Painting Sizes Explained: Standard Dimensions, Tips, and Irregular Ratios

The dilemma of choosing the right painting size is something most artists have faced at least once in their lives. You know, when you’ve got the idea and decided on the right type of medium, the inspiration is flowing, and your tools are ready. But when it comes to picking the size, you suddenly freeze. 

Should your painting make a bold statement with oversized dimensions or focus on details with a compact size?

The thing is that the painting sizes directly impact how it fits into a space. Maybe you dream of creating a giant masterpiece, but the canvas feels overwhelming. Or you start small and realize later that your message gets lost in the details. Either way, you waste effort and feel frustrated because of the wrong painting size. 

Fortunately, avoiding these pitfalls is easier than you think. If you’re a beginner or working on a smaller, more intimate piece, start with sizes like 8" x 10" or 11" x 14". For experienced artists looking to make bold, dramatic statements, larger dimensions like 30" x 40" or 36" x 48" are ideal. In this guide, we’ll explore standard painting sizes and share tips to help you choose the right painting size for your next masterpiece.

Painting Size Chart

The table below includes standard dimensions for small, medium, large, and oversized canvases for different types of artwork.

• Small Sizes (8" x 10" to 11" x 14") are ideal for beginners, portrait paintings, or artwork that needs to fit smaller spaces like desks or shelves.
• Medium Sizes (12" x 16" to 18" x 24") are more suitable for detailed works. Therefore, if you want to make your piece stand out without overwhelming your space, aim for medium sizes.
• Large Sizes (20" x 24" to 24" x 36") are great for making an impression in larger rooms. These dimensions are popular for modern and expressive pieces.
• Oversized Sizes (30" x 40" to 48" x 60") are often used by painters who want to create a bold statement. Usually, public spaces, exhibitions, or dramatic abstract works feature extra-large-size paintings.

What Are Standard Painting Sizes?

When we talk about standard art sizes, we mean dimensions artists commonly use to create artworks. The standard painting sizes in the art industry include smaller options like 8" x 10" and 9" x 12", medium dimensions such as 16" x 20" and 18" x 24", and larger canvases like 24" x 36" and 30" x 40". 

The reason why these painting sizes have become standard is that they are convenient, widely available, and fit conventional frames.

As a result, painters use standard frames to save on custom framing costs and fit their artwork well in a variety of settings.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re working on a custom oil portrait, experimenting with watercolors, or turning a photo into a custom canvas painting, you need to be aware of standard sizes to create an artwork that is visually impactful and easy to frame.

In order to help you with categorizing dimensions of painting sizes, we’ll separately explain small, medium, and large painting sizes, so you can find the right size for your project or space. 

1. Small Canvas Sizes

In general, it’s recommended to use small canvas sizes if you’re aiming for a budget-friendly canvas option or have limited space on the wall. 

Here are the most common small painting sizes.

• 8" x 10" (20 cm x 25 cm) — Great for portraits, still life, and gifts.
• 9" x 12" (22 cm x 30 cm) — Ideal for compact landscapes or sketches.
• 11" x 14" (28 cm x 36 cm) — Popular for minimalist art.

Sometimes people think that small canvases are for beginners. But actually, it’s not easy to use canvases as small as 8" x 10" or 9" x 12" and fit your ideas into a painting effectively. Still, experienced artists often choose small canvas sizes for portraits, intimate pieces, sketches, and anything that doesn’t require too many details. 

Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is a great example of a masterpiece on a small canvas. This famous artwork measures only about 17.5" x 15.4" (44.5 cm x 39 cm). Despite its size, detailed brushwork, soft light, and expressive subjects fascinate viewers.

2. Medium Canvas Sizes

Below, you can find some of the most popular types of medium canvas sizes.

• 12" x 16" (30 cm x 40 cm)
• 16" x 20" (40 cm x 50 cm)
• 18" x 24" (45 cm x 60 cm)

If you aim to work on abstract compositions, landscapes, or detailed portraits, medium canvas sizes might be the best option. In fact, there’s nothing you can’t achieve on medium surfaces, as they provide the right balance — they are large enough to help painters capture tiny details and bold strokes but still manageable for most display spaces.

