This wall art size guide comes down to one rule: the art should be two thirds to three quarters as wide as the furniture beneath it. For an 84 inch sofa, that is 56 to 63 inches. Hang its center 57 to 60 inches from the floor, or its bottom edge 6 to 10 inches above the furniture.
- Multiply the width of your furniture by 0.67 and by 0.75 to get the art width range in inches.
- Above a bed, leave 8 to 12 inches between the headboard top and the bottom of the art.
- An 84 inch sofa takes a 60x40 landscape or a 60x20 panoramic canvas; a 48 inch console takes a 36x24.
- On a blank wall, fill about 60 to 75 percent of the free width, and use more than one separate piece past 8 feet.
- 30 by 40 cm is about 12 by 16 inches, so convert centimeter sizes before you compare them.
How Do You Choose the Right Size for Wall Art?
Measure the furniture or wall first, then multiply. Art that is two thirds to three quarters as wide as the sofa, bed or console looks connected to it. Art much narrower looks lost, and art wider than the furniture overwhelms it. The same rule works for one large piece or a group of separate pieces hung as a single block.
The formula takes ten seconds. Furniture width times 0.67 gives the smallest good width, and times 0.75 gives the largest. Then pick a size from the table below that lands in that range. The shape, whether landscape, panoramic, square or portrait, comes second and depends on the height of the wall space.
What Size Wall Art Goes Above a Sofa, Bed or Console?
Use the furniture width to read across. Every size below is one that a landscape, panoramic, square or portrait piece comes in, though not every piece offers every size.
| What it hangs above | Furniture width | Art width to aim for | Sizes that fit (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dresser or desk | 36 in | 24 to 27 in | 24x16 landscape, 24x24 square, 24x8 panoramic |
| Console table or entry bench | 48 in | 32 to 36 in | 36x24 landscape, 36x12 panoramic, 36x36 square |
| Mantel | 54 in | 36 to 40 in | 36x24 landscape, 36x36 square |
| Loveseat | 64 in | 43 to 48 in | 48x32 landscape, 48x16 panoramic, 48x48 square |
| Queen bed headboard | 64 in | 43 to 48 in | 48x32 landscape, 48x16 panoramic |
| Apartment sofa | 72 in | 48 to 54 in | 48x32 landscape, 48x16 panoramic, 48x48 square |
| King bed headboard | 80 in | 53 to 60 in | 60x40 landscape, 60x20 panoramic |
| Standard sofa | 84 in | 56 to 63 in | 60x40 landscape, 60x20 panoramic |
| Large sectional or long sofa | 96 in | 64 to 72 in | Two 30x20 landscapes side by side with a 3 in gap (63 in), or one 60x40 |
Pro tip: If your number falls between two sizes, go up. A piece that is slightly too wide still reads as a deliberate statement, while one that is too narrow reads as a mistake.
You have an 84 inch sofa with a back 34 inches tall. Two thirds of 84 is 56 inches and three quarters is 63, so a 60 inch wide piece fits. A 60x20 panoramic canvas hung 8 inches above the sofa back has its bottom edge at 42 inches and its top at 62 inches, so its center is at 52 inches. A 60x40 landscape hung 6 inches above the sofa has its bottom at 40 inches, its top at 80 and its center at 60, right on the 57 to 60 inch guideline. Both are correct; the panoramic is quieter and the landscape fills more wall.
How High Should You Hang Wall Art?
Hang the center of the piece 57 to 60 inches from the floor, which is average eye level. Above furniture the gap rule wins: keep the bottom edge 6 to 10 inches above a sofa or console, and 8 to 12 inches above a headboard. If the two rules disagree, trust the gap, because art tied to the furniture reads as one group.
Taller walls need larger art, not higher art. A piece hung far above the furniture floats on its own. Our guide to hanging art above a bed covers the headboard rule in more detail.
What Size Art Fits a Blank Wall?
With no furniture to measure, fill about 60 to 75 percent of the free width. Measure from corner to corner, or between the door frame and the window, then multiply. Past about 8 feet of wall, one piece looks thin, so use a larger size or a group of separate pieces hung with 2 to 3 inches between them. For ideas on filling a big wall, see ideas for how to decorate a large wall.
| Free wall width | Art width (60 to 75%) | Sizes that fit (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 ft (48 in) | 29 to 36 in | 30x20 landscape, 36x24 landscape, 30x60 portrait |
| 6 ft (72 in) | 43 to 54 in | 48x32 landscape, 48x16 panoramic, 48x48 square |
| 8 ft (96 in) | 58 to 72 in | 60x40 landscape, 60x20 panoramic |
| 10 ft (120 in) | 72 to 90 in | Two 36x24 or 48x32 landscapes with a 3 in gap |
Watch out: Do not fill the gaps on a big wall with a tiny print. A 12x8 inch piece alone on an 8 foot wall looks like a postcard. Either go up to 48x32 or group several pieces into one block.
