The 3 Most Popular Wall Sizes | College Station Photography Studio

Not all sizes of prints are created equal.

In fact, did you know that there is actually a minimum wall size for a printed image?  That is to say, certain smaller sizes are not intended to be hung on the wall unless they are a part of a larger collage. You are likely very familiar with 5×7, 8×10, and even 11×14 as print sizes, and we definitely sell those sizes through our photography studio.   But none of those sizes are meant to be hung by themselves on a wall.  In fact, the technical name for a print this size is “desktop.”

These are prints that are perfect for a bookshelf, end table, night stand, or even fireplace mantle.  They are not ideal for a wall because they look a bit shrimpy, and the faces in the print are the size of your thumb. That makes seeing the details of your little love’s blue eye or perfect dimple impossible when you or your guests sitting in your living room.

On the other hand, a 16×20 is the industry standard for a minimum stand-alone piece of wall art.  It’s a great size for almost any wall.  And walls are always a lot larger than they seem!  In fact, when we walk through ordering wall art with our clients, we are able to show them specifically their images on their walls BEFORE they ever print them.  This is a huge confidence boost for them as they make their decisions.  They know exactly what their art will look like on their wall and where they will hang it.  Our process takes all the guesswork out of it and is the most efficient use of their money.  Who wants to print something twice or constantly be disappointed because the size was too small the first time?

At our studio, the three most popular sizes are 24×36, 20×30, and 16×20.  I’ve illustrated them side by side in the image below.  For comparison, I’ve also included an 8×10 so that you can see just what each size looks like on a wall.  This screen shot is from the actual program we use during an ordering session.  Walking our clients through this part of the process is one of the perks of using our studio.  We want to help you get exactly what you want and don’t want to leave you guessing about sizes or layout.

We love taking care of our clients and helping them get what they want for their homes and families.  If you’re interested in either maternity, newborn, or family pictures, I invite you to contact me today for more information – info@shannonmorton.net.  We’d love to serve you!