How to Print Wall Art at Home or at a Print Shop: Paper, Settings and Sizes

Printable art is one of the easiest ways to refresh a room, and a good print looks every bit as nice as a store-bought one. Here is how to get there.

1. Start with a high-resolution file

For sharp prints you want about 300 pixels per inch at the final size. Our printable art is made for this: an 8 x 10 in print needs 2400 x 3000 px, and our Quran verse prints are 3600 x 4500 px, so they stay crisp up to 16 x 20 in. Always print from the original download, not a screenshot.

2. Pick the right paper

Paper	Best for	Look
Matte cardstock, 65 to 110 lb	Most art prints, quotes, botanicals	Soft, no glare, feels like an art print
Matte photo paper	Photographic and colorful prints	Rich color, low glare
Glossy photo paper	Bright, saturated images	Vivid, but reflects light behind glass
Fine art (cotton rag) paper	Gifts and statement pieces	Textured, gallery feel

Under glass, matte papers avoid double reflections and usually look best.

3. Use these printer settings

• Scale: 100% or "Actual size", not "Fit to page", so the art prints at its true size.
• Quality: Best or High.
• Paper type: match it to what's loaded (matte, photo, cardstock) so the printer lays down the right amount of ink.
• Borderless if your printer supports it and you're printing to the edge.

Print one test page first and look at it in daylight. Screens are brighter than paper, so a print can look slightly darker. That's normal.

4. When a print shop is better

For anything larger than Letter or A4 (8.5 x 11 in), or when you want lab-quality color, a print shop is usually cheaper and better than home printing. Office print centers such as FedEx Office and Staples print posters and cardstock, and photo counters at stores such as Walgreens, CVS and Costco print standard photo sizes like 8 x 10 and 11 x 14 in. Upload the JPG or PDF and ask for matte if you'll frame it behind glass.

5. Match the frame to the file

A design made at a 4:5 ratio (8 x 10, 16 x 20 in) fits those frames exactly. An 11 x 14 in frame is a slightly different shape, so a 4:5 print will need a little trimming or a mat. Our frame size guide lists the standard US sizes and the files that fit them.

6. Frame it well

A white mat adds instant polish and gives a smaller print more presence. Clean the glass on both sides before closing the frame, and hang art so its center is about 57 to 60 in (145 to 152 cm) from the floor, the height galleries use.

Ready to print? Browse our printable wall art and Quran verse prints.