prints will not fit 3:4 frames without a small gap.
Etsy note: Sits well within Etsy's 4:5 thumbnail crop without much loss. Good all-rounder.
4:5 — Portrait (tall)
Common sizes: 8×10, 16×20, 4×5
The most popular art print ratio and the most frame-friendly. 8×10 is the single best-selling art print size. This ratio also matches how Etsy and Instagram display images.
Etsy note: Ideal. Etsy search thumbnails are displayed at exactly 4:5. Your artwork fills the thumbnail perfectly with no cropping.
5:7 — Portrait (medium)
Common sizes: 5×7, 10×14
A proportionally narrower portrait ratio than 4:5. 5×7 is the standard greeting card and photo size. Slightly less common for fine art prints but widely available in frames.
Etsy note: Works fine in portrait. Slight letterboxing in 4:5 thumbnail — center carefully.
16:9 — Widescreen / panoramic
Common sizes: 16×9, 32×18, 48×27
The standard screen and video ratio. Used for panoramic prints and landscape photography. Custom frame orders are typically required — not a standard frame shop size.
Etsy note: Challenging for Etsy listings. Very wide crops poorly in 4:5 thumbnails. Best displayed in landscape listing photos.
A-series — ISO 216 / DIN A (1:√2)
Common sizes: A6, A5, A4, A3, A2, A1, A0
The international standard defined by ISO 216 and DIN 476, used throughout Europe, Australia, and most countries outside North America. All A-series sizes share a 1:√2 ratio (≈ 1:1.414) — meaning any A-series sheet folded in half becomes the next size down at the same ratio. A4 (210×297mm) is the European equivalent of US Letter; A3 (297×420mm) is the equivalent of US Tabloid. Importantly, A4 and Letter are not interchangeable in frames.
Etsy note: Essential if you sell to European buyers. A4 and A3 frames are universally stocked across Europe. Offer A-series digital download files separately from US inch-based files — they are not the same dimensions and will not fit the same frames.
Quick reference: ratio by frame size
| Frame size | Aspect ratio | Frame availability |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 5 in | 4:5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Universal |
| 4 × 6 in | 2:3 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Universal |
| 5 × 7 in | 5:7 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Universal |
| 8 × 8 in | 1:1 | ⭐⭐⭐ Common |
| 8 × 10 in | 4:5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Universal |
| 9 × 12 in | 3:4 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Common |
| 11 × 14 in | 11:14 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Standard |
| 12 × 16 in | 3:4 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Common |
| 16 × 20 in | 4:5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Universal |
| 18 × 24 in | 3:4 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Common |
| 20 × 24 in | 5:6 | ⭐⭐⭐ Less common |
| 24 × 36 in | 2:3 | ⭐⭐⭐ Specialty stores |
| A6 (105×148mm) | A-series | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Common in EU |
| A5 (148×210mm) | A-series | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Common in EU |
| A4 (210×297mm) | A-series | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Universal in EU |
| A3 (297×420mm) | A-series | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Universal in EU |
| A2 (420×594mm) | A-series | ⭐⭐⭐ Common in EU |
| A1 (594×841mm) | A-series | ⭐⭐ Specialist framers |
Designing artwork with framing in mind
Design at 4:5 first
If you're not sure which ratio to use, start at 4:5. It's the most widely stocked frame ratio globally, the most popular art print size (8×10), and it matches exactly how Etsy shows your listing thumbnails in search results.
Leave a safe zone near the edges
When selling prints that buyers will frame themselves, keep important elements of your composition at least 10–15% away from the edge. Different frame mouldings have slightly different rebate depths — a small border of negative space prevents any part of the art being obscured by the frame lip.
Match sizes within your catalog when possible
If you offer multiple sizes, choose them within the same ratio family. An 8×10, 16×20, and 4×5 share the 4:5 ratio — your buyer can choose their preferred size and find a frame without any extra effort.
Account for mats in your sizing
A mat (the white or off-white border between the artwork and frame) is typically cut to leave a ¼" to ½" overlap on the print. An 8×10 mat is cut for an opening slightly smaller than 8×10. Design your artwork with a small border so the mat doesn't clip any important composition elements.
See your artwork in any frame ratio
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