How to Frame a Picture: A Simple 5-Step Guide

Q: What size frame do I need?

The same size as your picture if you do not want a mount. If you do, choose a frame that is bigger by the width of the border on every side.

Q: Should a picture touch the glass in a frame?

It is best if it does not, especially for photos and valuable prints. A mount holds the glazing a few millimetres away from the surface.

The short version: measure your picture, decide whether you want a mount, and choose a frame to match: the same size as the picture without a mount, or bigger with one. Clean the glazing, lay the picture face down in the frame, add the backing, secure it, and hang it. The whole job takes about ten minutes once you have the right frame.

In this guide

1. Measure your picture
2. Decide on a mount
3. Choose the frame
4. Fit the picture
5. Hang it
Framing something unusual?
Common questions

1. Measure your picture

Measure the width and height from edge to edge, ideally in millimetres. Measure both ends, as paper isn't always perfectly square.
Decide whether any white border around the image should show. If not, measure just the image, and a mount can cover the rest.
Check the shape as well as the size. A 10x8 photo and an A4 print are similar in size but a different shape, so one won't sit neatly in the other's frame.

2. Decide on a mount

A mount is the card border between the picture and the frame. Without one, the picture fills the frame edge to edge. With one, it gets breathing space, looks more substantial on the wall, and stays off the glazing.

As a rule of thumb: photos and art prints usually look better with a mount; large posters and canvas paintings are usually framed without one.

3. Choose the frame

Size. Without a mount, choose a frame the same size as the picture. With a mount, choose one bigger by the border on every side. Our picture frame size guide shows common pairings.
Style. Pick up a colour from the picture, or keep to black, white or natural wood to let the art do the talking. Bold prints can carry a wider moulding; delicate drawings suit something slim.
Glazing. Acrylic is lighter and shatterproof; UV-filtering glazing slows fading. Our glass vs acrylic guide explains the options.
Odd sizes. If your picture doesn't match a standard frame, use a made to measure frame or a custom-cut mount in a standard frame.

You can also see your picture in a frame before you buy: upload a photo of it using Preview Your Own Artwork on any of our frames.

4. Fit the picture

Lay the frame face down on a towel or blanket so the front doesn't get scratched.
Open the fixings at the back and lift out the backing board.
Clean the inside of the glazing with a soft, dry microfibre cloth. Any dust left now will show once the picture is in.
If you're using a mount, place it face down on the glazing. Then lay the picture face down on top, centred in the window.
Replace the backing board and press the fixings back down so everything is held firmly.
Turn the frame over and check the picture is straight and free of dust. If not, open it up and adjust.

For a photo or print you want to keep, you can hold it to the back of the mount with a couple of strips of acid-free tape along the top edge only, so it hangs naturally and can expand and contract without rippling.

5. Hang it

Hang the centre of the picture at about 145 to 150 cm from the floor, or 20 to 30 cm above a sofa or sideboard. Use fixings suited to the weight of the frame and the type of wall. Our guide to how to hang a picture covers it step by step.

Framing something unusual?

Key takeaways

Measure the picture and check its shape, not just its size.
Without a mount, the frame matches the picture size; with a mount, it's bigger by the border on every side.
Clean the glazing before you fit the picture, and work face down on something soft.
Tape a photo or print along the top edge only, with acid-free tape, if you need to fix it in place.
Hang the centre at about 145 to 150 cm from the floor.

Common questions

How do I frame a picture myself?

Measure it, choose a frame of the same size (or bigger, with a mount), clean the glazing, lay the picture face down in the frame, replace the backing and secure the fixings.

What size frame do I need?

The same size as your picture if you don't want a mount. If you do, choose a frame that's bigger by the width of the border on every side.

Should a picture touch the glass in a frame?

It's best if it doesn't, especially for photos and valuable prints. A mount holds the glazing a few millimetres away from the surface.

How do I stop a picture moving inside the frame?

Make sure the backing is pressed firmly against it. For a mounted picture, fix it to the back of the mount with acid-free tape along the top edge.

What if my picture is an unusual size?

Choose a made to measure frame, or a standard frame with a mount cut to fit your picture.

Browse our picture frames, handmade to order by Guild Certified Framers.

About the author: Trevor Beers

Trevor Beers is a guest writer for East Side Studio London. With two degrees in English language and a passion for contemporary art, he explores the intersections of culture, criticism, and collecting. Splitting his time between London and Austin, Trevor brings an academic eye to emerging art scenes, offering thoughtful perspectives on today's evolving art landscape.