Wondering what’s a typical example of this?

Vincent van Gogh’s famous “Starry Night”. This masterpiece is performed on a medium canvas that measures 29" x 36 1/4" (73.7 cm x 92.1 cm).

Yes, that’s right — van Gogh was a genius regardless of which canvas size he used. But the choice of a medium canvas allowed him to skillfully create vibrant textures and emotional intensity without losing the intimacy of its subject.

Because of its convenience, collectors often choose this painting to decorate small rooms without dominating the space.

3. Large Canvas Sizes

The following are the typical dimensions for large canvases.

• 20" x 24" (50 cm x 60 cm)
• 24" x 36" (60 cm x 90 cm)

Perhaps not surprisingly, large canvas sizes are the most popular choice among artists who want to create impactful works of art. The reason is that nothing can grab attention as easily as large canvases that dominate the walls in art galleries and exhibitions. 

The most obvious benefit for artists working on a large canvas is that they create an impressive focal point easily. As a result, they can capture various ideas, including dramatic scenes and complex narratives that wouldn’t fit on smaller surfaces.

For instance, Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica” is an iconic example of a large canvas masterpiece. This famous oil painting measures 349 cm × 776 cm (11 ft 5 in × 25 ft 6 in). The fact that this large canvas ideally captures the tragedy and chaos of war is one of the reasons that inspires beginner painters to work on large canvases for various oil painting ideas.

Specialty and Non-Standard Painting Sizes

Here’s the thing: although standard painting sizes cover a wide range of artistic needs, not all canvas painting ideas fit into standard dimensions. 

Occasionally, artists get creative and aim to create artworks that break free from conventional boundaries. This is especially true for those who experiment with shapes and use proportions they have never tried before.

For situations like these, you can use any of the non-standard dimensions below and realize your creative potential.

Miniature Canvas Sizes

These are typical sizes for miniature canvases.

• 2 x 2 inches
• 3 x 3 inches
• 4 x 4 inches
• 5 x 5 inches

Miniature canvas sizes are usually under 6" x 6" (15 x 15 cm) and they are perfect for shelves, desks, and small areas in bedrooms. Such paintings are especially suitable for those who want to add personalized details to their interior designs. 

In order to create something beautiful, it’s not necessary to use standard art sizes. Nowadays, mini canvases are no less popular among artists who aim to create small, intimate works. 

Extra Large Canvas Sizes

If you notice that large canvas sizes aren’t enough to express your creative ideas, then you should probably aim for getting something as big as 30" x 40" (75 cm x 100 cm) or even more. 

The following painting sizes fall into the category of extra large.

• 30" x 40" (75 cm x 100 cm)
• 36" x 48" (90 cm x 120 cm)
• 48" x 60" (120 cm x 150 cm)

Any artist who works using extra-large canvas sizes has one thing in common: they make a grand statement. 

They are not afraid to dedicate enormous amounts of time, effort, and materials to their craft. That’s the only way to create something as impactful as large-scale works by Jackson Pollock, such as "Number 1A”. 

Panoramic Canvas Sizes

Panoramic canvases are especially suitable for reflecting wide scenes, such as mountains, oceans, or cityscapes. As a result, professional painters often use panoramic canvases, like 12" x 36" (30 x 91 cm) or 24" x 72" (61 x 183 cm), for custom landscape paintings. Thanks to this aspect ratio, you have an opportunity to develop a cinematic perspective. 

And you know what else?

Panoramic canvases almost feel like you’re drawing viewers into the scene. That’s what makes it extra special.

Square Canvas Sizes

Now, let’s talk about square canvas sizes, which are rare but no less practical than standard painting sizes.

Square canvases typically range from the following small to large sizes.

