How to use
- 1Pick a size from the charts (US inches, common metric, frames, ISO A/B, French standard) or type your own.
- 2Choose the unit (inch, cm, mm) and the print resolution (DPI).
- 3Optionally enter your photo’s pixel size to see its print resolution and how much gets cropped.
- 4Browse the other standard sizes with the same ratio to scale up or down.
Common canvas sizes in inches
In the US, stretched canvases and canvas panels are sold in inches: small sizes such as 5×7, 8×10, 9×12 and 11×14; medium 12×16, 16×20 and 18×24; and large 24×30, 24×36, 30×40 and 36×48. Many of these share ratios with frames and photo prints, so 8×10, 16×20 and 24×30 all have the 4:5 ratio, while 12×18 and 24×36 are 2:3 like most camera photos. Sizes are usually written as width × height, but check the listing before ordering a frame.
Metric, ISO paper and the French standard
Outside the US, canvases are sold in centimetres – 30×40, 40×50, 50×70 and 70×100 cm are typical – and paper follows ISO 216: A4 is 210 × 297 mm and every A size has the 1:√2 ratio, so the next size up has exactly twice the area. The French standard, still used across continental Europe, numbers sizes with a letter: F (figure/portrait), P (paysage/landscape) and M (marine) share the same long side for the same number, e.g. 10F is 55 × 46 cm, 10P 55 × 38 cm and 10M 55 × 33 cm.
How many pixels do you need to print?
300 DPI is a good target for prints viewed up close; for large canvas prints seen from across a room, 150 DPI is often enough. The tool calculates the pixels needed for the chosen size and, if you enter your photo’s pixel dimensions, the effective DPI it will print at. When the photo’s ratio differs from the canvas, the edges must be cropped – printing a 2:3 photo on a 16×20 (4:5) canvas loses about 17 %.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common canvas size?
For practice and smaller works, 9×12, 11×14 and 16×20 inches are the most popular; for wall art, 18×24, 24×36 and 30×40 are common choices.
How big is 16x20 in cm?
16 × 20 inches is 40.6 × 50.8 cm. The closest common metric canvas is 40 × 50 cm, which has almost the same 4:5 ratio.
Is my photo big enough to print on canvas?
Enter its pixel width and height. 240 DPI or more prints sharp, 150–240 looks fine from a normal viewing distance, and below 150 softness may be visible.
What are French canvas sizes like 10F or 20P?
They are a 19th-century French standard. The number gives the long side and the letter the format: F (figure) is the squarest, P (paysage) narrower and M (marine) the most elongated. 20F is 73 × 60 cm.
Why do canvas sizes vary slightly between brands?
Standard sizes are conventions, not legal norms. Makers may differ by a few millimetres because of stretcher bar depth and tolerances, so measure the actual canvas before ordering a frame.
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