Measuring artwork for a frame is straightforward once you separate the art’s size from the opening, mat, and outside frame dimensions. This guide covers flat paper, canvas, and dimensional work so you can order a frame or prepare one yourself with fewer surprises.
Gather tools and choose a measuring unit
Use a rigid ruler or tape measure marked in inches or millimeters. A metal ruler is useful for small prints and drawings; a tape measure can span a larger canvas. A square or straightedge helps check whether the edges are parallel. Keep a pencil and paper or a note app nearby, and record the unit with every number.
Measure on a clean, level surface. Place paper art between clean sheets or handle it by the edges, especially if it is delicate, pastel, or charcoal. Avoid pressing a ruler onto the image. For a stretched canvas, measure the physical object rather than relying on the nominal size on its label; dimensions can vary slightly.
Before measuring, decide what you need:
- Artwork size: the full sheet, print, canvas, or object.
- Visible image size: the part intended to show, which may be smaller than the paper or print.
- Mat opening: the aperture through which the artwork is seen.
- Frame size: either the frame’s inside opening or its outside edge-to-edge dimensions.
These measurements serve different purposes. A frame listing may describe the size of the art it accepts, the inside rabbet that holds glazing and backing, or the outside dimensions. Check the listing’s definitions before ordering.
Measure flat artwork step by step
For a rectangular drawing, print, or photograph, measure width from left to right and height from top to bottom. Keep the ruler parallel to the edges and read the measurement at the outer edge of the sheet, not at the edge of the image unless you want only the image area framed.
- Lay the artwork flat without stretching or curling it.
- Measure the width near the top, middle, and bottom. Record the largest reliable measurement if the sheet is not perfectly square.
- Measure the height near the left side, center, and right side. Again, note the largest reliable measurement.
- Repeat any measurement that seems inconsistent, checking that the ruler begins at zero and sits straight.
- Write the result as width × height, with the unit, such as 8 × 10 inches or 210 × 297 mm.
Do not assume a sheet’s nominal size equals its actual dimensions. A trimmed print, handmade paper, or drawing with uneven edges may differ. If you want the entire sheet visible, measure the sheet itself. If you want a clean crop, decide which border or image area should remain visible and mark that intended view separately.
For a non-rectangular work, record the maximum width and height, then note the shape and any special mounting needs. A circular work, for example, needs its diameter and a round or suitably oversized frame arrangement. Do not force an irregular object into a rectangular opening that would cover important edges.
Decide what the frame should show
The frame’s opening can cover the edge of a work slightly so the art does not fall through. A mat also overlaps the paper around its opening. That overlap is normal, but it should not conceal signatures, captions, borders, or important marks. If these features sit close to the edge, tell the framer or check the frame’s overlap specification before ordering.
For artwork intended to show edge to edge, specify that preference and ask how the frame retains it. A frame with no mat still needs a way to hold the piece in place. The visible opening may be a little smaller than the art because the lip or rabbet overlaps it.
If the art includes a printed border, distinguish the paper size from the intended visible image size. For example, a sheet might measure 11 × 14 inches while the image occupies a smaller area. Write both measurements and label them clearly. This avoids ordering a frame for the image while expecting the whole sheet to appear.
Check orientation and proportions
Write width first and height second, even when a piece will hang in portrait orientation. For a square work, label it as square rather than relying on an ambiguous pair of identical numbers. Compare the art’s proportions with the frame opening: a different proportion means some area must be covered, left as a margin, or accommodated by a custom mat.
Plan the mat and frame opening
A mat creates a border between the art and the frame. It can give a small drawing more visual space and help keep the work from touching glazing, but the opening must suit the artwork and the frame’s construction. There is no single mat border width that fits every piece; choose one based on the artwork’s scale and the look you want.
To plan a mat, first record the outside size of the mat or frame package you intend to use. Then decide how much of the artwork should remain visible. The mat opening is generally cut slightly smaller than the art it holds, so the paper edges do not slip through. Exact overlap depends on the material and the framer’s method. Ask the framer how much will be hidden, especially for a full-bleed image or a work with marks close to its edge.
