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Gallery wall planner: lay out your frames and print life-size templates
Plan your gallery wall before you commit to a layout. Add the outside dimensions of 1–12 frames, compare arrangements, then print full-size paper outlines on US Letter or A4.
1. Set the scene
Default gap: 2 in (about 5 cm). Changing units preserves the exact measurement: 2 in = 5.08 cm.
2. Add your frames
Measure the outside of each frame, not the photo opening. Frame dimensions: 0.1–120 in (0.254–304.8 cm).
3. Preview your wall
Furniture is a width-only reference drawn at a fixed illustrative height of 24 in (60.96 cm).
Print at 100% / Actual size. Turn off headers and footers.
A group center 57–60 in (144.78–152.4 cm) above the floor is a common guideline; adjust it to your room. Alberta University of the Arts
How to plan a gallery wall
- Measure each outer frame and enter its width and height.
- Try a grid, a single top line, a centered row, or an ascending stair layout. Use 2 × 2 / 3 × 3 to load examples; adding more frames continues the grid.
- Print at 100% / Actual size on the selected paper, portrait orientation, with browser headers and footers off. Measure the 1 in / 2.54 cm square.
- Trim along the dotted tile boundaries, overlap matching crosses, then cut out the solid frame outlines. Arrange the paper shapes using the edge measurements.
For heavy frames, refer to the manufacturer’s hanging instructions.
How it’s calculated
All calculations use inches internally: inches = centimeters ÷ 2.54. Grid columns use the widest frame in each column; rows use the tallest frame in each row. Frames are centered in their cells, so the chosen gap is the minimum separation between cells. The top-line layout aligns upper edges; the centered layout aligns frame centers. Stair layouts add the chosen rise for each frame from left to right.
The whole group is centered at your chosen height. Bottom edge = center height − half the group height + the frame’s vertical offset. If wall width is entered, left edge = (wall width − group width) ÷ 2 + horizontal offset. Without it, offsets start at the group’s left edge.
Paper tiles reserve 0.5 in margins and 1.25 in for labels and the scale square. The outline has 0.125 in padding. Tiles overlap by 0.25 in. Columns = ceil((frame width + 0.25 − 0.25) ÷ (tile width − 0.25)); rows use the same formula with heights. At least one tile is used in each direction.
Questions about your gallery wall
Can I print a gallery wall template at actual size?
Yes. Select US Letter or A4, print at 100% / Actual size, and measure the 1 in / 2.54 cm square. Larger frames span numbered sheets. Match the shared crosses before cutting out the outline.
Which frame measurements should I enter?
Enter the outside width and height of each frame, including its border. The printout represents that outer rectangle, not the photo opening.
How high should the gallery wall center be?
A center height of 57–60 in is a common guideline. This planner starts at 58 in and lets you change it. Distances in the table refer to frame edges.
Shop related items
Browse frames and wall decor after planning your arrangement.