Poster Size Reference: Every Standard Dimension

This is your complete poster size reference. Bookmark it, print it, share it with your designer or print shop. We have organized every standard poster size by category, with dimensions in inches, centimeters, and millimeters so you have one place to find the measurement you need in the unit you need it.

We have been printing and placing posters across New York City and the country for years. The questions about size never stop coming. Here are the answers, all in one place.

The Most Referenced Poster Sizes 11 x 17 in (small event poster), 18 x 24 in (concert and retail), 24 x 36 in (general standard), 27 x 40 in (movie one-sheet), 36 x 48 in (conference and trade show). These five cover 90% of poster printing situations.

U.S. Standard Poster Sizes: Complete Reference

These are the poster dimensions used across the United States, organized from smallest to largest with measurements in all three common unit systems.

Size Name	Inches (W x H)	Centimeters	Millimeters
Letter / Mini Poster	8.5 x 11	21.6 x 27.9	216 x 279
Tabloid / Small Poster	11 x 17	27.9 x 43.2	279 x 432
Small Portrait	12 x 18	30.5 x 45.7	305 x 457
Concert Print Standard	13 x 19	33 x 48.3	330 x 483
Gallery Print	16 x 20	40.6 x 50.8	406 x 508
Standard Small Poster	18 x 24	45.7 x 61	457 x 610
Art Print	20 x 30	50.8 x 76.2	508 x 762
Retail Standard	22 x 28	55.9 x 71.1	559 x 711
General Standard	24 x 36	61 x 91.4	610 x 914
Movie One-Sheet	27 x 40	68.6 x 101.6	686 x 1016
Conference / Trade Show	36 x 48	91.4 x 121.9	914 x 1219
Transit / Bus Stop	40 x 60	101.6 x 152.4	1016 x 1524
Large Venue	48 x 72	121.9 x 182.9	1219 x 1829

International Poster Sizes: ISO A and B Series

Europe, Asia, Australia, and most countries outside North America use the ISO paper sizing system. These are the standard international poster sizes with their U.S. equivalents.

ISO Size	Millimeters	Centimeters	Inches (approx)
A4	210 x 297	21 x 29.7	8.3 x 11.7
A3	297 x 420	29.7 x 42	11.7 x 16.5
A2	420 x 594	42 x 59.4	16.5 x 23.4
A1	594 x 841	59.4 x 84.1	23.4 x 33.1
A0	841 x 1189	84.1 x 118.9	33.1 x 46.8
B3	353 x 500	35.3 x 50	13.9 x 19.7
B2	500 x 707	50 x 70.7	19.7 x 27.8
B1	707 x 1000	70.7 x 100	27.8 x 39.4
B0	1000 x 1414	100 x 141.4	39.4 x 55.7

Poster Size Reference by Industry

Here is a quick-reference chart organized by industry instead of size. Use this to find the right format based on your specific campaign or application.

Industry / Application	Primary Size	Secondary Size
Film / Movie Promotion	27 x 40 in (one-sheet)	40 x 60 in (bus stop)
Music / Concert Venues	18 x 24 in	24 x 36 in
Retail / Point-of-Sale	22 x 28 in	18 x 24 in
Academic / Conference	36 x 48 in	48 x 36 in
Trade Show / Exhibition	36 x 48 in	24 x 36 in
Street / Outdoor Advertising	24 x 36 in	48 x 72 in
Art Gallery / Prints	18 x 24 in	16 x 20 in
Real Estate / Property	24 x 36 in	18 x 24 in
Education / Schools	22 x 28 in	11 x 17 in
Nightlife / Events	18 x 24 in	11 x 17 in
Home Decor	24 x 36 in	20 x 30 in
Restaurants / Hospitality	11 x 17 in	18 x 24 in

Poster Size to Print Resolution Reference

Resolution requirements change based on size and viewing distance. This reference pairs common poster sizes with the correct DPI settings for professional output.

