Quick answer: A 16×20 print fits a 16×20 frame without a mat. With a mat, use a 20×24 in frame: the border is about 2 in at the sides and 2 in at the top and bottom, and the mat opening is 15½ × 19½ in.
What Size Frame for a 16×20 Print
Without a mat, buy a frame the same size as the print: frame sizes are the size of picture they hold, not the outside of the frame. With a mat, go up a size: frame size = print size + 2 × the mat border.
| Frame | Mat border | Mat opening | Look |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 × 20 in frame | No mat | — | Edge to edge |
| 20 × 24 in frame most common | 2 in sides, 2 in top & bottom | 15½ × 19½ in | Even border |
| 22 × 28 in frame | 3 in sides, 4 in top & bottom | 15½ × 19½ in | Deeper top and bottom |
| 24 × 30 in frame | 4 in sides, 5 in top & bottom | 15½ × 19½ in | Deeper top and bottom |
A 16×20 is large enough to hang alone above a console or a small sofa. Many 16×20 frames are themselves sold with a mat cut for an 11×14 or 12×16 print, so check which you're buying.
The mat opening is cut a little smaller than the print, about ¼ in on each side, so the mat holds it in place. Ready-made mats are usually cut this way; custom framers often cut tighter, about 3 mm (⅛ in) a side, which is what the frame size calculator uses, so its opening comes out slightly larger.
Metric Frames for a 16×20 Print
An 16×20 in print is 40.6 × 50.8 cm. Outside North America, frames come in centimeters, and none match it exactly. The nearest, 40×50 cm, is 6 mm narrower and 8 mm shorter than the print, so it needs the print trimmed slightly, or an inch-size frame from a specialist.
- With a mat: a 50×60 cm frame gives a border of about 4.7 cm at the sides and 4.6 cm at the top and bottom (even border).
- With a mat: a 50×70 cm frame gives a border of about 4.7 cm at the sides and 9.6 cm at the top and bottom (deeper top and bottom).
Will My Photo Fit a 16×20 Frame?
The 16×20 shape is 4 : 5. A print only fits without cropping if its shape matches:
- Phone photo (3 : 4): loses about 6% off its long side.
- Camera photo (2 : 3): loses about 17% off its long side.
- Square photo: needs a square frame or a mat with a square opening.
To avoid cropping, order the print to match the frame, or have a mat cut to your photo's shape. The frame sizes chart lists which sizes share each shape.
How High to Hang a 16×20 Frame
Hang it with the center of the frame at eye level, about 57–60 in (145–153 cm) from the floor. The nail goes at the center height, plus half the frame's outside height, minus the hook drop (how far the wire or D-ring pulls up below the top edge).
Frequently Asked Questions
What size frame do I need for a 16x20 print?
A 16×20 frame without a mat, or a 20×24 in frame with a mat. The mat opening is 15½ × 19½ in.
What size mat for a 16x20 print?
A mat with an opening of 15½ × 19½ in, cut to fit the frame. In a 20×24 in frame the border is about 2 in at the sides and 2 in at the top and bottom.
Will a 16x20 print fit a 40x50 cm frame?
Not exactly. An 16×20 in print is 40.6 × 50.8 cm, so a 40×50 cm frame is slightly smaller. With a mat, a 50×60 cm frame works well.
How high should I hang a 16x20 frame?
With its center about 57–60 in (145–153 cm) from the floor. Framed with a mat in a 20×24 in frame and hung from a wire 3 in below the top, the nail goes about 70 in from the floor.
Is the frame size the size of the picture or the frame?
The picture. A 16×20 frame holds a 16×20 print; the outside of the frame is bigger, by about twice the width of the moulding.
Work Out Your 16×20 Frame
Change the mat border or moulding width and get the frame size, mat opening and how much moulding to buy.
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