Christmas Poster Sizes Explained: A4 vs A3 vs A2 vs A1
- Each A size has exactly double the area of the one before and the same proportions, so they mix well.
- A4 for shelves and clusters, A3 for hallways and bedrooms, A2 above furniture, A1 for feature walls.
- Aim for a print about two thirds the width of the sofa, bed or sideboard beneath it.
- When unsure, go one size larger than your first instinct.
Choosing a size is the decision that most affects how a poster looks on your wall, and it is the one people most often get wrong by going too small. Here are the exact dimensions and prices of A4, A3, A2 and A1, and a practical guide to matching each to the room.
How ISO A sizes work
Our posters use the international ISO 216 A series, the same system behind standard office paper in most of the world. The series starts with A0, a sheet of exactly one square meter, and each smaller size is made by halving the previous one across its longer side. Every size shares the same proportion, roughly 1 to 1.414 (the square root of two), which is why an A4 and an A1 look like the same shape at different scales and why they mix so neatly on a wall. Because the sizes are standardized, matching frames are easy to find anywhere.
Size comparison: A4 vs A3 vs A2 vs A1
- A4 · 21 × 29.7 cm · 8.3 × 11.7 in · $17.95. About the size of a standard sheet of office paper. Perfect for shelves, desks, small bathrooms, gift giving and clusters of three or more.
- A3 · 29.7 × 42 cm · 11.7 × 16.5 in · $25.95. Twice the area of A4. The everyday size for hallways, bedrooms, kitchens and kids' rooms, and the most flexible for gallery walls.
- A2 · 42 × 59.4 cm · 16.5 × 23.4 in · $40.95. Four times the area of A4. Our most popular size for living rooms, above a sofa, bed or sideboard, where it reads clearly from across the room.
- A1 · 59.4 × 84.1 cm · 23.4 × 33.1 in · $75.95. Eight times the area of A4. A statement piece for a feature wall, a tall hallway, a large dining room or above a fireplace.
Frames in black or chrome add $20 to any size, and framed posters arrive ready to hang. Oak is coming soon.
Which size for which wall
The most reliable rule is to relate the print to the furniture beneath it, not to the wall itself. Aim for a print (or group of prints) that is roughly two thirds the width of the sofa, bed, console or sideboard below. In practice:
- A two-seat sofa or double bed (about 140 to 160 cm wide): one A2 portrait, or two A3 side by side.
- A three-seat sofa or king bed (about 200 cm wide): one A1, or an A2 flanked by two A4.
- A narrow console or hallway wall: one A3, or a vertical stack of two or three A4.
- A shelf or picture ledge: A4 and A3 leaning in overlapping layers.
- A chimney breast or empty feature wall: A1, centered, with nothing else around it.
When in doubt, go one size larger than your first instinct. Under-sized art is the most common mistake in home decorating, and a Christmas print is competing with a tree and a room full of color.
Viewing distance and ceiling height
Think about where you will look at the print from. An A4 is designed to be enjoyed up close, from a meter or two away. An A3 reads well from across a small room. An A2 holds detail at four to five meters, which is why it suits living rooms. An A1 is comfortable even at the far end of an open-plan space. Rooms with ceilings above 2.7 meters can take A1 and A2 prints easily; in a standard-height room, keep A1 for walls with no furniture below so the print does not feel squeezed.
Detailed artwork, such as a vintage scene or a Nativity, rewards a larger size because the detail stays legible. Simple artwork, such as a minimalist line drawing, works at any size and can even look more intentional small.
Mixing sizes in one arrangement
Because every A size shares the same proportion, a mixed arrangement looks harmonious almost automatically. Two reliable layouts: an A2 anchor with an A3 and two A4 around it, aligned along a shared center line; or a symmetrical pair of A3 prints with an A4 above each. Keep 5 to 8 cm between frames and use a single frame finish. Buying a set is cheaper through the bundle builder, which discounts the order as you add prints, and orders over $70 ship free.
A note on paper, print and delivery
All four sizes are printed to order on the same thick matte paper, borderless, so a design looks identical in A4 and A1 apart from scale. Prints are produced in the US and dispatched within 1 to 2 business days, with tracked delivery in 3 to 5 business days from $6.90. Changed your mind on size? You have 14 days to return, and anything damaged in transit is reprinted free.
US poster sizes: how A sizes compare to 18x24 and 24x36
If you shop in inches, here is the translation. A4 is 8.3 x 11.7 in, close to a letter sheet. A3 is 11.7 x 16.5 in, a little larger than 11x17. A2 is 16.5 x 23.4 in, which sits inside a standard 18x24 frame with a slim mat. A1 is 23.4 x 33.1 in, the closest ISO size to a classic 24x36 poster: it fits a 24x36 frame with a mat of about a third of an inch on each side, or hangs on its own with our exact-size black or chrome frames. For a true 24x36 Christmas poster or a life-size door poster, ask the studio about custom formats.
See all designs at their largest sizes on the large Christmas posters page.
✦ Buy more, save moreBuild a Christmas wall, every 3rd print freeMix any designs in the pack builder. Printed in the US, shipped together in 1-2 business days.
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We design, colour-grade and test-print every poster in the catalogue, and we style a lot of walls along the way. These guides are what we tell friends who ask.
Questions, answered
What are the dimensions of A4, A3, A2 and A1?
A4 is 21 × 29.7 cm (8.3 × 11.7 in), A3 is 29.7 × 42 cm, A2 is 42 × 59.4 cm and A1 is 59.4 × 84.1 cm.
How much does each size cost?
A4 $17.95, A3 $25.95, A2 $40.95 and A1 $75.95. A black or chrome frame adds $20 to any size.
Which size is best above a sofa?
A2 for a two-seat sofa, A1 for a three-seater, or an A2 with an A4 on either side. Aim for about two thirds of the sofa's width.
