How to Frame an Art Print: Sizes, Mats, and Hanging It Straight
Which frame size fits which print, when a mat is worth it, and how to hang art without holes in a rented wall.
Our prints ship unframed, which is the honest way to sell art online — shipping glass is expensive and it breaks. But it does mean the last step is yours, and it’s the step that decides whether the print looks like art or like a page.
Here’s the short version of what actually matters.
Match the frame to the print
Every print we sell comes in standard US sizes on purpose, so you can buy an off-the-shelf frame rather than paying for custom framing.
The size most gallery walls start with. Look for a solid wood frame with a white mat.
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A matted 11×14 frame turns an 8×10 print into a piece that looks professionally hung.
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For the large-format prints. Check the frame is rated for the weight of glass at this size.
View on Amazon →If you’re hanging more than one piece, a matching multi-pack is cheaper than buying frames individually and guarantees the finishes actually match — mixing two “black wood” frames from different brands rarely works.
The mat is the upgrade
If you take one thing from this guide: a mat does more for a print than a more expensive frame does. It creates a border of empty space that makes the eye treat the image as art, and it holds the paper off the glass so the surface doesn’t stick over time.
The easy version is to buy the frame one size up with a pre-cut mat — an 11×14 frame with an 8×10 opening, or a 16×20 frame with an 11×14 opening. You don’t need to cut anything.
Hanging it without wrecking the wall
Renter-friendly. Holds framed prints without a single hole in the wall.
View on Amazon →Hooks, wire, and a small level. Stops the crooked-frame problem before it starts.
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Keeps frames from drifting crooked on the wall. A dollar fix for a daily annoyance.
View on Amazon →Damage-free strips are the renter’s answer and they hold more than people expect. For anything large or heavy, use a real hook — a 24×36 frame with glass coming off the wall is not a small problem.
Two small things worth the money: a level so the frame is actually straight, and museum putty on the bottom corners so it stays that way. Frames drift every time a door slams, and straightening them forever is a genuinely annoying way to live.
If you’d rather not frame at all, magnetic wooden hangers grip the top and bottom edge and cost a fraction of a frame. They suit prints you plan to swap seasonally.
Prints worth framing properly
These are digital oil paintings with visible palette-knife texture, printed on museum-grade matte paper. Matte is the right call for framing — it doesn’t fight with the glass the way a gloss finish does, and the brushwork reads properly under a mat.
For a custom pet portrait, the same rules apply, with one addition: go one size larger than you think. Portraits reward scale.
Framing a printable instead? Our printing and craft supplies guide covers which paper to print it on first.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a mat?
What frame size do I buy for an 8×10 print?
How high should I hang art?
Can I hang frames without drilling?
As a small Etsy shop, we feature our own made-to-order products in these guides. Prices shown are approximate US prices (VAT excluded) and can vary by size, options, and your location — Etsy shows your exact total at checkout. This guide also contains Amazon affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
