The True Cost of Framing a Poster
Every poster on Ink & Wall is one product with 50 configurations: 10 sizes × 5 frame options. The arithmetic is fixed and knowable — which means nobody has to guess what a poster "really" costs. This guide shows the whole ladder, from the merchant's own feed (spot-checked 15 October 2026), and explains what the framing premium actually buys.
The full ladder
| Size | Unframed | Black | White | Wood | Dark wood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 x 7 in | $36 | $55 | $55 | $55 | $55 |
| 8 x 10 in | $37 | $60 | $60 | $60 | $60 |
| 8 x 12 in | $37 | $65 | $65 | $65 | $65 |
| 11 x 14 in | $40 | $70 | $70 | $70 | $70 |
| 12 x 18 in | $41 | $75 | $75 | $75 | $75 |
| 16 x 20 in | $46 | $80 | $80 | $80 | $80 |
| 18 x 24 in | $50 | $90 | $90 | $90 | $90 |
| 20 x 28 in | $56 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| 24 x 36 in | $64 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 |
| 28 x 40 in | $69 | $140 | $140 | $140 | $140 |
Three facts stand out. First, the framing premium is a flat ladder, not a percentage: the jump from unframed to any frame is the same shape at every size, growing modestly as the print gets bigger. Second, all four frame finishes cost the same — you are paying for framing, not for a colour. Third, the ladder tops out at $140 for the largest framed print — print, frame and plexiglass, one purchase, nothing added later.
Framed from the merchant vs framing it yourself
Buying unframed and framing locally makes sense when you already own a frame, want a non-standard mount, or need the print today. It stops making sense when a local framer's labour exceeds the merchant's flat premium — for the big sizes here, that crossover is easy to hit. Our rule: at the smaller sizes (up to 12×18in), DIY framing is competitive; at 18×24in and up, the merchant's framed option is usually the rational buy.
Next steps
- Poster sizes explained — pick the right size first.
- How to choose a frame — the five finishes compared.
- Browse the catalog with the framed total on every page.
Three rooms, three real budgets
The reading corner — $75. One 12×18in print framed in black ($75 total) over a chair. The smallest framed rung that still reads as furniture, not decoration.
The living-room anchor wall — $207. A 24×36in anchor framed in black ($125) flanked by two 12×18in companions left unframed ($41 each) for a $207 wall. Framing only the anchor is the budget move this whole guide argues for.
The hallway grid — $300. Four 12×18in prints, all framed in black ($75 each), hung 2×2. Uniform frames are what make a grid read as one artwork instead of four.
Shop this guide
Framed posters, priced framed · Seven sizes frame under $100 · The 24×36 statement size · Size calculator