how to measure pictures for a frame

You’re dying to get your favourite picture up on the wall. You want to display it inside a beautiful frame, but you’re a little unsure how to measure a picture for a frame. 

Sound familiar? We hear you loud and clear. 

Measuring pictures for framing is really simple, but the measurements have to be completely accurate. Otherwise, your picture just won’t fit properly -  and nobody wants that. 

Whether you want standard photo frames or unique made-to-measure frames, here’s how to measure pictures for framing and make sure you always get the perfect size. 

What you’ll need to get started

picture, notepad and pen on a desktoppicture, notepad and pen on a desktop

To start measuring your picture for a frame, you’ll just need to grab a few things first. Easy peasy. 

  • The picture you want to frame
  • A tape measure
  • A notepad and pen

Measuring for a picture frame only (without a mount)

picture frame on a shelfpicture frame on a shelf

When there is no mount, you simply need to measure the full height and width of your picture. This must be an edge-to-edge measurement of the entire artwork going inside the frame, including any borders around the image. 

Picture frames are always measured by their inside dimensions, so you just need a frame that matches the measurements of your picture. For example, a 500x400mm picture will just need a 500x400mm frame. 

When ordering a custom frame online, simply enter the exact size of your artwork (in millimetres) to get a frame that fits. However, be aware the frame will overlap your picture by 6mm on each side, which stops your picture from falling right out the front. 

Steps for measuring a picture for a frame 

1. Lay your picture flat on a level surface
2. If you’re going to trim the picture, do this before measuring
3. Measure the total height and width of your picture (including borders)
4. Double-check the measurements and jot them down in your pad
5. Enter your picture measurements into our online custom frame builder 

Custom picture frames are often measured in millimetres (mm), while standard ready-made photo frames are usually measured in inches. If you’re feeling a little confused, then our photo frame size guide breaks things down more clearly. 

Measuring for a picture frame with a mount

A picture mount is a piece of coloured card that surrounds your picture in the frame, like a border. When you choose to add a mount, this will increase the overall size of your frame, but this time you only need to measure the parts of your picture you want to be visible (so you can ignore any borders). 

The size of your picture will determine the size of the mount window opening, not the total inside dimensions of your frame. 

For example, if you have a 500x400mm picture, just enter these measurements online and we’ll cut a custom mount that fits. All mount openings are cut 3mm smaller than the dimensions you provide, as this small overlap makes it easier to secure your picture in place. 

Steps for measuring a picture with a mount 

1. Lay your picture flat on a level surface
2. If you’re going to trim the picture, do this before measuring
3. Measure the height and width of the area you want to mount (excluding borders)
4. Double-check the measurements and jot them down in your pad
5. Enter your picture measurements into our online custom frame builder 

Measuring for a replacement picture frame

If your picture is already in a frame, then swapping to a new replacement frame is even easier. 

While you can still measure the exact size of your picture, it’s much easier to just measure the height and width of your existing backing board instead. This will give you the internal dimensions of your existing frame, and we recommend popping this out of the frame to get the most accurate measurement possible. 

Steps for measuring a picture for reframing

1. Remove the backing board from your existing frame
2. Lay your backing board flat on a level surface
3. Measure the total height and width of the backing board (from edge to edge)
4. Double-check the measurements and jot them down in your pad
5. Enter your measurements into our online custom frame builder 

Things to consider when measuring for custom picture frames

selection of picture frames on the wallselection of picture frames on the wall

Visible areas

Since they’re designed to keep your picture safely inside, picture frames will usually overlap each side of your picture. This means that the very edges of your picture won’t be visible in the frame, and the size of this overlap depends on whether your frame includes a picture mount or not. 

For example, our custom frames WITH a mount will overlap 3mm on every side of your picture, while a custom frame WITHOUT a mount will overlap by 6mm. 

If you want to avoid this overlap and make more of your picture visible, then you can speak to our framing specialists about getting your picture back-mounted. 

Picture frame profile width

The picture frame profile width is the width of the frame (moulding) itself. More specifically, it’s the width of the sides on the outside of your frame. 

It’s important not to confuse this with frame depth or even the width of your artwork, as these are totally unrelated measurements! 

The total size of your frame

Custom picture frames are always measured by the inside dimensions - either the total size of the inside or the size of the mount window opening. The measurements don’t include the external size of your frame, so the frame will always be slightly larger. 

It’s really important to keep this in mind if you want to display your frame in a specific position, as you need to make absolutely sure your frame will fit the space!