A Guide to Standard Poster Sizes for Printing & Design

From advertising sales and special events, promoting music and local festivities, or simply printing beautiful art to hang on your walls, posters are classic visual elements to attract a crowd and interest them in what you have to say.

If you are researching the art of printing posters but need help figuring out where to start, we're here to provide a helpful guide on everything you need to know about printing and designing posters people will love.

We're covering everything in this article, from the standard poster sizes you should know to essential factors and considerations you should make before selecting a poster size and sending it to print.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? We're here to help. Let's get right into it!

Main Takeaways From This Article:

• Knowing and understanding the different poster sizes before you order is critical to ensure you know exactly what you're getting, how your artwork will print, and the space each poster will take up.

• Small posters are ideal for engaging with a smaller crowd through bulletin boards and as flyers. Medium posters are great for gallery walls or shop windows, where they can quickly grab the attention of anyone who passes by. Large posters are perfect for large spaces where crowds can view them simultaneously.

• Landscape, portrait, and square orientation styles have unique use cases, depending on what you're designing and printing. Content for the film industry, like movie posters and promos, are typically printed in portrait style, while nature and far-away images print best in landscape orientation.

• Designing custom posters with art or photographs is a seamless process using Optimalprint's poster editor. Uploading is a breeze, and you can create visually aesthetic posters from your smartphone or computer.

Understanding Poster Sizes

The most common poster sizes are known as standard poster sizes because they're used the most often and are easy to order from printing shops online and in person. From retail posters to larger movie posters, it’s good to have an understanding of standard poster sizes as you navigate poster printing for your personal or professional use.

The common poster sizes fit into the terminology known as A0-A6 printing sizes. These paper measurements dictate what class each poster falls into, from small to medium and large. For example, A0 is the largest paper size used for printing posters. A2 is smaller but large enough for window displays and large prints.

A4 is a typical piece of paper for printing documents at home or in offices. In Canada, A4 is a traditional 216 mm x 279 mm piece of paper. A5 and A6 are much smaller paper sizes, typically used for postcards, save the dates for events, mini posters, and more.

At Optimalprint, we have specific poster sizes that can be selected for your artwork and images.

Overview of Standard Poster Sizes

When printing posters, you may need to become more familiar with the available poster sizes. Standard poster size may be confusing if you don't know what it means, and we're here to clear the air on the various poster dimensions so you know what to order for the space you're working with. Here's everything you need to know about standard poster sizes.

Small Posters (13 x 18 cm - 30 x 40 cm)

Small poster sizes fall between 13 x 18 cm to 21 x 30 cm. They are usually used for flyers posted in public spaces like bulletin boards, letter-sized posters for bands or other events that can be displayed where space is not a significant concern.

Remember that you only have a little extra space when designing a small poster, so keep it simple! A letter-sized poster is a one-sheet opportunity to get crowds of people interested and engaged, so keep that in mind when designing or choosing a powerful photograph.

Use one or two colours, bold text, and a simple, memorable message to grab attention and keep people engaged in whatever you're advertising.

The small poster sizes we carry at Optimalprint include the following:

• 13 x 18 cm

• 15 x 20 cm

• 21 x 30 cm

• 30 x 40 cm

Medium Posters (30 x 45 cm - 60 x 80 cm)

Medium dimensions typically range from 30 x 45 cm to 50 x 70 cm. A medium poster may be used in a shop window or a larger bulletin board where space is ample and it can be seen from farther away.

A medium poster is commonly used when creating a gallery wall of images and artwork to display on a large wall in any setting, from your living room to office space, event, or venue site. If you're designing a poster as a gift, the medium poster size is a perfect choice. It's large and grandiose, and it packs a punch and is just the right size for many settings.

Compared to letter-sized posters, medium posters have more space for visual elements, graphics, and text, giving you more freedom to design something more detailed.

The medium poster sizes we carry at Optimalprint include the following:

• 30 x 45 cm

• 40 x 50 cm

• 45 x 60 cm

• 50 x 70 cm

• 60 x 80 cm

Large Posters (60 x 90 cm - 70 x 100 cm)

A large poster grabs the attention of anyone who sees it, and from great distances, too! Large poster dimensions range from 60x90 cm to 70x100 cm. They are popular for entertainment venues, artists, and bands to advertise upcoming shows, events, and happenings in cities or larger areas. Large-format posters are also used in public settings like trade shows, sports parks, and malls to convey a message to a large audience.

The large poster sizes we carry at Optimalprint include the following:

• 60 x 90 cm

• 70 x 100 cm

You can learn all about our poster dimensions and sizes here.

