What size oil painting do I actually need? A practical sizing guide

The single most common regret we hear from customers is buying smaller than they should have. A painting that looks the right size in a website preview almost always feels smaller than expected on a real wall.

This guide walks you through how to size a commission so it looks right in the actual room.

Our size ladder, in plain English

Size (inches)	cm	What it suits
8 × 10″	20 × 25	Desktop, shelf, or hallway accent. Single subject only. Faces will be small.
12 × 16″	30 × 40	A4-and-a-bit. Mantelpiece, small wall. One face still small for the frame.
16 × 20″	40 × 50	Standard portrait size. Single subject sits comfortably. Smallest size we'd recommend for a focal piece.
20 × 24″	50 × 60	Comfortable for a couple or a face-and-shoulders portrait. Good above a desk or in a hallway.
24 × 36″	60 × 90	The most commonly ordered "real wall art" size. Holds a family of 4 comfortably. Above a sofa or fireplace.
30 × 40″	75 × 100	Statement piece. Family of 6. Above a king bed. Large hallway.
36 × 48″	91 × 122	Heirloom/grand-room scale. Foyer, large dining room, big lounge. Will become the focal point of any room.

The rule that prevents most regrets

The painting should fill two-thirds to three-quarters of the available wall width (or sofa width, or fireplace width — whichever it's hung above).

So:

• 2-metre sofa → painting should be 130–150 cm wide → that's a 30×40″ in landscape, or two 24×36″ stacked in portrait
• Standard king-size bed → headboard wall is ~165 cm → painting around 110–125 cm → 24×36″ or 30×40″ (landscape)
• Standard fireplace mantel → ~130 cm → painting around 90–100 cm → 24×36″
• Hallway accent (above a console table) → 80–100 cm wide → 20×24″ or 24×36″

If you take only one rule from this guide: measure the wall, then make sure the painting is at least 60% of that measurement in its long dimension.

Subject size affects perceived size

A painting of one face fills the canvas regardless of size. A painting of a family of six at 16×20″ has each face the size of a postage stamp — visible from a foot away, blurred from across the room.

Rough rule for faces:

• 1 person → any size works, but 16×20″ minimum if it's a focal piece
• 2 people → 20×24″ minimum
• 3-4 people → 24×36″ minimum
• 5-6 people → 30×40″ minimum
• 7+ people or large groups → 36×48″ minimum

Pets count as half a person for sizing purposes — a single pet portrait reads well at 12×16″.

What size to choose for specific gifts

Occasion	Recommended size
First wedding anniversary (paper)	16 × 20″
Significant wedding anniversary (5+)	24 × 36″
Baby's first portrait	12 × 16″ or 16 × 20″
Pet memorial	16 × 20″
Grandparent / family elder portrait	20 × 24″ or 24 × 36″
Multi-generation family piece	30 × 40″ minimum
Statement piece for a new home	36 × 48″

Why we don't do larger than 36 × 48″

Three reasons. Air-freight charges roughly double for "oversized" canvas. Stretched canvases over 1.2 m are difficult to ship without damage even when crated. And once you're past 36×48″ the typical home isn't actually right for the piece — that scale belongs in foyers, restaurants, and corporate spaces, where the buyer usually wants a fine-art commission rather than an affordable one.

If you do want larger, write to us — we can quote bespoke up to 60 × 90″, but the freight surcharge is significant.

Why we don't ship framed

Frames damage in transit on roughly 1 in 8 international shipments. Ours used to ship framed; we switched to rolled/stretched-only in 2026 because:

• A frame from a UK framer fits the painting better than one cross-shipped from China
• Framing locally lets you match the painting to your room (gold leaf for a Klimt, modern black for a Sargent, ornate carved wood for a Rembrandt)
• Customs and freight on framed canvases can add £40–£80 we'd rather you spent on a better frame

A high-street framer in the UK will frame a 24×36″ canvas for £80–£200 depending on the moulding. That's our recommendation.

Bottom line

Most people should commission 24×36″. It's our most common order, fits the most rooms, holds enough subjects for a family portrait, and looks substantial above standard furniture. Commission smaller only if you specifically want a side or shelf piece. Commission larger only if you have the wall and the eye for it.

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