📐 Poster Size Guide -- A1 vs A2 vs A3 vs A4 vs A5 Explained
Choosing the right poster size is the single most impactful decision you make when buying wall art -- more important than the print itself, more important than the frame, more important than the colour. The right size at the right distance creates a room. The wrong size -- almost always too small -- creates a postage stamp on a wall.
At 98types Studio, Market Hall, Camden Lock Place, London NW1 8AL -- open for 14+ years in Camden Market -- prints are available from A5 (15x21cm) to A3 (30x40cm) from £3. This guide covers every standard poster size, what each one is for, which rooms they work in, and the most common sizing mistakes.
📋 The Complete Size Comparison Table
| Size |
Dimensions (cm) |
Dimensions (inches) |
Best For |
Price at 98types |
| A1 |
59.4 x 84.1 cm |
23.4" x 33.1" |
Feature walls, living rooms, hallways |
From £3 |
| A2 |
42 x 59.4 cm |
16.5" x 23.4" |
Gallery anchors, bedroom feature walls |
From £3 |
| A3 |
29.7 x 42 cm |
11.7" x 16.5" |
Standard gallery piece, most rooms |
From £3 |
| A4 |
21 x 29.7 cm |
8.3" x 11.7" |
Gallery satellites, bathrooms, desks |
From £3 |
| A5 |
15 x 21 cm |
5.9" x 8.3" |
Shelf art, gifts, bathroom vignettes |
From £3 |
📑 Every Size Explained -- With Print Recommendations
A1
Standard Poster Size
59.4 x 84.1 cm
23.4" x 33.1"
Living room statement walls, b
A1 is the largest standard poster size available at 98types -- 59.4cm wide by 84.1cm tall, roughly the size of a double page newspaper spread. At this scale, an A1 print becomes a room-defining statement: from across a living room or hallway, it reads as a piece of art rather than a decoration. A1 is the correct size for bare feature walls that need a single dominant focal point, for large above-sofa arrangements where one print replaces a gallery, and for any room where the ceiling height is over 2.5 metres.
✅ Best used for
Living rooms with high ceilings or large blank walls
Above a sofa or bed as a single dominant piece
Hallways with long walls and high traffic
Studio apartments where one large print is more effective than several small ones
Any wall where you currently feel the art is too small
🏠 Room GuideLiving room statement walls, bedroom focal points, hallway feature walls
A2
Standard Poster Size
42 x 59.4 cm
16.5" x 23.4"
Gallery wall anchors, bedroom
A2 is the gallery wall anchor size -- the print that creates the centre of gravity around which everything else arranges itself. At 42cm wide and 59.4cm tall, an A2 print is substantial enough to hold a wall on its own but not so dominant that it overwhelms a room. A2 is the sweet spot for bedroom feature walls above the headboard, for the central print in a five-to-seven-piece gallery wall, and for any space where the viewer is typically seated within four metres of the wall.
✅ Best used for
The anchor print in a gallery wall arrangement
Above a bed headboard as the central feature
In a medium-sized living room or bedroom as a standalone piece
On a chimney breast or recessed alcove wall
As the statement print in a pair with a smaller companion piece
🏠 Room GuideGallery wall anchors, bedroom feature walls, alcoves and chimney breasts
A3
Standard Poster Size
29.7 x 42 cm
11.7" x 16.5"
The most versatile size. Works
A3 is the most versatile size in the poster world and the most popular size at 98types. At 29.7cm wide and 42cm tall, an A3 print is large enough to make a confident statement on most walls and small enough to work in virtually any space -- bedrooms, studies, kitchens, bathrooms, hallways. A3 is the standard gallery wall piece: substantial enough to carry visual weight, compact enough to arrange in clusters of three to seven. It is also the size where the detail of lyric typography and film poster design is fully legible from a normal viewing distance.
✅ Best used for
The standard unit of gallery wall arrangement -- mix with one A2 anchor and smaller A4 pieces
Above a desk in a home office or study
In a kitchen or bathroom as a standalone piece
Bedroom walls where the viewing distance is typically two to three metres
Wherever you currently have an A4 print that feels slightly too small
🏠 Room GuideThe most versatile size. Works in every room, every context, every arrangement.
A4
Standard Poster Size
21 x 29.7 cm
8.3" x 11.7"
Gallery satellites, small spac
A4 is the gallery wall satellite -- the supporting piece that orbits the larger anchor. As a standalone print on a standard wall, A4 can feel small from a distance; its strength is in clusters. Three A4 prints in a horizontal row, or five A4 prints arranged asymmetrically around a single A3 anchor, work exceptionally well. A4 is the correct size for small spaces: bathrooms, shelves, desk surfaces, kitchen window ledges and narrow hallways where an A3 would feel oversized.
✅ Best used for
Gallery wall satellites arranged around an A3 or A2 anchor
Bathroom walls where the viewing distance is close and the space is compact
Kitchen and shelf vignettes alongside plants, candles and books
Office desk walls and study nooks
Gift-size: framed A4 prints are the most popular size for wall art gifts at 98types
🏠 Room GuideGallery satellites, small spaces, bathrooms, shelf art, gifts
A5
Standard Poster Size
15 x 21 cm
5.9" x 8.3"
Shelf art, bathroom vignettes,
A5 is the smallest standard print size at 98types and the most underestimated. At 15cm wide and 21cm tall, an A5 print is the size of a paperback book -- compact enough to sit on a shelf, rest on a windowsill, or lean against a plant. A5 is the correct size for dense gallery walls where a small accent piece is needed, for bathroom shelves and window ledges, and for greeting card-style gifts. The limitation is viewing distance: A5 prints should be displayed where they will be read from within one metre.
