How to Measure Picture Frames & Mats

Learn to measure frames and mats so that you can frame your own pictures and artwork.

The right frame and mat can turn your picture into something special and enhance the look of your room. A mat fits inside the frame and serves to finish the look of your picture. Frames and mats come in many styles and sizes, so it is important to measure correctly to find the right match for your picture. For a frame, you measure the dimensions of the inside opening. The mat fits inside that opening in the picture frame.

Instructions

Measuring a Picture Frame

1. Place the picture frame on a work surface. Remove the back cover of the frame so that you have access to the inside opening of the frame.

2. Measure the height and width of the inside opening from edge to edge using a tape measure. The height and width of the inside opening is the size of the picture frame. For example, if the width is 5 inches and the height is 7 inches, the picture frame is for a 5- by 7-inch picture. Most frames can accommodate a horizontal or vertical picture.

3. Replace the back cover of the frame.

Measuring a Mat

1. Place the mat on a work surface.

2. Measure the height of the mat from the bottom to the top of the outside edge of the mat using a tape measure. This is the height of the mat.

3. Measure the width of the mat from one outside edge to the other using a tape measure. This is the width of the mat. A mat that is 5 inches wide and 7 inches high fits a 5- by 7-inch frame.

Tips & Warnings

• Carefully measure the dimensions of your picture, frame and mat to make sure that you are purchasing the correct size for your needs.

References

• Anything Framed: How to Measure
• Picture Frames: How to Measure for Custom-Made Frames
• Picture Frames: How to Measure for Custom Mats

Resources

• Picture Frame Guys: The Anatomy of a Picture Frame