Poster Sizes in Centimeters and Inches (with Useful Size-Charts)

May 25, 2022December 27, 2023 by Thomas Vandepitte

A poster is a visual communication tool that is used to promote or bring awareness to an idea, event, or product. Posters are usually placed in public places where people can freely see them. The best example is a movie poster that’s meant to promote an upcoming film.

Posters are not only suitable for advertisements but are also great for decorating your indoor space. You can print out various items, including art, your favorite photos, or even a portrait of your family. Outside the home setting, posters can prove useful for educating the public and relaying announcements.

Poster Sizes in Centimeters and Inches (with Useful Size-Charts) size — _{Photo by Yonghyun Lee on Unsplash}

It’s no surprise that posters can help focus people’s attention on issues that require deliberation. But, before you make a unique poster, you’ll need to find out the ideal size. This article will cover the best poster sizes for you. Posters are made out of paper: check the international paper size charts here or the ANSI Paper sizing here

Posters can be upgraded by mounting them in nice picture frames: to learn all about Picture frame sizes, check it here – If you’re looking for Poster board sizes, check here

If you have specific questions, you can get directly to the Poster sizes Faq section.

Table of Content of Poster Sizes in Centimeters and Inches

Standard Poster Sizes Chart
Standard poster size guide
A-series poster sizes
B series poster sizes
Non-Standard Poster Sizes
Standard poster sizes explained
The Best Poster Sizes for You
FAQ

Standard Poster Sizes Chart

US movie poster size chart in centimeters and inches

Poster Size	Width by Height (cm)	Width by Height (in)
Lobby Card	27.9 x 35.6 cm	11 x 14 in
Window Card	35.6 x 55.9 mm	14 x 22 in
Insert	35.6 x 91.4 cm	14 x 36 in
Half Sheet	55.8 x 71.1.2 cm	22 x 28 in
One Sheet	68.5 x 101.6 cm	27 x 40 in
Three Sheet	104.1 x 205.7 cm	41 x 81 in
Six Sheet	205.7 x 205.7 cm	81 x 81 in
30 x 40 Drive-In	76.2 x 101.6 cm	30 x 40 in
40 x 60 Drive In	101.6 x 152.4 cm	40 x 60 in
Door Panels	50.8 x 152.4 cm	20 x 60 in

Standard poster size guide

Poster Size in inches	Poster size in cm	Also called
8.5 x 11 inches	21.6 x 27.9 cm	ANSI-A, Letter
11 x 17 inches	27.9 x 43.1 cm	ANSI-B, Tabloid, Ledger
12 x 18 inches	30.5 x 45.7 cm	Mini-Poster
16 x 20 inches	40.64 x 50.8 cm	Portrait Pictures (digital camera picture)
18 x 24 inches	45.7 x 61.0 cm	Architectural C, Medium Poster, ½ size
24 x 36 inches	61 x 91.4 cm	Architectural D, Large Poster
27 x 39 inches	68.6 x 99 cm	One Sheet Movie Poster
27 x 40 inches	68.8 x 101.6 cm	One Sheet Movie Poster
48 x 36 inches	121.9 x 91.4 cm	Research Poster, Academic Poster
40 x 60 inches	101.6 x 152.4 cm	Bus Stop, Subway Poster
46 x 67 inches	116.8 x 170.2 cm	Bus Stop, Subway Poster

Poster sizes are also categorized according to ISO A & B series.

A-series poster sizes

Poster size	Frame size (cm)	Frame size (inch)
A0	84.1 cm x 118.9	33.1 in x 46.8 in
A1	59.4 cm x 84.1 cm	23.4 in x 33.1 in
A2	42 cm x 59.4 cm	16.5 in x 23.4 in
A3	29.7 cm x 42 cm	11.7 in x 16.5 in
A4	21 cm x 29.7 cm	8.3 in x 11.7 in
A5	14.8 cm x 21 cm	5.8 in x 8.3 in
A6	10.5 cm x 14.8 cm	4.1 in x 5.8 in
A7	7.3 cm x 10.5 cm	2.9 in x 4.1 in
A8	5.2 cm x 7.4 cm	2 in x 2.9 in
A9	3.7 cm x 5.2 cm	1.5 in x 2 in
A10	2.6 cm x 3.7 cm	1 in x 1.5 in

