Photo Print Size Guide
Pick your print size based on where it will live (album, desk, wall), then choose borderless only when you are okay with a crop, or choose Smart Borders when you want the full photo to stay intact.
Quick size picker
- If you want the most common size for everyday photos: 4 x 6
- If you want a frame ready gift print: 5 x 7
- If you want a classic portrait for a desk or wall frame: 8 x 10
- If you want a bigger wall print that still feels easy to frame: 11 x 14
- If you want a statement wall print: 16 x 20
- If you want a poster style print for presentations or signage: 11 x 17
- If you want a portfolio style print with real presence: 13 x 19
- If you want a clean modern wall grid: choose a square size (3 x 3 up to 12 x 12)
- If you want wallet size prints: 2 x 3
- If you want passport style size prints: 2 x 2 (always confirm your official requirements)
Best for
- Anyone ordering prints online and wondering what size to pick
- People who want a print that fits a frame without weird trimming
- Phone photo printing (iPhone or Android) when you want it to look sharp on paper
- Photographers who want consistent sizing for clients
- Weddings, baby showers, newborn photos, graduation, family portraits, memorial tables, and event displays
Popular pairings
These combos are chosen because they solve the most common regrets: glare, cropping surprises, and prints that feel too small.
- Matte + White Border — Soft, low glare, and instantly frame ready.
- Luster + Borderless — Balanced color with a pro lab look, great for everyday portraits.
- Glossy + Borderless — Crisp detail and bright pop for colorful photos.
- Metallic + White Border — A special occasion look that makes color and highlights feel extra lively.
Cropping and borders tip
If you want a print that fills the paper edge to edge, borderless is the look. Just know that borderless printing can trim a little from the edges when your photo shape does not match the print shape.
If you want to keep every detail (like the top of someone's head, the edges of a group photo, or a sign in the background), choose Smart Borders or add a white border. Your preview shows the final crop and border before checkout.
Why prints get cropped (the part most people never get told)
Cropping is not random. It usually happens because cameras and phones capture photos in one shape, while popular print sizes are a different shape.
When a lab prints borderless, it has to fill the paper edge to edge, so the only way to do that is to trim a little from the sides or the top and bottom.
Two quick examples
Many DSLR photos are 3:2. A 4 x 6 print matches that shape closely, but an 8 x 10 does not. So an 8 x 10 borderless print usually trims some of the long edge to fit.
Many phone photos are 4:3. A 12 x 16 print matches that shape closely, but a 4 x 6 is wider, so a borderless 4 x 6 can trim a little from the top and bottom.
Borders explained in plain language
Borderless
Your photo fills the print size edge to edge. If the aspect ratio does not match, some cropping is normal. Your preview shows it.
White border
A clean frame friendly look. You choose the border thickness. White borders also help preserve more of the photo when ratios do not match.
Smart Borders
Smart Borders are made for the moment you do not want your photo cropped. When your photo shape does not match the print shape, Smart Borders add white space where needed so the full image stays.
You will usually see the white space on the top and bottom or on the left and right depending on your photo. Sometimes it will look like extra border on just one side. The preview shows the final result.
Choosing borderless vs Smart Borders (simple rule)
- Choose borderless when you are okay trimming edges to fill the paper.
- Choose Smart Borders when you want the full image to stay, even if that means a little white space.
- Choose a white border when you want a classic look and a little extra breathing room for framing.
Framing and display tips that save money and stress
The easiest frame sizes
These sizes are widely available and easy to frame: 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, 11 x 14, 16 x 20.
Letter and tabloid frames
8.5 x 11 is letter size. 11 x 17 is commonly called tabloid size.
The mat trick (the cleanest upgrade)
If you love a matted look, buy a larger frame and use a mat with an opening for your print.
Example: an 8 x 10 print can look amazing in a larger frame with a mat opening for 8 x 10.
Glare reality check
If the print will sit near a window or under strong overhead lights, matte or luster usually feels easier to live with than glossy, because there is less reflection.
File quality check (so your prints look crisp)
If you want sharp detail up close, a common target is about 300 pixels per inch.