Poster Size	Typical Viewing Distance	Recommended DPI	Pixel Dimensions at That DPI
8.5 x 11 in	1-3 ft	300 DPI	2,550 x 3,300 px
11 x 17 in	2-4 ft	300 DPI	3,300 x 5,100 px
18 x 24 in	3-6 ft	200 DPI	3,600 x 4,800 px
22 x 28 in	3-8 ft	150-200 DPI	3,300-4,400 x 4,200-5,600 px
24 x 36 in	5-10 ft	150 DPI	3,600 x 5,400 px
36 x 48 in	8-15 ft	100-150 DPI	3,600-5,400 x 4,800-7,200 px
48 x 72 in	15-30 ft	72-100 DPI	3,456-4,800 x 5,184-7,200 px

Poster Size and Font Size Reference

Typography scales with poster size. Here are the minimum font sizes for readable poster text at each standard format.

Poster Size	Minimum Body Text	Minimum Heading	Minimum Title
8.5 x 11 in	10 pt	14 pt	24 pt
11 x 17 in	12 pt	18 pt	36 pt
18 x 24 in	18 pt	28 pt	60 pt
24 x 36 in	24 pt	36 pt	72-96 pt
36 x 48 in	28-36 pt	48-60 pt	85-120 pt
48 x 72 in	48 pt	72 pt	120-180 pt

Design Rule: Test at 100% Zoom Always view your poster design at 100% zoom before sending to print. What looks fine at 25% on screen often reveals readability problems at full size. If you cannot zoom to 100% on your monitor because the poster is too large, print a section at 100% and evaluate it physically.

Outdoor Advertising Poster Size Reference

Large-format outdoor advertising uses standardized sizes that are determined by the display hardware and the Outdoor Advertising Association’s format standards. These sizes are much larger than indoor poster formats.

• 30-sheet billboard: 144 x 313 inches (12 x 26.1 feet)
• 14 x 48 bulletin: 168 x 576 inches (14 x 48 feet)
• 8-sheet junior poster: 60 x 120 inches (5 x 10 feet)
• 4-sheet poster: 48 x 72 inches (4 x 6 feet)
• Bus king: 30 x 144 inches
• Bus queen: 30 x 88 inches
• Bus tail: 21 x 72 inches
• Transit shelter: 47 x 67 inches

How to Use This Poster Size Reference

Here is the practical workflow for applying this reference to a real project:

1. Identify your display environment (store window, conference board, street location, etc.)
2. Find your industry in the industry reference table above and note the primary format
3. Confirm the exact dimensions with the venue, organizer, or display hardware specs
4. Pull the DPI requirements for that size from the resolution reference
5. Pull the minimum font sizes from the typography reference
6. Set up your design file at the confirmed dimensions with the correct DPI
7. Design within those parameters and export as PDF before sending to print

What is the most commonly referenced poster size?

24 x 36 inches. It is the default for most general-purpose poster printing in the United States.

What is A1 in inches?

A1 is 23.4 x 33.1 inches (594 x 841 mm). It is the closest international equivalent to the U.S. 24 x 36 format.

What is A0 in inches?

A0 is 33.1 x 46.8 inches (841 x 1189 mm). It is close to the U.S. 36 x 48 format and is the most common academic conference poster size outside North America.

What size is a bus stop poster?

U.S. transit shelter posters are approximately 47 x 67 inches or 40 x 60 inches depending on the specific shelter hardware.

What is the difference between 18 x 24 and 24 x 36?

A 24 x 36 inch poster has exactly twice the width and 1.5 times the height of an 18 x 24, giving it 2.25 times the total surface area.

What DPI should a 24 x 36 poster file be?

150 DPI at full print size. This is the standard for professional large-format printing at this size.

What is a 4-sheet poster?

A 4-sheet poster is an outdoor advertising format measuring approximately 48 x 72 inches (4 x 6 feet). It is one step below the 8-sheet junior poster format.