✅ Best used for
Dense gallery walls as the small accent piece in the corner or edge
Bathroom and bedroom shelves alongside candles, books and plants
Windowsill and mantelpiece vignettes
Desk surfaces and bedside table art
Affordable gift size -- A5 framed prints from £3 make excellent presents
🏠 Room GuideShelf art, bathroom vignettes, gallery accents, bedside tables, gifts
🏠 Room-by-Room Size Recommendations
The right poster size varies by room -- specifically by the typical viewing distance and the available wall space. These are the confirmed 98types recommendations by room type.
🏠
Living Room
A1 or A2 for a statement piece. A gallery wall using A2 anchor + two A3 + two A4. Leave at least 10cm between frames. Hang centre of arrangement at 145cm from floor.
🌙
Bedroom
A3 as the standard above-bed print -- one print centred above the headboard, or three A3 prints in a horizontal row. A2 if the bed is a king or super-king. A4 for bedside table or shelf vignettes.
🍴
Kitchen
A4 or A5 for compact kitchen walls and window ledges. Funny prints work best in kitchens -- the captive audience room. Keep away from steam and direct cooking surfaces. A3 works on kitchen walls with more than 60cm of available space.
🚽
Bathroom
A4 or A5 for bathroom walls and shelf vignettes. Viewing distance is always short in bathrooms -- A5 is legible and compact. A4 works on the wall above the toilet or facing the door. Moisture-resistant frames recommended.
💻
Home Office
A3 above the desk as the working-wall anchor. One motivating film poster or lyric print at eye level from seated position. A4 gallery satellites to the left or right. Too many prints in a home office creates visual noise -- limit to three or four total.
🚶
Hallway
A1 or A2 for long hallway feature walls. A gallery of A3 prints works well on staircase walls (follow the stair angle). Narrow hallways: vertical A4 or A3 prints, one per panel. Hallways benefit from map prints -- navigational logic applied to interior design.
🌳
Student Room
A3 is the student room standard -- the size that makes the most impact for the least cost. Gallery of three A3 prints using washi tape: from £9 for four prints with the buy 3 get 1 free offer. No frames needed. A4 for shelf vignettes and desk surfaces.
📐 Shop All Sizes at 98types -- From £3
A5 to A3 · Lyric prints · Film posters · London maps · Funny prints · Custom prints. From £3 · Buy 3 get 1 free · 260gsm museum-grade satin paper · Archive pigment inks · Same-day dispatch from Market Hall, Camden Lock Place, Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8AL.
Shop Now →
FAQ -- Poster Sizes
What is the most popular poster size for a bedroom?
A3 (29.7 x 42cm) is the most popular bedroom poster size at 98types -- large enough to make a confident statement above a bed or on a feature wall, compact enough to work in most bedroom spaces without overwhelming. For king or super-king beds, A2 (42 x 59.4cm) is more appropriate as an above-bed print. A4 works well in small bedrooms as part of a gallery cluster.
How big is an A3 poster in cm and inches?
An A3 poster is 29.7cm wide by 42cm tall (or 11.7" x 16.5"). This is approximately the size of two A4 sheets of paper stacked vertically. From a standard bedroom viewing distance of 2-3 metres, an A3 print is clearly legible and visually impactful. All 98types A3 prints are on 260gsm museum-grade satin paper, printed with archive pigment inks.
What size poster for above a sofa or bed?
For above a sofa: A2 (42 x 59.4cm) or larger -- the print should span at least half the width of the sofa. A single A1 print or three A2 prints in a horizontal row are both effective. For above a bed: A2 for a double bed, A2 or larger for king and super-king. A3 is the minimum size for above-bed art -- smaller prints disappear against the wall from a sleeping position.
What is the best poster size for a gallery wall?
The most effective gallery wall combines three or more different sizes. Standard recommendation: one A2 anchor + two A3 prints + two A4 prints. This creates visual rhythm and the sense of a curated collection rather than a grid of identical pieces. See the full gallery wall guide for complete layout instructions.
Is A4 too small for a wall poster?
A4 (21 x 29.7cm) is not too small for a wall -- but it is too small for a standard wall viewed from more than two metres away. A4 works excellently in bathrooms (where viewing distance is close), on shelves and desk surfaces (where the print is within arm's reach), and as part of a gallery wall cluster where it supports larger prints. As a standalone piece on a blank living room or bedroom wall, A4 is likely to feel small. Go A3 as the minimum for standalone bedroom and living room prints.
Does 98types sell A1 and A2 poster prints?
Yes -- 98types prints are available from A6 (10x15cm) through to A3 (30x40cm) in the standard size range, with larger custom print options also available. Check individual product pages for the full range of sizes available for each design. All prints on 260gsm museum-grade satin paper with archive pigment inks. From £3. Buy 3 get 1 free. Same-day dispatch before 3pm from Camden Market, London.
Related guides: How to Create a Gallery Wall with Posters · Shop 98types Bestsellers · Custom Prints.