• 12" x 12" (30 x 30 cm)
• 24" x 24" (61 x 61 cm)
• 36" x 36" (91 x 91 cm)
• 48" x 48" (122 x 122 cm)

These art dimensions have become increasingly popular among modern artists for one reason:

They provide a balanced, symmetrical surface to work on. And not surprisingly, such proportions create aesthetically beautiful portraits, minimalistic designs, or abstract compositions.

Want to know why this particular size has become so popular these days?

Well, that’s because they challenge artists to think creatively and carefully use symmetry for their ideas. Some famous works like Kazimir Malevich’s “Black Square” are great examples of the potential of this canvas type. 

Oblong Canvas Sizes

The final specialty canvas format that we’re about to discuss is oblong — long, narrow canvases. The most common oblong canvas sizes include 10" x 30" (25 x 76 cm) and 15" x 45" (38 x 114 cm).

These canvases can perfectly tell a visual story using vertical or horizontal compositions.

But here’s the thing:

Oblong canvases are perfect for specific settings, such as hallways or above furniture. Simply put, it’s for spaces where their unusual shape grabs attention.

Tips to Choose the Right Canvas Size

Now, you already know both standard and specialty painting sizes, but one question still remains:

How can you know which one is the right canvas size for your artwork?

The truth is, only you’re the one who can decide. Still, we asked our expert artists to share professional advice so that we could simplify the process of choosing the perfect canvas sizes for you. 

Define your artistic purpose

The message your painting communicates is no less important than your technique itself. What’s your purpose? Are you trying to make a grand statement or create a quiet, intimate piece?

In the process of choosing the best portrait size for your space, larger canvases are ideal for dramatic compositions that capture attention. However, for personal works and smaller spaces, a smaller size is completely enough.

Consider the environment

Think about where the artwork will live. If you believe that your masterpiece will make it to gallery walls, be bold and choose large canvases. 

However, if you’re considering painting a gift for your loved one or hanging your artwork at your office, you can benefit from smaller painting sizes.

Experiment with materials and textures

Dimensions aren’t the only thing you should pay attention to. Other than size, consider the texture and material too. 

For example, in a 2024 interview, artist Tal Placido said that she prefers painting on vintage tablecloths over traditional canvases because of their texture. She remarked, “I think a vintage canvas brings an incredible amount of value to the artwork that I can never even really fully know.” 

Match the canvas size to your medium

Different painting mediums work better on specific canvas sizes. For instance, you can work with oil paints on canvases of various dimensions, but when it comes to watercolors, you need to be more careful. 

In particular, watercolors look better on smaller or medium-sized canvases due to their subtle details.

Choosing Canvas Sizes Based on Your Artistic Level

One thing is for sure: not all artists or art enthusiasts share the same goals when picking canvas sizes. That’s why it’s important to consider your purpose and expertise before you choose the right painting size.

For beginners: 

If you’re just starting, small canvases like 8" x 10" can ideally fulfill your needs. These painting sizes cost around $5–15. 

For hobbyists:

If art is already your hobby, we recommend using medium-sized canvases, such as 16" x 20". The price of these canvases typically ranges from $20 to $50.

For professionals:

Professionals often choose to invest in larger canvases like 24" x 36" or even custom sizes. Depending on the dimensions and quality, prices start from $50 and go up to $150 or more.

For art buyers:

If you’re commissioning a custom painting, prices vary based on the size and complexity of the piece. Canvases for smaller custom paintings (e.g., 12" x 16") might start around $10-25, while larger ones (e.g., 24" x 36") can cost $50–120 or more. In addition to canvases, there are a lot of other factors that impact the cost of a commissioned painting.

Find the Perfect Canvas for Your Next Masterpiece

Every artist knows that choosing the right size for their artwork is already halfway to creating something meaningful. That’s because the painting size you select determines how your story resonates with its viewers.

But what if you’re looking for something truly personal and unique?

If that’s the case, you should know that our professional artists at Photo2Painting specialize in turning your cherished photos into custom paintings. The best part is that our paintings fit not just your walls but your heart. At least, that’s what our happy customers often say.

Explore our photo-to-painting service and see how we can create a masterpiece suitable to your vision, space, and emotions.