Standard Photo Frames: Formats, Sizes, and How to Choose

How Photo Frames Changed Over Time

The first photo frames had much in common with frames for paintings. They were made mainly of wood, and sometimes of metal or cast iron. Such products were heavy, durable, decorative, and clearly visible in an interior.

Over time, photography became better in quality, more affordable, and more popular, and frames changed along with it. Manufacturers began to actively use plastic, glass, acrylic, and other modern materials.

Large decorative constructions gradually gave way to lighter, more practical, and more restrained solutions. Minimalism made the frame less intrusive, so the viewer’s attention stayed on the image itself.

Why Standard Sizes Appeared

When frame production became mass-market, standards became necessary. Like any consumer product, a frame needed clear parameters so it could be manufactured, sold, and selected for specific tasks more conveniently.

The size of a photo frame is directly related to the size of the photo, document, or printed material. But more precisely, it is connected to the paper format on which the image is printed.

That is why most standard frames are based on international paper formats, which became the foundation of modern production and selection.

The Best-Known A Format

The A series is the most popular international standard for documents, photos, posters, certificates, drawings, and art prints. These are the formats most often used both in everyday life and in commercial framing.

• A0 — 841 × 1189 mm
• A1 — 594 × 841 mm
• A2 — 420 × 594 mm
• A3 — 297 × 420 mm
• A4 — 210 × 297 mm
• A5 — 148 × 210 mm
• A6 — 105 × 148 mm
• A7 — 74 × 105 mm
• A8 — 52 × 74 mm

RA and SRA Formats

RA and SRA formats are mainly used in printing when extra paper is needed for trimming. After technical processing, they are brought to the familiar A-series sizes.

• RA0 — 860 × 1220 mm
• RA1 — 610 × 860 mm
• RA2 — 430 × 610 mm
• RA3 — 305 × 430 mm
• RA4 — 215 × 305 mm
• SRA0 — 900 × 1280 mm
• SRA1 — 640 × 900 mm
• SRA2 — 450 × 640 mm
• SRA3 — 320 × 450 mm
• SRA4 — 225 × 320 mm

Format B

The B series is less familiar to the average buyer, but it is also used in printing and commercial paper production. It often occupies an intermediate position between A sizes.

• B0 — 1000 × 1414 mm
• B1 — 707 × 1000 mm
• B2 — 500 × 707 mm
• B3 — 353 × 500 mm
• B4 — 250 × 353 mm
• B5 — 176 × 250 mm
• B6 — 125 × 176 mm
• B7 — 88 × 125 mm
• B8 — 62 × 88 mm

Format C

The C series is best known as the standard for envelopes, but it is also part of the international paper format system and has practical importance in printing.

• C0 — 1297 × 917 mm
• C1 — 917 × 648 mm
• C2 — 648 × 458 mm
• C3 — 458 × 324 mm
• C4 — 324 × 229 mm
• C5 — 229 × 162 mm
• C6 — 162 × 114 mm

Large Formats for Posters and Prints

A separate segment is made up of frames for large photos, decorative posters, placards, drawings, and art prints. These often become the main visual accent in an interior.

• A3 — often framed in 30×40 cm sizes
• A2 — a popular option with a 40×60 cm frame
• A1 — often used with a 60×80 cm frame
• SRA1 — suitable for 60×90 cm
• A0 — a large format for 80×120 cm frames
• SRA0 — often used with 90×120 cm frames
• B2 — a popular 50×70 cm format
• B1 — a large 70×100 cm format
• B0 — a very large 100×140 cm format

Popular A-Series Frames at TatoKarlo

On the TatoKarlo website, you can choose frames for the most in-demand A-series standards:

• A5 Frame — for compact photos, postcards, certificates, and mini prints
• A4 Frame — for documents, certificates, photos, children’s artwork, and menus
• A3 Frame — for posters, advertising materials, graphics, and prints
• A2 Frame — for large illustrations and decorative wall presentation
• A1 Frame — for drawings, exhibition works, and large posters
• A0 Frame — for placards, maps, and large-scale printed images