Choosing the Right Print Size for Your Photos

Printed photos are one of the best ways to preserve memories, decorate your home, and create meaningful gifts. But with so many photo print sizes available, choosing the right one can feel confusing.

This guide explains the most common photo printing sizes in New Zealand, what they’re best used for, and which sizes are easiest to find ready-made frames for.

Why Print Size Matters

Choosing the right photo size affects:

• Image quality
• Cropping requirements
• Frame availability
• Display impact

A photo that looks great on your phone doesn’t always translate perfectly to print. The shape (aspect ratio) of your image matters too.

Most smartphone photos are taken in either:

• 4:3 ratio
• 3:2 ratio
• 16:9 ratio

Printing to a different size may require cropping.

Common Photo Print Sizes in New Zealand

4x6” (10x15cm)

Best for:

• Everyday photo printing
• Family snapshots
• Holiday photos
• Albums

This is the most popular photo print size and the classic standard print.

Pros:

✔ Affordable
✔ Minimal cropping for many photos
✔ Great for albums

Ready-made frame availability:

★★★★★ Excellent

Very easy to find frames for.

5x7” (13x18cm)

Best for:

• Gifts
• Portraits
• Small display pieces

A step up from 4x6, offering more visual impact.

Pros:

✔ Popular frame size
✔ Great for desks and shelves
✔ Nice for portraits

Ready-made frame availability:

★★★★★ Excellent

Very common.

6x8” (15x20cm)

Best for:

• Modern photo displays
• Slightly larger family photos

A nice in-between size.

Pros:

✔ Bigger than standard prints
✔ Clean modern look

Ready-made frame availability:

★★★ Moderate

Some availability, but less common.

8x10” (20x25cm)

Best for:

• Portraits
• Studio photography
• Professional prints

Very popular for portrait photography.

Pros:

✔ Premium look
✔ Excellent for gifting

Ready-made frame availability:

★★★★★ Excellent

Very common in stores.

8x12” (20x30cm)

Best for:

• Landscape photography
• Modern wall displays
• Enlargements

Perfect if you want more impact without going oversized.

Pros:

✔ Great detail
✔ Excellent wall display size

Ready-made frame availability:

★★★★ Good

Reasonably easy to find.

A4 (21x29.7cm)

Best for:

• Enlargements
• Certificates with photos
• Wall art

A very practical size because A4 frames are everywhere.

Pros:

✔ Easy framing
✔ Professional look

Ready-made frame availability:

★★★★★ Excellent

Extremely common.

A3 (29.7x42cm)

Best for:

• Wall décor
• Large portraits
• Feature prints

A fantastic size for statement pieces.

Pros:

✔ Eye-catching
✔ Excellent wall impact

Ready-made frame availability:

★★★★★ Excellent

Very easy to source.

12x18” (30x45cm)

Best for:

• Large wall prints
• Family portraits
• Feature photography

Popular for larger displays.

Pros:

✔ Strong visual impact
✔ Great for feature walls

Ready-made frame availability:

★★★ Moderate

Some options available.

16x20” (40x50cm)

Best for:

• Premium wall art
• Framed statement pieces

Excellent for large portrait displays.

Pros:

✔ Premium appearance
✔ High visual impact

Ready-made frame availability:

★★★★ Good

Usually available at specialist frame retailers.

Easiest Sizes to Frame in New Zealand

If you want the widest choice of ready-made frames, we recommend printing in these sizes:

• 4x6”
• 5x7”
• 8x10”
• A4
• A3

These sizes are easiest to frame and usually offer the best value.

Should You Choose Custom Framing?

Custom framing is ideal when:

• Your print is an unusual size
• You want mat board borders
• You want premium décor styling
• You need something special for your home or office

Custom framing gives you complete flexibility with frame style, colour, and finish.

Grab some ideas from our galley of past custom framing jobs.

Tips for Best Print Results

For the best quality prints:

• Use high-resolution images
• Avoid screenshots or social media downloads
• Check cropping before printing
• Choose print size based on where the photo will be displayed

As a general rule:

• Small prints = albums and gifts
• Medium prints = desks and shelves
• Large prints = walls and feature spaces

Need Help Choosing?

Not sure what size to print your photos?

Our team can help you choose the best print size for your images, whether you’re printing family memories, gifts, wall art, or special keepsakes.

Visit us in store or contact us for expert advice on photo printing and framing options.