A ready-made frame may be labeled for a standard art size, but its mat opening can be smaller than that size. Read both dimensions. If a mat is listed with an opening of 8 × 10 inches, it may be intended to hold artwork somewhat larger than 8 × 10, with the edge tucked beneath the mat. Do not assume the opening itself tells you the maximum sheet size; confirm the manufacturer’s stated fit.
| What you are measuring | Where to measure | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Paper or print | Outer edge to outer edge | Identifies the artwork’s full size |
| Image area | Visible printed or drawn area | Helps plan cropping and mat placement |
| Mat opening | Inside cut edge to inside cut edge | Defines the area that remains visible |
| Frame opening | Inside retaining edge or stated fit | Determines what the frame can hold |
| Frame exterior | Outer edge to outer edge | Helps plan wall space and placement |
Measure a canvas or mounted work
A stretched canvas has both a front face and a depth. Measure the front width and height across the outer edges of the stretcher bars, then measure the depth from the front surface to the backmost point. Include protruding hardware only if it affects how the piece sits or hangs; note that separately.
Before choosing a frame, check whether it is made for a stretched canvas. A standard paper frame may not have enough depth for the canvas and may press against the painted surface. Canvas frames often retain the work differently and may not use glazing or a mat. Compare the measured depth with the frame’s usable rabbet depth or the maker’s fit guidance.
For a board-mounted illustration or panel, measure the full board, not just the image. Note whether the frame needs to hold a rigid panel and whether the surface must remain uncovered. If the piece has raised paint, collage, or attached objects, record the maximum depth at the tallest point and ask whether a conventional frame can accommodate it.
Measure artwork for a character-design display
Character sheets often contain several poses, expression studies, handwritten notes, or a title block. Decide whether the display should preserve the whole sheet as a working document or focus on one character drawing. Measure the full page for the former. For a crop, identify the exact area to show and leave enough margin that labels, costume details, or gesture lines are not accidentally cut off.
A useful planning method is to make a paper mock-up: draw the proposed mat opening on scrap paper at the same proportions, then place it over a copy or a digital printout of the layout. Shift it until the composition feels balanced. Do not test with scissors or adhesive on an original. For a digital design, print a draft at the intended scale if practical, or create a proportional rectangle on screen and note its dimensions.
If multiple studies will share a frame, record the intended arrangement and each piece’s size. A multi-opening mat needs the spaces between openings and the outer borders planned too. A framer can help translate that layout into a cut mat; do not assume the gaps will be centered automatically when the sheet edges vary.
Check the fit in a creative workspace
Before ordering, clear a flat surface and compare the artwork with the frame or mat dimensions. If you already have the frame, measure its usable opening at more than one point. Older frames can be slightly out of square, and nominal dimensions may not match the actual opening. Check that the artwork can enter without bending and that retainers or clips will not press on the image.
Consider where the framed piece will sit in your workspace. Record the frame’s exterior width and height if it must fit a shelf, wall section, or display grid. Leave room for hanging hardware and for any frame profile that projects beyond the artwork. For a group of frames, sketch their outside rectangles and spacing on paper before drilling or rearranging a wall.
Keep a measurement note with a simple diagram. Label the front, top, and orientation, and note whether dimensions describe the art, mat opening, frame fit, or exterior. A quick sketch is especially useful for asymmetrical work or when you are handing the piece to someone else for framing.
Troubleshoot common measuring mistakes
- The frame seems too small: Check whether its advertised size refers to artwork fit or outside dimensions. Measure the actual inside opening and account for any lip that covers the edge.
- The mat hides an important detail: Recheck the proposed opening against the full sheet and the location of the detail. Ask how much overlap the mat will create; move the opening or choose a larger visible area.
- The paper is curled: Let it rest flat without weights that could damage the surface. If it will not lie flat safely, measure the sheet at several points and tell the framer it is curled rather than forcing it down.
- Width and height do not match the frame: Confirm the orientation and units, then measure both objects again. A frame sold in inches and a measurement recorded in millimeters can appear far apart if the units were not labeled.
- A canvas will not sit in a paper frame: Measure the canvas depth and check the frame’s intended use. Choose a canvas-compatible frame or ask a framer about a suitable mounting method.
- The art is irregular or dimensional: Record maximum width, height, and depth, plus a sketch. A standard ready-made frame may not retain it safely or show its shape as intended.
Final measurement checklist
Before buying or handing over artwork, confirm these details:
- Artwork width and height, in a named unit.
- Whether those dimensions describe the full sheet, board, canvas, or visible image.
- The desired opening and any edge details that must remain visible.
- Mat outside dimensions and opening, if using a mat.
- Frame fit or inside opening, plus outside dimensions if wall space matters.
- Depth for canvas, panels, raised media, or attached elements.
- Orientation, irregular edges, and any special retention needs.
Keep the original measurements with the work and compare them against the frame maker’s fit instructions before ordering. For valuable, fragile, unusually thick, or easily marked artwork, ask a qualified framer to inspect the piece and explain how it will be supported and kept away from glazing.