The standard poster size is a common and widely used format for visual communication. It’s the most popular way of presenting information in an attractive, eye-catching manner.
It was first introduced by the International Typographic Union (ITU) in 1922 as part of their recommendations on how to use typefaces for posters. The ITU recommended that posters should be printed at least 1/4 inch smaller than the text block height so that they could be easily read from a distance
Learn about standard poster sizes and the most common sizes for posters. Posters come in various sizes from a small format of 8.5″ x11″, 11″ x 17″, 12″ x 18″, or large format of 18″ x 24″, 24″x 36″, 27″ x40″. You can also print custom sizes up to 54 inches wide.
We have created this chart to help you understand what your options are when it comes to printing your poster.
U.S. Standard Sizes
| Inches |
Millimeters |
Print Method |
Also Known As |
| 8-1/2” x 11” |
215.9mm x 279.4mm |
Inkjet, Digital or Offset |
Letter or ANSI A |
| 8-1/2” x 14” |
215.9mm x 279.4mm |
Inkjet, Digital or Offset |
Legal |
| 11” x 17” |
279.4mm x 431.8mm |
Inkjet, Digital or Offset |
Tabloid, Ledger or ANSI B |
| 12” x 18” |
304.8mm x 457.2mm |
Inkjet, Digital or Offset |
Mini-Poster |
| 16” x 20” |
406.4mm x 508mm |
Inkjet or Offset |
Digital Camera Picture, Portrait Pictures |
| 18” x 24″ |
457.2mm x 609.6mm |
Inkjet or Offset |
Architectural C, Medium Poster, ½ size |
| 24” x 36” |
609.6mm x 914.4mm |
Inkjet or Offset |
Architectural D, Large Poster |
| 27” x 39” |
685.8mm x 990.6mm |
Inkjet or Offset |
Movie Poster – bulk printing |
| 27” x 40” |
685.8mm x 1016mm |
Inkjet only |
Movie Poster |
| 48” x 36” |
1219.2mm x 914.4mm |
Inkjet only |
Research Poster, Academic Poster |
| 40” x 60” |
1016mm x 1524mm |
Inkjet only |
Bus Shelter, Bus Stop or Subway Poster |
| 46” x 67” |
1168mm x 1702mm |
Inkjet only |
Bus Shelter, Bus Stop or Subway Poster |
European Standard Sizes
| Inches |
Millimeters |
Print Method |
Also Known As |
| 8.5” x 11.7” |
210mm x 297mm |
Inkjet, Digital or Offset |
Letter or ANSI A |
| 11.7” x 16.5” |
297mm x 420mm |
Inkjet, Digital or Offset |
Tabloid, Ledger or ANSI B |
| 16.5” x 23.4” |
420mm x 594mm |
Inkjet or Offset |
Digital Camera Picture, Portrait Pictures |
| 23.4” x 33.1” |
594mm x 841mm |
Inkjet or Offset |
Architectural D, Large Poster |
| 33.1” x 46.8” |
841mm x 1189mm |
Inkjet only |
Research Poster, Academic Poster |
| 46.8” x 66.2” |
1189mm x 1682mm |
Inkjet only |
Bus Shelter, Bus Stop or Subway Poster |
Visual Poster Size Comparison
8.5″ x 11″ (Letter-Size)
A standard letter-sized piece of paper – 8.5″ wide and 11″ high. It was originally used by printers and copy shops to print out document pages or photo prints (for example, for school classes or office documents). This is the most frequently used size for posters and typically referred to as “poster flyers” or “A4-sized,” which is the smallest conventional poster format. Street advertisements, art galleries, and community bulletin boards are common places where letter-sized posters may be seen.
Where to use:
Retail advertising (in-store posters), standard office or school paper print, community bulletin boards, and street advertisements.
8.5″ x 14″ (Legal-Size)
Standard North American size of paper for legal documents. This is now also used as a standard poster size, with many photo labs and print shops offering this as an alternative to the Letter-Size (8.5″ x 11″) or A0.
Where to use:
May be used for office documents, photo prints (for example, school classes), and now is also common for posters.
11″ x 17″ (Ledger-Size, Bulletin Posters)
A standard ledger-sized piece of paper – 11″ wide and 17″ high. These standard tabloid pages were originally created and used in newspaper and magazine printing. The size is larger than letter size and smaller than standard sheet size. This is the second most common standard poster size and referred to as “poster flyers” or “A3-sized.” It is primarily used for posters that require a more significant paper size (such as architectural drawings). These sizes are also known as “Bulletin” sizes, because they were originally created to post bulletins at churches and schools.
Where to use:
11×17 posters are an ideal size for indoor notifications and event advertisements since they’re a little larger than a letter-sized poster, making them popular choices to utilize as street lights and other places with limited space while yet being visible. Indoor announcements and event advertising on 11×17 posters are just the right size. They stand out more than A4-sized flyers but don’t take up too much wall space.
12″ x 18″ (Mini Posters)
A standard “mini poster” size. Often these are cut down from larger posters. They are commonly referred to as mini posters because of their standard usage for retail poster advertising. These posters are most common for movie showings, personal wall art, or other single-event purposes. These standard mini-poster sizes are often for in-store advertisement, such as movie posters. This is the most common sized poster bought by individuals, although it is close to being too large for everyday framing. It can be placed in an ordinary picture frame with matting, although if the print has a border, you will need to trim off a bit of the empty space at the top or bottom.
