What Size Canvas for Which Wall
The two-thirds rule, hanging heights, room-by-room sizes in real inches, and the five-minute tape test that shows you the right size.
The right size is what makes wall art look wonderful, and the most helpful tip is simple: go a little more generous than your first instinct. This page has the easy arithmetic that gets it right.
The rule that solves most cases
Art above a piece of furniture should span two-thirds to three-quarters of that furniture’s width. That is the whole rule. A 16×24″ canvas is perfect for a hallway or a study, and above a three-seat sofa a larger size looks confident and deliberate.
A standard US three-seat sofa is about 84″ wide. Two-thirds of that is 56″. So the ideal choice for that wall is a 40×60″ canvas, a panoramic 20×60″, or two or three pieces hung together.
By room, with real numbers
| Where | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Above a three-seat sofa | 24×36″ minimum, 32×48″ or 40×60″ ideal, or a panoramic | The widest wall in most homes, and a generous size anchors it |
| Above a bed (queen/king) | 24×36″ or 32×48″ | Headboards are 60-80″; match the two-thirds rule |
| Entryway or hallway | 16×24″ or 20×30″ | Seen up close and at an angle, where a modest size feels just right |
| Above a console or sideboard | 20×30″ or 24×36″ | Consoles run 48-60″ wide |
| Office or study wall | 16×24″ or 20×30″ | Viewed from a desk, at close range |
| Long empty wall, dining room | Panoramic 16×48″ or 20×60″ | The perfect home for a 3:1 format |
Hanging height
Centre of the artwork at 57-60″ from the floor. That is eye level for most adults and it is the standard galleries use. If the piece hangs above furniture, leave 6-10″ between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the canvas, so the two read beautifully as a pair.
The five-minute test that shows the right size
Try this before you order. It costs nothing and it is the most reliable guide of all:
- Mark the exact dimensions on the wall with painter’s tape.
- Leave it there for a day and walk past it.
- If your instinct is “that looks a bit big” – that is usually correct, and it means the size is right. Canvases always look smaller once hung than they did as tape.
Why our sizes differ between pieces
Each artwork comes in the sizes that suit its proportions, and the proportion of the artwork itself decides what it is printed as:
- Most canvases are 3:2 and come in seven sizes, 8×12″ through 40×60″.
- Panoramic pieces are 3:1 and come in three: 12×36″, 16×48″, 20×60″, each made for a long wall.
- A few pieces have their own sets. Each product page lists exactly what that artwork is sold in.
Depth, and what “ready to hang” means
Every canvas is stretched over solid wood bars 1.25″ (3.18 cm) deep and arrives with mounting brackets fitted. It comes ready for the wall, and the depth gives it a beautiful gallery presence. A decorative outer frame can be added by request if you want one.
Still not sure?
Send us a photo of the wall with a rough measurement and we will tell you which size we would choose. We love helping with this, so the piece you hang is exactly right.
Every canvas is printed just for you, which is why we are happy to help you choose the size first. Our returns page explains how our guarantee works.
Other common questions are answered on our FAQ page.