Choosing the Right Poster Size For Your Project

Many considerations should be made as you choose the appropriate poster size for your walls. The right poster size can make a massive difference in the public's engagement with your poster, so you want to make it pop! Let's discuss the key factors to consider when shopping for posters online.

Landscape, Portrait, or Square?

Standard poster sizes offer orientations including landscape, portrait, and square. As you choose a printed poster in one of these orientations, it's helpful to know the pros and cons of each layout.

Landscape

Landscape posters appear wider than tall and are ideal for nature and scenic shots or prints. With landscape poster sizes, more people can view them simultaneously, making them suitable for outdoor or large public settings. Landscape posters are popular for displaying high-quality photographs and posters requiring more text and information for readers.

Portrait

A portrait poster means the height of the poster is larger than the width. With portrait poster sizes, people can view them even when standing off to the side, making them ideal for smaller window ads, coffee shops, and other spaces where space is limited.

Portrait orientation is the perfect size for movie posters and the standard choice for the film industry. You often see this orientation when walking by a movie poster in the mall or at a bus stop. They are also used as large format posters to advertise local events in cities.

Square

Square posters are more compact and easier to hang in small or large spaces. Their versatility makes them popular. Square posters are great for displaying art in small samples or creating mini posters that market events at art galleries, movies, music venues, and more. Square posters are also compact enough to easily display personal wall art in your home or office space.

Considerations for Selecting Poster Size

When selecting poster sizes for your art, designs, or photo images, there are a few factors in play that may influence the poster dimensions you choose. Be sure to consider the following:

• How much content will you include on the poster (text, quotes, lyrics, etc.)

• How easy the content and graphics are to read/ understand from a distance

• The quality of the art you are using

Matching Poster Size with Purpose and Space

There's a poster size perfect for every space and location. But before you choose, it's essential to consider what you're printing and what will be an ideal setting for your project.

For example, large poster dimensions look professional and high-quality in large spaces where more people can view them at the same time. Smaller posters should be chosen when visibility isn't your biggest concern, typically in smaller and indoor areas with limited space.

Poster Printing on Multiple Sizes

Some people think you need a graphic design certificate to create and print posters online, but that's not true. Optimalprint's poster printing services are straightforward to use. By following these steps, you can quickly create a custom poster using our website and editor.

Step 1: Choose Orientation, Framing, and Size

When printing posters through Optimalprint, you must first select the orientation of your poster or signage. You can choose from landscape/horizontal, portrait/vertical, or square poster sizes.

Then you can choose the poster size you want for each design or image. Poster sizes depend on your chosen orientation style, and you should consider your designs or photographs when selecting the orientation.

After selecting the orientation and poster size, you'll be prompted to choose a framing style. You can opt for no frame on the poster or choose from various other colours, including black, copper, gold, white, natural wood, and dark wood in materials like aluminum and wood.

Larger posters can also be attached to hangers for easy display. Framing your poster adds some refinement to the overall feel of the artwork, particularly if you display these posters in your home or office.

Step 2: Upload High-Quality Artwork or Photos

When selecting designs and images for your posters, be sure to select the correct file types and high-resolution photographs. This way, your posters will print in high quality and look incredible in any space. Once your designs are uploaded to the Optimalprint editor, you can quickly drag and drop your photos and designs to play with different layouts and design the perfect poster for an event or to hang in your home.

At Optimalprint, we use premium poster paper and ink to ensure every customer is beyond satisfied with their final product. We use eco-friendly paper to reduce our carbon footprint without ever sacrificing quality. It's a win-win!

Step 3: Adjust Positioning with the Editor

Once your designs are uploaded to the Optimalprint editor, you can easily move your photos and play with different layouts to design the perfect poster. You can also crop images, flip and rotate them, and change the repetition pattern from the editor to create a beautiful custom poster for public spaces or your personal wall space.

Step 4: Order Your Poster

When you're done editing and positioning your art or images, and you’re happy with how it looks, it's time to order your poster! Optimalprint strives to offer an efficient shopping experience wherever you're located. That's why we print locally to ensure quick production and fast delivery times. Your posters will be on your doorstep in no time.

Printing and Design Poster Sizes: Conclusion

There's a lot more that goes into poster printing than you may have realized, but with this guide as a resource, you'll be designing and printing posters like a pro in no time.

Whether creating your own custom posters or choosing ready-made poster designs, Optimalprint offers an impressive assortment of sizes to meet your needs and easily showcase your beautiful designs and photographs.

Poster printing has never been easier or more streamlined – you can create posters on a computer or a smartphone using the Optimalprint app.

Whether designing art for your personal wall space or creating a large format poster for products, movies, or local events, Optimalprint can help make your poster printing project come to life. Create your poster or shop poster designs today!