Where to use:
In small places, such as restaurants and convenience stores, where there’s a limited amount of floor space available. In most cases, these standard sizes are enough to catch customer eyes and inform them about the daily special or promotion offered.
16″ x 20″ (Small Posters)
Retro Movie Poster
A small standard poster size – 16″ wide and 20″ high. Commonly known as a half-sheet, the 16″ x 20″ is used for groupings of information, posters displayed in convention halls and other large venues. They are often spotted at trade shows, where companies plaster their logo on them to draw attention.
Where to use:
The 16″ x 20″ frame is a fantastic size for displaying artwork or photographs in your store or at a gallery.
18″ x 24″ (Medium Posters)
A standard medium-sized poster – 18″ wide and 24″ high. These are probably the fourth most common size posters, as they’re not too big but still quite large and unwieldy for most people to print out themselves. Keep in. mind that 18 x 24 posters can be printed in bulk on digital presses or offset presses.
Where to use:
Common and widely available in many shops and spaces (high street shops, offices, college common rooms).
19″ x 27″
They are fairly large and often require professional printing services (due to their weight once printed). An excellent way to get your company noticed is to utilize window graphics. They may be used for a variety of purposes, such as advertising in store windows. They’re also ideal for promoting concerts, festivals, and sporting events.
Where to use:
Window advertisements, and are suitable for large art displays or announcements. They can be used in galleries, lobbies, and other large areas with high-traffic potential.
22″ x 28″
Most commonly used as advertising posters. It can be placed in retail outlets, in public buildings and spaces, in common locations like city streets, transit systems (subways/bus shelters), shopping centers or department stores.
Where to use:
City parks, festivals, religious settings, and retail poster advertisements
20″ x 30″
An extra-large standard poster size – 20″ wide and 30″ high. Despite being larger than the other standard poster sizes, these are still fairly common as they don’t take up too much space. The 20″ x 30″ is common among decorators, framers and art consultants. It’s frequently used to display artwork for sale, whether it’s an original work or limited edition print. It can also be used in convention halls or other large venues where you want to attract attention quickly, especially since it comes with grommet holes already built in around the edge.
Where to use:
The 20″ x 30″ frame is perfect for displaying posters, prints or photography professionally in your home office or storefront
22″ x 34″ (Retail Posters)
A standard retail poster size – 22″ wide and 34″ high. Best used in retail environments such as clothing stores and shops to promote items and sales, and inform the customer of what is on sale. When designing a standard retail poster always keep them concise and to the point; remember that most standard retail posters are designed to be placed on a standard retail poster board, rather than hung from the wall.
Where to use:
Malls, department stores, clothing shops, food courts. Anything where you need to tell people what is a sale or promotion, really quickly.
24″ x 36″ (Large Posters)
A large standard poster size – 22″ wide and 36″ high. These are usually quite rare, as they take up so much room on a wall that there’s not always enough space available. In fact, this is one of the few standard poster sizes that require professional printing services due to its weight when printed. These posters offer a great way to stand out from competitors, especially if you run an art exhibition or other visual display during a festival or public event.
Where to use:
They’re generally more suited for particular purposes (display inside/outside a shop; driving public awareness; special promotion campaigns), exhibits, trade shows, conventions, and other larger spaces, but can be used wherever you choose.
27″ x 40″ (Movie Posters)
A standard movie poster size – 27″ wide and 40″ high. A standard movie poster is printed on a sheet of standard paper, so it is not a poster in the standard sense.
These are probably the ninth most common size posters, as they’re now fairly large and require professional printing services due to their weight once printed. Movie posters are printed on large format printers.
Where to use::
Theatre lobby boards, film premieres, red carpets.
46″ x 67″ (Bus Stop or Subway Posters)
A standard size for advertising posters in transit stations and shelters. 46″ x 67″ This standard bus shelter poster size is 46 inches wide by 67 inches high, creating a standard 1.33:1 aspect ratio.
8 mil matte poster stock, or backlit film these standard transit posters are printed with solvent inks to withstand weathering and wear.
23″ x 35″ (Trade Show Posters)
A standard size for trade show posters. 23″ x 35″. The trade-show poster size is twenty-three inches wide and thirty-five inches high. Printed on large format printers, these posters are ideal for people who want to communicate a message quickly and easily, whether they’re giving information or selling an item. Can be used for anything from displaying new products or services to advertising a sale.
Where to use:
Anywhere you need to make a big impact and announce what’s going on quickly and easily. Anywhere where people gather; trade shows; conventions; conferences; sporting events; camps, churches, art exhibitions.
48″ x 36″ (Academic & Training Posters)
A standard academic poster size – 48″ wide and 36″ high. Used in academic settings, such as classrooms or at academic conferences to promote lectures, seminars, training courses or other events taking place in the same location. Printed on poster board material which is rigid and can be put on an easel or wall. A dry erase option is also another option for coaches or teachers visualizing plays and presentations.
Where to use:
Classrooms, academic conferences, hospitals, corporate meeting rooms.
Stairway Posters (48″ x 78″)
These are standard size posters that are designed to hang on stairwells. They are often printed on backlit material, so they can be seen even in low-light conditions. Can be framed to enhance display.
Where to use:
Stairwells, Schools, Universities, Training Facilities, Corporate Entities
Last modified: March 29, 2022
