{"id":6765,"date":"2019-12-09T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-09T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.frameiteasy.com\/learn\/?p=6765"},"modified":"2025-02-26T10:54:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T15:54:37","slug":"how-much-matting-is-the-right-amount","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.frameiteasy.com\/learn\/how-much-matting-is-the-right-amount\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Matting Should You Use for a Frame?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Frames featured: Derby in White with an Art Size of 14″ x 17″ and 5″ of matting in Smooth White (White Core) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

You already have the poster, piece of art, or photo that you want to frame, but you also want to add a matboard. You might even have the color picked out already, so that shouldn’t be a big issue for you. But then you hit a bit of a hold-up: how much matting should you include in your frame? Is there a technically-sound “proper” amount? What would look good? Will there be an amount that is too much and distracting? Should you do a single or double mat? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are tons of questions you might have when it comes to matting<\/a>. Thankfully, we have those answers for you. We will be breaking down the different-sized matboards and what might look best with your framed piece. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matboard Styles: The Most Common Matting<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Frame featured: Derby in Wheat with an Art Size of 22″ x 28″ and 2″ of matting in Smooth White (White Core)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Most customers add around 1 1\/2″ to 2″ of matting in their picture frame when they order from our site. This is standard, as it does a good job of decorating the piece, without overly dominating the art and distracting the viewer. It makes what’s being framed the centerpiece while giving a little extra color or space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This size matting would be great if you have posters, a basic photo or print, or a piece of art that’s within a relatively reasonable size. (Pro tip: Here at Frame It Easy we can provide matting for art up to 28″ X 36″ in “Art Size.”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The part we love most about custom framing is there are no rules. Whatever you think will look best hanging up on your walls, we can make it for you. Generally speaking, however, the larger the piece you are framing, the larger the matting around it should be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art Size<\/strong><\/td>Typical Use<\/strong><\/td>Typical Matting<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Up to
5″ x 7″<\/td>		Small photos,
Instagram prints<\/td>		1″- 1 1\/2″<\/td><\/tr>
Up to
8 1\/2″ -x11″<\/td>		Medium phots,
small prints<\/td>		1 1\/2″ – 2″<\/td><\/tr>
Up to
11″ x 14″<\/td>		Large photos,
small posters & prints<\/td>		2″ – 2 1\/2″<\/td><\/tr>
Up to
18″ x 24″<\/td>		Medium
posters & prints<\/td>		2″ – 3″<\/td><\/tr>
Over
18″ x 24″<\/td>		Large and very large
posters & prints<\/td>		2″ – 5″ <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once you are finished designing your frame, use the frame preview to make sure your frame looks perfect to you, even if the matting options don’t agree with what is typically used above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matboard Styles: Double Mats<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"double
Frame featured: Ashford in White with an Art Size of 9\u00a05<\/sup>\u204416<\/sub>” x 12\u00a01<\/sup>\u20448<\/sub>” and 1″ outer matting in Smooth White (White Core) and 1<\/sup>\u20442<\/sub>” inner matting in Smooth White (White Core) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Have a photo to frame, but don’t want to add just one matboard? You might even have tons of color in your photo, and want to pack as much as possible of it into your frame, or maybe it’s a simple piece that you want to add a bit more flair to. Either way, double mats would be the way to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Double mats aren’t just one item with the illusion of layering \u201a they are two different matboards stacked on top of one another, cut to the exact dimensions you want to showcase your piece. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that being said, most customers get less inner mat showing than outer. The outer mat (again, typically around 1 1\/2″ to 2″) is often the most pronounced. The inner, though, is often ordered with around 1\/4″ of it being visible. We get a lot of orders of 3\/8″ visible for inner matting, too, but those are less common. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are occasions where the inner mat is the more visible one. While this is uncommon, it has worked for people looking for a more unorthodox aesthetic in their frames. Plus, it’s called custom framing for a reason \u2014 you’re free to do whatever<\/em> you want with the frame you design. When it comes to custom framing, there are no real rules! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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