Poster Size Guide UK — A6, A5, A4, A3 & What They Actually Look Like on Your Wall

Confused about poster sizes? Here's exactly what each size looks like in real life, which room it's right for, and how to choose from the 98types collection from Camden Market

Why Poster Size Is the Most Underrated Decision

Every poster buying mistake we've seen comes down to size. Not the wrong print, not the wrong style — the wrong size. Specifically: buying a print that looks great on screen and then turns out to be smaller than expected on the wall. An A4 print that you imagined as a significant statement ends up looking like it's apologising for existing in the corner of a room. An A3 that you thought might be too large ends up being exactly right.

Size anxiety — not wanting to commit to something that feels too big — is the main reason people end up with prints that are too small for their space. This guide fixes that. Here's exactly what each standard UK size looks like in real life, and how to choose correctly.

The Standard UK Poster Sizes at 98types

A6 (10×15cm) — What It Actually Looks Like

An A6 print is about the size of a postcard or a standard photograph. It's visible on a shelf or a desk, charming in a cluster of other A6s, and completely invisible as a solo piece on a wall. Use A6 for: bedside tables, desk displays, shelf arrangements, sending as gifts, or as part of a very dense gallery wall where you need small accent pieces to fill gaps. The 98types A6 is the ideal try-before-you-commit size — at £3 it's a low-risk way to see a print design in person before ordering larger.

A5 (15×20cm) — The Gallery Wall Filler

A5 is slightly larger than a postcard and slightly smaller than the average piece of paper. On a wall, it's noticeable but not commanding — it needs company to look intentional. Best used as: part of a gallery wall alongside A4 and A3 pieces, on a small bedroom wall (above a desk or nightstand), or on a narrow shelf. A solo A5 on a regular bedroom wall looks like it got lost. An A5 as part of a 7-print gallery wall is exactly right.

A4 (20×30cm) — The Most Versatile Size

A4 is the most popular size in the 98types catalogue for good reason: it's the sweet spot between visibility and flexibility. An A4 print is large enough to read clearly from across a room, small enough to work in almost any space, and the right size for standard frames available from IKEA, Wilko and most UK high street shops. An A4 film poster on a bedroom wall reads as deliberate. Three A4 prints in a row above a sofa reads as a gallery wall. An A4 on a desk is a statement.

Choose A4 when: you want a specific print but aren't sure it will dominate too much in A3. It almost never does. A4 also works well when you want to buy several prints in the same order — three A4s plus one free is £9 for a mini gallery wall.

A3 (30×40cm) — The Statement Size

An A3 print is big. Not "this is overwhelming" big, but big enough to command attention on a wall. The centre of an A3 print sits at about 30cm above the midpoint of a standard IKEA bed frame — which means it fills the visual space above a headboard properly. An A3 above a desk becomes the focal point of that corner of a room. An A3 as the anchor piece of a gallery wall holds the whole composition together.

Choose A3 when: you want the print to be the main event in a room, or as the anchor in a gallery wall arrangement. If you're unsure between A4 and A3 for your wall, choose A3. The most common regret is going too small, not too large.

What Size for Above the Sofa?

The most common wall art placement question in the UK. For a standard 2-seater sofa (approximately 150cm wide), the wall art above it should be roughly two-thirds of the sofa's width — so approximately 100cm wide. Options: (1) a single large print in A1 or A2 (larger than 98types standard sizes), (2) three A3 prints in a row (90cm total with gaps), (3) a gallery wall of 5–7 A4/A3 prints spanning approximately 100–120cm. The gallery wall approach (3) is the most versatile and the most affordable — three A3s from 98types at A3 prices = 3 prints + 1 free from £9.

What Size for Above the Bed?

For a double bed (headboard approximately 135cm wide): two A3 prints side by side (60cm wide total with gap — slightly narrow) OR a gallery wall of 5–7 prints spanning approximately 100cm. For a king bed: three A3 prints in a row (90cm) or a gallery wall of 7–9 prints spanning 120–140cm. For a single bed: one A3 print centred above the headboard is perfect.