Custom map print in a bright living room

What Size Print Do You Need? A Simple Guide for Every Wall

Choosing the size is often the hardest part of buying wall art. Too small, and the print looks lost. Too big, and it takes over the room. The good news: a few simple rules make it easy.

The two-thirds rule

Your print (or group of prints) should be about two-thirds the width of the furniture under it. So for a sofa that is 84″ (213 cm) wide, aim for art around 55″ (140 cm) wide in total. That can be one big print or two or three smaller ones side by side.

How high to hang it

  • Hang the centre of the print at about 57–60″ (145–150 cm) from the floor. That’s roughly eye level.
  • Above a sofa or a bed, leave about 8–10″ (20–25 cm) between the furniture and the bottom of the frame.

Size guide: map print sizes from 8×10″ to 36×48″ beside a person 5′6″ tall

Above a sofa

This is where people most often choose too small. Go big:

  • One 36×48″ print in landscape, or
  • A pair of 24×36″ prints side by side, or
  • Three 18×24″ prints in a row.

Landscape maps look great on long walls. A world map also comes in panoramic sizes, 40×20″ and 60×30″, made for exactly this spot.

Custom Barcelona city map print in a blue living room

Above a bed

  • Queen bed (about 60″ / 152 cm wide): one 30×40″ in landscape, or a pair of 18×24″.
  • King bed (about 76″ / 193 cm wide): one 36×48″ in landscape, or a pair of 24×36″.
  • Single bed or a kid’s room: 16×20″ or 18×24″.

A pair of maps works nicely here: where you each grew up, or where you met and where you live now.

Two-city map print above a bed in a coastal bedroom

Above a desk or in a home office

You sit close to a desk, so you don’t need anything huge. 16×20″ or 18×24″ is usually perfect. Two of them side by side also look great.

Black custom city map print above a home office desk

Shelves, dressers and hallways

Smaller sizes like 8×10″, 11×14″ or 12×16″ are lovely leaning on a shelf or a dresser, or hung in a narrow hallway. They are also the easiest sizes to give as a gift.

Vintage-style London city map print leaning on a sideboard

A nursery

A 12×16″ or 16×20″ print is a sweet size for a nursery. Make sure it’s hung securely, and keep frames away from the crib.

Building a gallery wall

  • Mix two or three sizes, but keep the same frame colour so it looks calm.
  • Leave about 2–3″ (5–8 cm) between frames.
  • Start with the biggest print in the middle and build around it.

Portrait or landscape?

Portrait suits tall, narrow walls and most city maps. Landscape suits wide walls, sofas and beds. When in doubt, follow the shape of the wall.

A quick trick before you order

Cut a piece of paper (or tape the outline with painter’s tape) to the size you’re thinking about and stick it on the wall for a day. You’ll know straight away if it feels right.

Good to know

  • We print in 11 inch sizes, from 8×10″ to 36×48″, plus A4 to A1.
  • Framed prints go from 8×10″ up to 30×40″. The largest sizes are available as a print or canvas.
  • All our inch sizes are standard frame sizes, so a ready-made frame will fit if you order the print unframed.

You’ll find all the details on our Materials & Sizes page. And the best part: you can switch sizes in the editor and see the change right away, before you order.

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