Photo Printing Paper Sizes Overview

Tired of the usual run-of-the-mill 4×6 prints and wallet size photos? Don’t be afraid to experiment with sizes. As long as your photo images are shot in high-resolution or on traditional negatives, you have no problem scaling up, in case you want to do test prints of photo enlargements in the future. In fact, adding a variety of photo print sizes to your display repertoire can add character to your personal living space, it’s also an inexpensive approach to showcase your art, vacation and family photos.

Display your Showpiece

If you’re looking to create a dramatic focal point in your interiors, you can play around with various photo print sizes, you can group or display pieces separately, and see what works best.

Do Your Research

Ask your local printer or inquire at an online printing service – what photo print sizes they can deliver, the kind of paper they print on and the cost per photo printout. All these factors can affect the quality of your prints.

 As a guide, here’s a list of the standard photo printing paper sizes:

•  4×6 Print. Basic starter size. Available at any printing services shop.
•  5×7 Print. A step larger than the 4×6 print, this size presents more personal details with your photos. You can distinctly see fabric patterns and backdrops. They are the perfect size for family picture frames.
•  8×10 Print. The first photo enlargement size. This is the ideal size if you plan to frame or hang photo on your walls.
•  11×14. The medium size for photos. The 11×14 size is meant to showcase portraiture pieces for family rooms, exhibition areas and galleries.
•  12 x 36. Don’t hesitate to pack in more faces into one shot, the 12 x 36 print size is just right for group shots featuring a large number of people. This is suitable for workforce snaps, class photos, high school and family reunions. With the 12 x 36, you can expect to see the smiles on their bright faces in detail. It’s also a great size for landscape photography because it’s large enough to show the incredible texture and details in your photos.
•  16 x 20. This photo enlargement size can instantly pop up the mood at your home or office. You can create a bold series of 16 x 20 enlargements as complementing collages, place together side by side on a wall or atop a fireplace.
•  20×30. Photo enlargements of this size are meant to cover large spaces much like a wall poster. We all know that big pictures make a big impact in a wide room so this perfect in an office setting if you intend to impress clients with your portfolio of projects.

You can get your prints done at trusted photo printing services such as Costco Photo or CVS Photo. You can order your prints online and choose the sizes yourself. The great thing about it is that you can have your prints ready for pick-up within the day. These retail hotspots are quite accessible, they are close to any neighborhood where you can just walk or drive by to get your photos.