Is 27 x 40 the same as A0?

No. 27 x 40 inches is the U.S. movie one-sheet format. A0 is 33.1 x 46.8 inches. They are different sizes.

What is the pixel size of a 36 x 48 poster at 150 DPI?

5,400 x 7,200 pixels. At 100 DPI, the same poster would be 3,600 x 4,800 pixels.

Can I print any custom size?

Yes. Most large-format print shops can print any custom dimension up to the maximum width of their printer. Common maximum widths are 44, 54, and 60 inches. Length is limited only by roll length.

Using This Reference to Brief a Designer

One of the most practical uses of a poster size reference is briefing a designer. When you hire a graphic designer or work with an in-house design team, the size brief is the first piece of information they need. Everything else in the design flows from the dimensions.

A good size brief includes the final trim size, the bleed requirement, the resolution, the color mode, and the orientation. Here is a template for a clear size brief:

• Trim size: 24 x 36 inches (portrait)
• Bleed: 0.125 inches on all four sides
• Resolution: 150 DPI at final print size
• Color mode: CMYK
• File format: PDF/X-1a on delivery
• Safety zone: Keep important content 0.125 inches from trim edge

With this information, a professional designer can set up the file correctly on the first attempt. Without it, revisions are almost guaranteed. The five minutes it takes to assemble a complete brief saves hours of back-and-forth correction.

Poster Size Reference for Print Shop Communication

When you call or email a print shop to order a poster, communicating the size clearly prevents errors in the order. Print shop staff handle dozens of orders per day, and they have seen every permutation of size confusion. Being specific and using the correct terms helps your order go through correctly.

Use these phrases when ordering:

• “I need a 24 x 36-inch poster, portrait orientation, single piece.” (width first, then height)
• “I need fifty 18 x 24 posters on matte paper.”
• “I need a 36 x 48 conference poster on satin stock.”
• “Can you print at A0 (841 x 1189 millimeters)?” (for international sizes, use millimeters)

Do not use vague terms like “a large poster” or “a standard size.” These mean different things to different people. Always specify the exact dimensions. If you are ordering from a template or a past order, ask the shop whether they have the job saved on file and provide the job number.

Poster Size Reference for Frame Buyers

Consumer poster frames are sold by the size of the print they hold, not by the outer frame dimension. A 24 x 36 frame holds a 24 x 36 print. The outer dimension of the frame is usually 25 to 27 x 37 to 40 inches depending on the frame width and style.

When buying a frame, confirm the inner opening size (the opening through which the print is visible) matches your poster. Some frames include a mat board that reduces the visible area. If you want the full 24 x 36 to show, either choose a frame without a mat, or buy a mat cut to reveal the full print area.

Frame materials range from budget plastic (adequate for student and casual use) to metal (durable and professional) to solid wood (premium, adds weight). For display applications where the frame will be seen frequently and up close, a metal or wood frame looks significantly more professional than a plastic one.

Digital vs. Print: How Online Poster Sizes Compare

Social media and digital design platforms have their own size conventions that do not align with print standards. An Instagram post is 1080 x 1080 pixels square. A Facebook event cover is 1920 x 1005 pixels. A Twitter card is 1200 x 628 pixels. None of these translate directly to a physical poster size.

The connection happens through the DPI. A 24 x 36 poster at 150 DPI is 3,600 x 5,400 pixels. That file, if saved and viewed on a screen at 72 DPI (standard screen resolution), would appear as a 50 x 75-inch image on screen. It is too large to display without scaling down.

The practical implication: do not take your social media graphics and print them as posters. The resolution is wrong. Design the poster at print dimensions and print resolution. If you need a social media version, export a scaled-down, resolution-appropriate version separately. These are two different deliverables, even if they share design elements.