B series poster sizes

Poster size	Poster size in cm	Poster size in inches
B0	100 cm x 141.4 cm	39.4 in x 55.7 in
B1	70.7 cm x 100 cm	27.8 in x 39.4 in
B1+	72 cm x 102 cm	28.3 in x 40.2 in
B2	50 cm x 70.7 cm	19.7 in x 27.8 in
B2+	52 cm x 72 cm	20.5 in x 28.3 in
B3	35.3 cm x 50 cm	13.9 in x 19.7 in
B4	25 cm x 35.3 cm	9.8 in x 13.9 in
B5	17.6 cm x 25 cm	6.9 in x 9.8 in
B6	12. 5 cm x 17.6 cm	4.9 in x 6.9 in
B7	8.8 cm x 12.5 cm	3.5 in x 4.9 in
B8	6.2 cm x 8.8 cm	2.4 in x 3.5 in
B9	4.4 cm x 6.2 cm	1.7 in x 2.4 in
B10	3.1 cm x 4.4 cm	1.2 in x 1.7 in

Non-Standard Poster Sizes

Other than the standard A series sizes, there are some non-standard poster sizes that are often used in advertising and for display stands. Below is another table to show these other sizes:

Non-standard poster SIZE	MM X MM	IN X IN
Double crown	508 x 762	20 x 30
Quad crown	762 x 1016	30 x 40
Double quad crown	1016 x 1524	40 x 60
500mm x 700mm	500 x 700	16.69 x 27.56
700mm x 1000mm	700 x 1000	27.56 x 39.37
1000mm x 1400mm	1000 x 1400	39.37 x 55.12

Standard poster sizes explained

Poster Sizes – How to Properly Size Your Poster by MakeSigns.com

The Best Poster Sizes for You

Before selecting a standard poster size, you should know the available options. Below, we’ll discuss common poster sizes and how they are normally used.

8.5 x 11 inch poster

These letter-sized posters are basically the A4-sized flyers you see on bulletin boards or street posts. This poster design is ideal for printing advertisements, announcements, schedules, and other forms of communication. If you are using this standard size poster, you’ll want to avoid using small texts that are hard to read. Instead, you should maximize by using visuals that get the message out.

11 x 17 inch poster

Also known as bulletin posters, these are slightly larger than an A4 piece and are great for areas with limited space. 11 x 17-inch posters are suitable for indoor use because of their size and space-saving design. You can place these posters in places people regularly assemble, like in lounges, waiting rooms, and bathrooms.

While these posters will draw more attention than an A4 poster, you should still use large letters and a simple message to avoid making it look cluttered.

12 x 18 posters

These posters have a variety of applications and are also referred to as mini posters. You can use them for movie posters, art prints, and outdoor advertising. If you are making event posters on a tight budget, this is the ideal size to use. You can even use them for portraits or your favorite photos.

16 x 20 poster

If you want to display a picture of your entire family, a 16 x 20-inch poster is a good choice. It’s large enough to deliver great visuals for store displays, making it great for advertising a new product. They also fit well in art galleries for exhibitions of photography or printing art.

18 x 24 posters

This is the medium poster size which is the most popular option among the common sizes. These posters offer a lot of space for large images and the use of texts. It’s the go-to size for photo posters of celebrities, bands, and musicians. You can also find them with informative content in places like the doctor’s office.

The text on your poster should be at least half an inch high to ensure it’s easy to read without getting too close. This poster size is also ideal for larger bulletin posters on community boards.

19 x 27 posters

These also count as medium-sized options among regular poster sizes. You can incorporate larger images into this type of poster while including minimal text In the upper or lower regions. You can use these posters for printing promotion campaigns for sports events, concerts, and festivals.

These are the posters you see on storefront windows with images of products or services a business offers.

20 x 30 posters

This is the ideal poster size for promoting a current or upcoming product, sales campaign, or commercial advertisement. You can find these posters outside retail stores and offices.