Quick way to estimate what you need: Print inches times 300 equals pixels
Examples for popular sizes
- 4 x 6: about 1200 x 1800 pixels
- 5 x 7: about 1500 x 2100 pixels
- 8 x 10: about 2400 x 3000 pixels
- 11 x 14: about 3300 x 4200 pixels
- 11 x 17: about 3300 x 5100 pixels
- 13 x 19: about 3900 x 5700 pixels
- 16 x 20: about 4800 x 6000 pixels
- 17 x 22: about 5100 x 6600 pixels
- 10 x 10: about 3000 x 3000 pixels
- 12 x 12: about 3600 x 3600 pixels
Phone photo tip
If you can, upload the original photo from your camera roll instead of a version saved from a social app. Social apps and screenshots often compress files, and that can show up as softness in print.
The full Petite Progress size list (with common names and best uses)
Tiny and ID sizes
1 x 1.25 — Small keepsakes and some ID style uses. Always confirm official requirements before ordering.
2 x 2 — Often called passport style size. Good for IDs and small keepsakes. Official requirements vary by country and agency.
2 x 3 — Often called wallet size. Great for wallets, mini frames, and gifting extras.
Small rectangles
3.5 x 5 — A classic small print that is easy to hold and easy to gift.
4 x 6 — Often called the standard photo print size. Great for albums and everyday prints.
5 x 7 — Often called the gift print size. Great for desk frames, portraits, and event gifting.
Classic rectangles for framing
8 x 10 — Often called the classic portrait print size. Great for portraits, school photos, and simple framing.
11 x 14 — A bigger wall print that still feels easy to frame. Great for family portraits, weddings, and statement photos without going huge.
12 x 16 — A great match for many phone photos because it is close to 4:3 proportions.
12 x 18 — A larger print that keeps the 2:3 feel, similar to 4 x 6 but bigger.
16 x 20 — A statement wall print size that is still widely frameable.
8.5 x 11 — Letter size. Great for signage, simple displays, and frames designed for letter paper.
11 x 17 — Tabloid size. Great for posters, menus, event signage, and display boards.
13 x 19 — Often used as a portfolio or poster style size. Great for photographers, artists, and big color images.
17 x 22 — Large format impact for walls, events, and displays where you want the photo to hold a room.
Squares
3 x 3 — Mini square for small grids, scrapbooks, and creative sets.
4 x 4 — A popular square for small grids and gift sets.
5 x 5 — A clean square size that feels modern.
6 x 6 — A balanced square for wall grids and small displays.
8 x 8 — A larger square for bold grids.
9 x 9 — A flexible square for sets and gallery walls.
10 x 10 — A favorite for square wall moments and grids.
11 x 11 — A strong square when you want something slightly different from 12 x 12.
12 x 12 — A bold square wall print.
How to order with confidence
- Upload your photo
- Pick your size
- Choose your paper finish: glossy, matte, luster, or metallic
- Choose your border style: borderless, white border with thickness control, or Smart Borders
- Use the preview to confirm crop and borders
- Check out
Mini FAQ
What size photo prints should I get?
Start with where the print will live. Albums and everyday prints usually look best as 4 x 6. Desk gifts usually look best as 5 x 7. Portrait framing often looks best as 8 x 10 or 11 x 14. If you want a statement wall print, 16 x 20 is a classic. If you want a clean modern wall grid, pick a square size.
What is the most common photo print size?
4 x 6 is widely treated as the standard and most common photo print size for everyday photos and albums.
Why do my photos get cropped when I print them?
Cropping happens when your photo aspect ratio does not match the print size aspect ratio. A borderless print has to fill the paper edge to edge, so the lab trims part of the image to make it fit. Smart Borders and white borders reduce or remove that trimming by adding white space instead.
What size photo prints are best for framing?
The easiest frame sizes to shop for are 4 x 6, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, 11 x 14, and 16 x 20. If you want a matted look, use a larger frame with a mat opening sized for your print.
How do I print photos online without cutting off heads?
Use the preview and choose Smart Borders when you need to keep everything in the frame. This is especially helpful for group photos and close portraits where trimming even a little can feel obvious.
Petite Progress expertise
Petite Progress prints photos in a wide range of sizes, from tiny keepsakes to large wall prints. You can choose glossy, matte, luster, or metallic paper.
You can choose borderless, white borders with thickness control, or Smart Borders. Smart Borders may add white space on the top, bottom, left, or right depending on your photo.
Orders placed before 11:00 am Eastern Time are processed the same day on business days. Prints ship protected in hard rigid envelopes.
Your uploads are handled securely for fulfillment, and we do not sell your photos or personal information.