Using the Reference to Avoid the Most Common Poster Mistakes

The most common poster mistakes are size-related. Having a complete size reference available before you start a project prevents most of them. Here are the specific mistakes this reference helps you avoid.

Ordering the wrong size for a conference. This reference tells you that academic conferences use 36 x 48, not 24 x 36. If you had only known “the standard size is 24 x 36” and ordered accordingly, you would arrive at the conference with a poster that is too small for the board and too small to read from conference-session distances. The reference distinguishes clearly between general-use and professional standards.

Designing for the wrong frame. This reference tells you that retail frames are commonly available at 24 x 36 and 27 x 40. If you design a 30 x 44 poster (not a standard size), you will not find a ready-made frame. The reference guides you toward sizes with available frame options.

Confusing metric and imperial sizes. This reference gives you both. A0 is 84.1 x 118.9 cm, not 36 x 48 inches. They are similar but not the same. The reference prevents you from ordering a U.S. format when an international conference expected a metric format.

Setting incorrect file dimensions. This reference gives you exact dimensions in all three unit systems. A design file set to 60.96 x 91.44 cm is the same as 24 x 36 inches. The reference makes these equivalencies clear so you can set up your file correctly regardless of which unit system your design software defaults to.

Frequently Updated Reference: Checking for Changes

Poster size standards are stable but occasionally shift in specific contexts. Academic conferences may change their board sizes as they change venues. Retail display hardware manufacturers may introduce new standard sizes. Transit advertising networks may update their format offerings as they install new display hardware.

For general consumer and advertising standards (18 x 24, 24 x 36, 27 x 40, 36 x 48), these sizes have been stable for decades and are unlikely to change significantly. You can rely on these references for any general-purpose poster project without verifying against a current standard.

For event-specific and venue-specific sizes, always verify with the organizer or venue before ordering. A conference that used 36 x 48 last year may have changed to 44 x 44 this year because they changed venues or reorganized their poster session format. Event-specific sizes should always be confirmed before printing.

For transit and outdoor advertising, formats are set by the specific advertising network and the specific display hardware at each location. Never assume last year’s spec applies to this year’s campaign. Always request the current media kit from the advertising sales representative.

Saving This Reference for Future Projects

The most practical thing you can do with a poster size reference is make it accessible for future projects without having to search for it again. Here are three ways to keep it handy.

Bookmark this page in your browser. When the next project starts and you need to confirm a size or convert a dimension, it is one click away. No searching, no recalling which article you found last time, no second-guessing whether you are using the right numbers.

Print the main reference tables on a single sheet and pin it near your workstation. A physical reference on the wall is faster to consult than any digital resource when you are in the middle of setting up a design file and need to confirm a dimension quickly. The two main tables (U.S. standards and international ISO sizes) fit on a single letter-size page at a readable font size.

Share it with your design team and print production contacts. When everyone working on a project is using the same reference, communication is cleaner. There is less ambiguity in briefs, fewer clarifying questions, and fewer mistakes. A shared reference is a shared standard, and shared standards reduce errors across the production process.

When This Reference Is Not Enough

This reference covers all standard sizes, but some situations require information beyond what any reference can provide. These are the situations where you need to go beyond the reference and get specific information from the actual display environment or event organizer.

When your display environment has non-standard hardware, measure it. Do not assume any standard applies. Measure the physical opening, the frame interior, the board dimensions, or the wall space. Physical measurement is more reliable than any reference for non-standard situations.

When a conference or event specifies unusual sizes, get the specification in writing. Sometimes events specify sizes like 44 x 44 or 48 x 48 (square boards) or 40 x 50 (non-standard rectangular boards). These do not appear in any general reference because they are not widely standardized. Get the event’s spec sheet and design to those exact dimensions.

When printing internationally, contact the specific print shop and confirm what sizes they offer and in what units they prefer to receive specifications. International print shops vary in their size offerings and their file specification requirements. A direct conversation with the shop resolves these questions definitively.

Frequently Asked Questions