Which Shape Suits Which Wall?
Landscape for Standard Sofas and Beds
Landscape is the all-rounder. Canvas and framed canvas come in sizes from 12x8 to 60x40 inches, the framed print goes up to 36x24 and the poster print up to 54x36. It suits most furniture a wall is built around.
Panoramic for Long, Low Spaces
Panoramic canvas comes in sizes from 24x8 to 60x20 inches and runs three times as wide as it is tall. It fits above a sofa under a low ceiling, over a headboard or along a hallway. Our panoramic wall art covers these shapes.
Portrait for Narrow Walls
Portrait canvas comes in sizes from 8x16 to 30x60 inches. A 20x40 or 24x48 piece suits a narrow wall beside a door or a stairwell, and tall pieces make a low ceiling feel higher. See our vertical wall art.
Square for Balanced Spaces
Square canvas comes in sizes from 12x12 to 48x48 inches. It suits walls with equal width and height, such as above a mantel or between two windows. Browse square canvas prints for the full range.
What Is 30 by 40 cm in Inches?
30 by 40 cm is about 11.8 by 15.7 inches, close to 12 by 16. Divide centimeters by 2.54 to convert. About 880 people a month in the US search for this frame size, because ready-made frames from abroad are labeled in centimeters. Convert first, then compare it with the furniture rule above.
| Centimeters | Inches (approx.) | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| 30x40 cm | 11.8x15.7 in | Shelf, desk or gallery wall accent |
| 40x50 cm | 15.7x19.7 in | Small wall or gallery wall |
| 50x70 cm | 19.7x27.6 in | Above a dresser |
| 60x90 cm | 23.6x35.4 in | Above a console or loveseat |
The nearest sizes we print are listed per piece, so pick the closest listed size to your measurement and trust the furniture rule over the exact number.
Is 8x10 or 24x36 a Good Size for Wall Art?
An 8x10 inch print is small: right for a shelf, a desk or one spot in a gallery wall, but too small for a lone piece above a sofa. A 24x36 inch print is a common US poster size, 2 feet by 3 feet, and works above a dresser, a desk or a console up to about 36 inches wide. In landscape, 24x36 is the same rectangle as 36x24.
- Measure the furniture or free wall width in inches.
- Multiply by 0.67 for the minimum and by 0.75 for the maximum art width.
- Pick a size from the tables that lands in that range, going up if between two.
- Choose the shape from the height available: panoramic for low, portrait for tall, landscape or square otherwise.
- Cut a paper template at the real size and tape it up for a day.
- Hang with the center at 57 to 60 inches, or the bottom edge 6 to 10 inches above furniture.
Once you have the size, read how to hang pictures without nails, or see how wall art lighting shows a large piece at its best. Finishes differ too, and our comparison of canvas and framed prints explains what each adds to the frame size.
Every piece is printed to order and ships free across the US. Pick the shape first, then the size from the tables above.
Landscape canvas painting Panoramic wall art Framed wall art for living room Bedroom wall art
Quick answers
Common Questions
Is 8x10 a good size for wall art?
8x10 inches is a good size for a shelf, a desk, a bathroom or one piece inside a gallery wall. It is too small to hang alone above a sofa or bed, where the furniture is 60 inches or wider. For those spots, aim for art at least 40 inches wide.
Is 24x36 a standard poster size?
Yes, 24x36 inches is one of the most common poster sizes in the US, equal to 2 by 3 feet. It suits a wall above a dresser, desk or console of about 36 to 48 inches. In landscape orientation it is the same rectangle as 36x24 inches.
Will a 24x36 poster fit in a 24x36 frame?
Yes. Frames are sold by the size of the art they hold, so a 24x36 inch poster fits a 24x36 inch frame. If you want a mat border, buy a larger frame instead, since the mat takes up space: a 3 inch border needs a frame of 30x42 inches.
Is a 24x36 picture big?
A 24x36 inch picture is medium-large: 2 feet by 3 feet. It is big for a desk or an entry and right for a 36 to 48 inch console or dresser. Above an 84 inch sofa it is too small alone, and you would need 56 to 63 inches of width.
How do you calculate wall art size?
Measure the furniture or free wall width in inches. Multiply by 0.67 for the smallest art width and by 0.75 for the largest. A 72 inch sofa gives 48 to 54 inches. Then check the height: leave 6 to 10 inches above furniture and keep the center near 57 to 60 inches from the floor.
