Picture Sizes for Frames, Albums, and ID Photos

Read the frame label and measure the opening

Look for two numbers when a frame comes with a mat. A frame sold as 8×10 with a mat for a 5×7 print usually holds 8×10 without the mat. With the mat, order the 5×7 the packaging calls for. The visible opening can be a little smaller than the print so the mat overlaps its edges. A frame’s outside dimensions tell you how much wall space it occupies.

Measure the width and height inside the opening. If a 5×7 photo sits behind a centered 4.75×6.75 inch opening, the mat covers about one eighth of an inch on each edge. Keep a face, date, or signature inside the visible area. Try holding a paper mockup behind the mat before you order an entire set.

Pick picture sizes by where they will go

For an album, measure the pocket and check whether it opens from the short or long edge. A 4×6 is useful for many snapshot albums. A 5×7 often works for a photo on a desk where you can see faces at arm’s length. For a gift, choosing the frame first can save a second trip if the opening needs an uncommon format.

On a wall, tape up a rectangle the size of the frame’s outside edge. View it from the spot where you normally stand or sit. A group of small frames can read as a single display. Use the same mat color or repeat a few sizes to make the spacing easier to plan.

Measure the paper and check the photo shape

Compare the short and long sides in the same unit. Four by six inches equals 10.16 × 15.24 centimeters. A pocket cut for 10 × 15 cm may be too tight for a full 4×6 print even though the shapes match. A 5×7 and 8×10 have different shapes. Look at the visible window before swapping an existing photo into a new frame.

If the photo shape differs from the frame, choose whether the visible edge can be cropped or whether the whole image needs a border. Check your sample with any mat in place. For a face near one edge, shift the crop while keeping the space around the face balanced.

Use the issuer’s dimensions for an ID photo

For a paper U.S. passport application, the State Department specifies a 2×2 inch printed photo, about 51×51 millimeters. It also specifies how large the head should appear, the background, how recently the photo was taken, and acceptable print paper. Use the official examples and instructions for the application you are submitting.

Sizes for other passports, visas, employee badges, and school IDs can differ. Digital submissions may ask for pixels and file properties instead of a finished print. Check the current instructions from the issuer before printing. A wallet portrait is usually rectangular and is ordered for sharing or keepsakes.

• U.S. State Department passport photo requirements