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Simply, Affordable, Quality Print & Design in Staffordshire and the UK
Free nationwide shipping on all orders!
Simply, Affordable, Quality Print & Design in Staffordshire and the UK
In a world where digital formats dominate, posters remain a powerful and impactful way to communicate information widely. Whether used for decoration or as part of advertising and marketing campaigns, understanding how to scale your poster for maximum effect is key to giving your promotion a professional touch. However, choosing the right poster size can be challenging without a visual comparison of different options.
If you’re designing a poster from scratch, check out our step-by-step guide on creating a poster for print to ensure your design is properly set up for high-quality printing.
As a full-service commercial print shop specialising in poster printing, we’ve seen a wide range of designs. To help print designers and buyers, we’ve created this ultimate guide to provide an easy reference for the most common poster sizes and offer a clear comparison. We believe that having a solid understanding of these sizes will allow you to quickly select the perfect size.
Whilst we will cover the standard poster sizes we offer, and how they are commonly used, the size guide should be used as a reference in helping you choose the correct paper size for your promotional posters.
Starting from the smaller-sized posters and working up to our large-scale posters, you can see the dimensions for each below. Learn how to design your poster based on standard sizes. This will enable you to choose the right-sized poster for your graphic!
The measurements below are given based on the assumption that you are looking to print posters in portrait orientation.
We measure along the bottom first and then up.
| Poster Size | Size in MM | Size in CM | Size in Inches |
| A4 Poster | 210 x 297 | 21 x 29.7 | 8.27 x 11.69 |
| A3 Poster | 297 x 420 | 29.7 x 42 | 11.69 x 16.54 |
| A2 Poster | 420 x 594 | 42 x 59.4 | 16.54 x 23.39 |
| A1 Poster | 594 x 841 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.39 x 33.11 |
| A0 Poster | 841 x 1189 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.11 x 46.81 |
| 20 x 30 | 508 x 762 | 50.8 x 76.2 | 20 x 30 |
| 30 x 40 | 762 x 1016 | 76.2 x 101.6 | 30 x 40 |
| 40 x 60 | 1016 x 1524 | 101.6 x 152.4 | 40 x 60 |
The measurements below are given based on the assumption that you are looking to print posters in a landscape orientation.
We measure along the bottom first and then up.
| Poster Size | Size in MM | Size in CM | Size in Inches |
| A4 Poster | 297 x 210 | 29.7 x 21 | 11.69 x 8.27 |
| A3 Poster | 420 x 297 | 42 x 29.7 | 16.54 x 11.69 |
| A2 Poster | 594 x 420 | 59.4 x 42 | 23.39 x 16.54 |
| A1 Poster | 841 x 594 | 84.1 x 59.4 | 33.11 x 23.39 |
| A0 Poster | 1189 x 841 | 118.9 x 84.1 | 46.81 x 33.11 |
| 20 x 30 | 762 x 508 | 76.2 x 50.8 | 30 x 20 |
| 30 x 40 | 1016 x 762 | 101.6 x 76.2 | 40 x 30 |
| 40 x 60 | 1524 x 1016 | 152.4 x 101.6 | 60 x 40 |
So we have now covered the most popular sizes and standard sizes of posters typically used. Let’s now go through them in a little more detail to help you choose the best poster for you and your specific needs.
A4 (210 x 297mm)– While small in size, A4 posters are powerful enough to make a strong impression. (A4 paper being the most recognised paper size).
A3 (297 x 420mm)– Offering more space to work with, A3-size posters are ideal for delivering your message with greater impact. They’re frequently used indoors, such as in bars or shop windows and are the most popular of our smaller posters.
If you’re considering A4 or A3 promotional prints, explore our expert guide on creating eye-catching flyers to ensure a high-impact design.
A2 (420 x 594mm) – The ideal size for gig and event posters, A2 offers ample space for key details while leaving room for striking artwork and visuals.
A1 (594 x 841mm)– A1 posters are perfect for making a bold statement. With large bold typography and striking designs, they’re ideal for display in exhibition halls or museums.
A0 (841 x 1189mm) – Measuring over a meter in width, A0 posters make a powerful impact. This size provides ample space for bold, attention-grabbing artwork and plenty of information.
If you’re designing a large-scale poster in Canva, follow our guide on using Canva to create print-ready artwork to ensure high resolution and proper bleed settings.
| Poster Size | Best Use Case |
|---|---|
| A4 (210x297mm) | Indoor promotions, notices, and small advertisements |
| A3 (297x420mm) | Retail stores, shop windows, public bulletin boards |
| A2 (420x594mm) | Events, concerts, and medium-sized advertising |
| A1 (594x841mm) | Exhibitions, indoor wall posters, outdoor displays |
| A0 (841x1189mm) | Large-scale advertising, billboards, high-traffic areas |
20 x 30 – Perfect for point-of-sale displays, 20 x 30 posters are a great choice if you want something larger than standard A-series sizes but not too overwhelming. Ideal for company announcements or bulletins.
30 x 40 – If you’re looking for maximum visibility, 30 x 40 is the perfect size. With bold colours and striking designs, it’s ideal for advertising product launches and upcoming events. Explore banner design ideas that complement posters.
40 x 60 – When you need to make a bold statement, the 40 x 60 size is perfect for the job. It’s ideal for delivering a powerful message with maximum impact.
Most standard poster sizes can now be framed, as it is more and more common to have bespoke wall art. Movie posters are a great example of this! It can be best to check the frame before beginning the design process, as some frames have an overlap insert that could obscure some of the design if not taken under advisement.
We offer a wide choice of sizes, but also poster papers and stocks as standard.
These include 150 gsm silk, 170 gsm silk, 250 gsm Silk and even a waterproof PVC material, making them better for outdoor use. All our posters are printed in full-colour CMYK using the latest printing technology to ensure vibrant results.
Not sure about colour settings? Learn the difference between RGB and CMYK and why it matters for printing.
Did you know we can offer custom-sized posters, too? Simply get in touch with your measurement, and we would be more than happy to help.
Now you have learnt more about our huge range of posters and the different sizes, you should now be able to find the size that fits perfectly with your other promotional materials.
