Measuring your item is the most important step in getting a frame that fits perfectly, and luckily it’s simple once you know what to measure. In short: measure the artwork or item itself rather than any existing frame, record the width and height in millimetres without rounding, keep your ruler or tape straight, and measure twice to be sure. That is all you need for most pieces - it’s really that simple!
The measurements you need
Measure the full width and height of your artwork to the nearest millimetre. If you are framing a stretched canvas, also measure the depth, which is how far it rises when laid face-up on a flat surface. You do not need to measure any existing frame, an existing mount (unless you are keeping that mount, in which case measure it instead of the artwork), or any other parts, including backing materials.
Internal vs external size
Custom frames are built to the size of your artwork, which is the internal size. Once the frame and mount are added, the finished piece is larger, which is the external size. You only need to give us the internal size, which is the size of the artwork itself, and we calculate the external size for you.
Measuring with or without a mount
Whether you are ordering a mount to be included in your frame or not, the only measurement you need to take is that of your item / artwork itself.
This is because if you are not using a mount, the frame is built to size and overlaps the artwork by up to 5mm to hold it securely. If you are using a mount, the mount is cut to size and overlaps the item / artwork by around 5mm instead. There is no separate calculation to do.
The only time that is different is when you have an artwork that already sits in a mount - often items like graduation photos will come in this format. If you want to keep the mount that it came with, then measure the size of the mount instead of the photo, item or artwork.
Common mistakes to avoid
The three most common mistakes are measuring the frame instead of the artwork, guessing or rounding sizes when we work to the nearest millimetre, and forgetting the overlap. Because the mount or frame will cover the outer few millimetres of your piece, double-check that no important detail sits right at the edge. If a poster has a white border you want hidden, it’s easiest to measure from where the image begins and ends, (ignoring any white space).
It really is simple to get right
If you measure the full size of your artwork accurately, the rest is taken care of. We use your measurements to calculate the fit, overlap and final proportions automatically. And because pricing is set by size band, once you have your measurement you also know exactly which price band your frame falls into, so there are no surprises when you order.
