Guide
Photo print sizes: A3, A2, A1 and custom — what actually fits your wall?
Most people choose a photo print size by guessing, then hope it looks right. This guide gives you the rules that remove the guesswork — and a free tool to see your actual photograph at the right size on your wall before you order.
A3, A2 and A1 at a glance
These are the standard landscape print sizes offered as a starting point. Your photo does not have to be one of these sizes — custom dimensions are available if none of these proportions suit your photograph or your wall.
| Size | Dimensions | Inches | Diagonal | Works well for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A3 | 42 × 30 cm | 16.5 × 11.7 in | 51 cm | Hallways, desks, small walls, gifts |
| A2 | 59 × 42 cm | 23.4 × 16.5 in | 72 cm | Bedrooms, living rooms, above a sofa or headboard |
| A1 | 84 × 59 cm | 33.1 × 23.4 in | 103 cm | Feature walls, stairwells, large living spaces |
| Custom | Any dimensions | — | — | When no standard size fits your photo or wall — portrait, landscape, square, or oversized |
Viewing distance — the rule that actually determines size
The single most useful rule for choosing a print size comes from photography and interior design: your ideal print diagonal is roughly your viewing distance divided by 1.5. At that ratio, the print fills your visual field comfortably without overwhelming the room.
Formula: ideal print diagonal (cm) = viewing distance (cm) ÷ 1.5
This is why standard sizes often fall short. The jumps between A3, A2, and A1 are large — A1 has roughly twice the area of A2. If your viewing distance puts you between two standard sizes, a custom print hits the sweet spot without any compromise.
| Where you will view it from | Typical distance | Ideal diagonal | Nearest standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallway / reading corner | ~1.2 m | ~80 cm | A2 (72 cm) or custom |
| Bedroom from the bed | ~2.0 m | ~130 cm | A1 (103 cm) or custom |
| Living room from the sofa | ~2.8 m | ~185 cm | Custom (A1 is the floor) |
| Open plan / large room | ~4.0 m+ | ~265 cm+ | Large custom or multiple prints |
Room-by-room starting points
Use the viewing distance rule as your anchor, then apply these per-room guidelines.
Hallways and small walls
A2 portrait is the recommended print size for a hallway — it reads well at arm's length and fills a narrow wall without overwhelming it. A3 often feels like a postcard once hung. If the wall is very narrow, a custom portrait crop of your photograph avoids the awkward white space that comes with forcing a landscape print into a tall space.
Bedroom — above the bed or headboard
For bedroom wall art above a bed, a practical rule is that the print width should be 50–75% of the headboard or bed below it. A 135 cm double bed calls for a print 68–100 cm wide — that sits comfortably between A2 (59 cm) and A1 (84 cm). This is where a custom print at the exact width that suits your bed makes a visible difference. From a typical bedroom viewing distance of about 2 m, an A1 print reads as the right size; A2 can feel modest.
Living rooms and open-plan spaces
A1 is the minimum for a living room wall viewed from a sofa 2.5 m or more away — and often it will still feel smaller than expected once hung. Use the diagonal formula first. In rooms with high ceilings or long sightlines, a large custom oversized print or a pair of prints at A1 will hold their own far better than a single A2.
Home office and desk walls
A3 landscape at eye level from a seated position (~70–80 cm) works well and makes a considered focal point without dominating a small space. A2 portrait is viable if the wall behind a monitor has room. For a dedicated home office feature wall, A1 or a large custom landscape print anchors the space.
Stairwells and feature walls
Stairwell walls are typically viewed from further away than you expect — often 3 m or more. Run the diagonal formula for the actual viewing distance before choosing. Multiple prints in a vertical column can fill a stairwell feature wall in a way one print cannot.
No standard size fits? Custom framing means no cropping
Every other size guide ends with "choose A3, A2, or A1." That works if your photo happens to share the same aspect ratio as a standard A-size — which is rarely the case.
Standard sizes have fixed proportions. Your photograph has its own. Forcing the two together means either cropping the edges of your image or accepting white borders to fill the gap — both are compromises. A made-to-measure custom photo frame means the frame is built to your photo’s exact proportions. The print fills the frame edge to edge, with nothing cut and nothing added. Whether it’s portrait, landscape, or square — if you have an odd or non-standard size, a bespoke frame fits it exactly.
The same logic applies when the viewing distance rule puts you between two standard sizes. A custom print at the exact diagonal that suits your room — say, 95 cm rather than 103 cm (A1) or 72 cm (A2) — will look right in a way that rounding up or down won’t.
Does size affect print quality?
For most photographs taken on a modern smartphone or camera, the answer is no — up to A1 and beyond. A 12 MP image gives more than enough resolution to print cleanly at A1. The important variable is sharpness at the time of capture, not megapixel count. A slightly soft photo will look fine on a phone screen but the frame will expose it at scale.
At large custom sizes — particularly prints over 80 cm wide — the printing process matters. Giclée on archival cotton-rag paper holds fine tonal gradations and edge detail that standard inkjet printing loses. If your photograph has subtle sky gradients, deep shadow detail, or intricate texture, the difference is visible.
See your photo at the right size before you order
Upload your photograph to the free wall visualiser. Choose A3, A2, A1, or enter custom dimensions — then see it scaled on a wall scene in seconds. Switch to augmented reality to place it on your actual wall at true scale on iOS or Android. No account needed.
Try the free photo wall visualiser →Frequently asked questions
Is A3 big enough for a wall?
At a viewing distance of around 1.2 m — a hallway or desk — A3 reads well. From a sofa 2.5 m away, A3 will feel small. Use the diagonal rule: viewing distance ÷ 1.5 gives your ideal print diagonal. A3's diagonal is 51 cm, which suits a viewing distance of about 75 cm.
Can I get a size between A2 and A1?
Yes. Standard sizes jump in fixed increments and those increments are large — A1 has nearly twice the area of A2. Custom framing means you can order the exact dimensions that suit your room and your photo, with no cropping required.
Will my photo be sharp enough at A1 or a large custom size?
If your photo was taken on a modern smartphone (12 MP or above) and is in focus, it will print cleanly to A1. For large custom prints over 80 cm wide, giclée printing on archival cotton-rag paper holds fine detail that standard inkjet loses at scale.
How do I know which size looks right before I order?
Upload your photo to the free wall visualiser. Choose a size, see it on a room scene, then use augmented reality to place it on your actual wall at true scale. No account needed.