These posters allow you to use bold typography, huge images, and any other ideas you may have. The large space allows you to enjoy unlimited creative freedom for movie posters or photos of celebrities, video game characters, or your favorite moments.

22 x 28 posters

These large format posters can accommodate everything you want to include. You can use them to decorate your store, display menus, or promote events. It’s acceptable to include descriptive details after the images in the poster.

22 x 34 posters

Also called retail posters, these are a great size for posters that are meant to draw attention and make a huge impact. They tend to use thinner papers and are an excellent size for movie posters, celebrities, books, and promoting concerts. You can even use this size for your wall decor or art prints.

24 x 36 posters

If you are planning for a large poster project, this is the perfect size to use. These posters are huge and perfect for outdoor advertising because they quickly catch the attention of passers-by. You should place these posters in high-traffic areas where a lot of people will see them.

This is a special size because it allows you to use HD images, creative graphics, and large text without restriction. These posters are popular in trade shows and art exhibits.

27 x 40 posters

This is the standard movie poster size, and it’s usually used for film advertisements within movie theaters. You can also find them in malls and other locations where people go to watch movies. If you want to make official movie posters, this is the size you need.

These posters are also great for printing advertising upcoming events, festivals and more in places like construction walkways where a lot of people pass. Since they allow you to use high-quality graphics, texts, and images, they are also popular in trade shows.

40 x 60 posters

These are the ones you’ll find at a bus shelter or the subway. This size is also common for movie posters. People normally use them for advertising at bus stops, exteriors of buildings, and other outdoor locations. They are hard to miss seeing that they stand up to five feet tall.

46 x 67 posters

If you don’t want to settle for a medium-size poster, you should consider billboard posters. These are extra large and allow you to include details that your viewers can find useful. If you want an attention-grabbing marketing campaign, these posters will get you the awareness you need.

48 x 36 posters

This is one of the largest options for poster sizes. Also known as academic posters, these are used to outline the research that students conduct.

Frequently Asked Questions on poster sizes

1. What are standard poster sizes?

Here’s a list of the popular poster sizes.

8.5 x 11 inches
11 x 17 inches
12 x 18 inches
16 x 20 inches
18 x 24 inches
19 x 27 inches
20 x 30 inches
22 x 34 inches
24 x 36 inches
27 x 40 inches
40 x 60 inches
46 x 67 inches

2. What size is 24×36 in a poster?

This poster size is also called the architectural D size. These larger-sized posters are great for outdoor advertising of trade shows, events, and exhibits.

3. Is 24×36 a standard frame size?

Yes, it is! It’s the average print size for movie posters and other prints in the US.

4. Is 24×36 the same as 36×24?

In terms of dimensions, the papers will be equal. However, the orientation is what determines whether the poster is in portrait or landscape form.

5. What size is a 20×30 poster?

A 20 x 30 inch poster measures 50.8 x 76.2 centimeters in dimensions.

6. How big is a 16×20?

A 16 x 20 inch poster is equivalent to 40 x 48 centimeters in size.

7. What is 24×36 paper called?

It’s also called an architectural D-size paper.

8. What are the most used poster sizes?

Standard printer sizes for posters are

Small Posters: A3 = 29.7 x 42 cm or 11.69 x 16.54 inches
Medium Posters: A2 = 42 x 59 cm or 16.54 x 23.39 inches
Large Posters: 61 x 91 cm or 24.02 x 35.83 inches

Conclusion

Printing posters provides a cheap and effective way to get the attention of your target audience. You can use a variety of colors, styles, and images in your posters to ensure your message is understood. There are different sizes for posters, and it’s essential to determine the ideal size for your poster before you proceed to make it.

You can choose between small, medium, or large poster sizes depending on the purpose of your poster and where you plan to stick it. Using posters can be an exciting way to raise awareness for your ideas or decorate your home. Finding the best size is the first set to a successful poster campaign.

If you have any questions about poster sizes, leave them below, and we’ll get back to you immediately.

Picture in this post by Yonghyun Lee on Unsplash