Size guide
Wall Art Size Guide: What Size Painting Goes Above a Sofa or Bed
Three numbers decide most walls: two thirds of the furniture's width, a gap of 8 to 10 inches above it, and the painting's center at eye level.
Choose a painting about two thirds as wide as the furniture under it, hang its bottom edge 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) above the furniture, and on an open wall put its center about 57 to 60 inches (145 to 152 cm) from the floor.
Above a sofa
A three-seat sofa is usually 80 to 90 inches wide, so a single painting reads best at 24 × 36 inches, either way up, or as a pair of 18 × 24s with a 3 inch gap. A tall 24 × 36 above a sofa needs a ceiling of at least 8 feet; on a lower wall, turn to 16 × 20 or 18 × 24.
Above a bed
A queen bed is about 60 inches wide, a king about 76. Over a queen, one 24 × 36 or two 16 × 20s side by side; over a king, the 24 × 36 in landscape or a set of three. Leave 8 to 12 inches above the headboard so you never brush the frame when you sit up.
Desk, console, hallway and studio
Above a desk or a 48 inch console, 18 × 24 is the comfortable size; 16 × 20 suits narrow walls and the space beside a window. In a yoga or meditation room, hang the painting at the height of your eyes when you sit on the floor or a cushion, which is lower than usual: about 40 to 45 inches to the center.
Every size we print
| Made as | Size (in) | Size (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Stretched canvas | 16 × 20 | 41 × 51 |
| Stretched canvas | 18 × 24 | 46 × 61 |
| Stretched canvas | 24 × 36 | 61 × 91 |
| Framed print | 8 × 10 | 20 × 25 |
| Framed print | 16 × 20 | 41 × 51 |
| Framed print | 18 × 24 | 46 × 61 |
| Framed print | 24 × 36 | 61 × 91 |
Sizes are the visible painting. Canvases add 1.25 inches of depth and the painting continues around the edges. Framed prints add about 0.75 inch of wood on each side.
Quick checks before you order
- Cut paper or painter's tape to the size and stick it on the wall for a day.
- Measure the furniture, not the wall: the painting relates to what sits under it.
- Two or three smaller paintings can fill a wide wall; keep 2 to 3 inches between them.