How to choose the right poster size (without overthinking it)

Choosing the right poster size is one of those things that feels simple, but somehow never is. You like the artwork, you’re ready to buy… and then you get stuck on the size.

Too small and it feels underwhelming.
Too big and it takes over the room.

The good news: you don’t need an interior design degree to get this right. A few simple rules of thumb will get you 90% of the way there.

The one rule that solves most cases

A good general guideline:

Your artwork should cover about 60–75% of the available wall width.

So if your sofa is around 180 cm wide, a single large poster like 70 × 100 cm (28x40"), or a pair of 50 × 70 cm (20x28") posters side by side, will usually feel visually balanced.

I don’t offer ultra-huge billboard-sized prints, but combining two or three posters often works even better than one massive piece. A pair of 50 × 70 cm (20x28") posters can easily fill the same visual space as a single oversized artwork, and gives you more flexibility in how the wall evolves over time.

If you remember only one thing from this article, remember this.

Common poster sizes (in real-world terms)

Forget the numbers for a second. Here’s how the most common sizes usually work in practice:

A4 (21 × 29.7 cm / 8 × 12")

Small accent piece.

Good for:

  • Shelves
  • Gallery walls
  • Desks
  • Very small spaces

Not really a “main artwork” size.

A3 (29.7 × 42 cm / 11.7 × 16.5")

Still relatively small, but more present.

Good for:

  • Tight walls
  • Hallways
  • Layering with other posters

Works best as part of a set.

30 × 40 cm / 12 x 16"

A nice in-between size.

Good for:

  • Small rooms
  • Gallery walls
  • When A3 feels slightly too small

50 × 70 cm / 20 x 28"

The most versatile size.

Good for:

  • Living rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Almost anywhere

If you’re unsure, this is the default I’d recommend.

60 × 80 cm / 24 x 32"

Big hero size.

Good for:

  • Above sofas
  • Large empty walls
  • When you want the artwork to feel dominant

This is where posters start to feel like proper statement pieces.

70 × 100 cm / 28 x 40"

Full statement.

Good for:

  • Feature walls
  • Minimal interiors
  • When the artwork is the focal point

Not subtle. Not background. This one takes over the space (in a good way).

Choosing by room

Living room

You usually want something that holds its own.

  • Above sofa:
    50 × 70 cm minimum, 60 × 80 cm or 70 × 100 cm if the wall allows it.
  • Large empty wall:
    Go big, or use a pair of 50 × 70 cm posters.

Living rooms can handle bigger art than people think.

Bedroom

More intimate, slightly smaller works well.

  • Above bed:
    50 × 70 cm is perfect for most setups.
  • Side walls / corners:
    40 × 50 cm or A2 works beautifully.

Hallway

Narrow spaces = vertical or smaller formats.

  • A3, 30 × 40 cm or 40 × 50 cm usually fits best.
  • Great place for series or gallery walls.

Home office

You’ll see this every day, so size matters less than vibe.

  • 40 × 50 cm, A2 or 50 × 70 cm is a sweet spot.
  • Big enough to feel present, not distracting.

Framing changes everything

This part is underrated.

A frame:

  • Adds visual size
  • Adds breathing room
  • Makes small posters feel more intentional

A 50 × 70 poster with a white passepartout suddenly feels closer to a 60 × 80 presence.

So if a size feels slightly too small:

Frame it generously before jumping to the next size.

A simple trick before you buy

Take a piece of paper or masking tape and mark the size on your wall.

Seriously. It takes two minutes and saves so much second-guessing.

Your brain is terrible at imagining scale. Your eyes are not.

A note about my posters

Most of my posters are designed to work especially well in:

  • 50 × 70 cm (20 x 28")
  • 60 × 80 cm (24 x 32")
  • 70 × 100 cm (28 x 40")

Those sizes give the artwork enough space to breathe and actually feel like a presence in the room, not just decoration.

If you’re new to buying art online, I’d start with 50 × 70 cm (20x28"). It’s the least likely choice to disappoint.

Final thought (the honest one)

Almost everyone regrets going too small.

Very few people regret going too big.

Walls are usually bigger than you think.

And art is supposed to be seen.

When in doubt: size up.