By Portrait Gift Team | July 17, 2026 | 4 min read
Is Medium actually big enough? Every canvas size we print in cm and inches, compared to real objects, plus which size suits a sofa wall, a bedroom, a desk or a gallery wall — and when a poster or digital file makes more sense.
The size question we get most often is not "what sizes do you have?" — it is "is Medium actually big enough?" And the honest answer is: it depends entirely on the wall. A Medium canvas looks generous on a bedroom shelf and lost above a three-seat sofa. So instead of a bare list of dimensions, here is every size we print, what each one compares to in real life, and which one to order for the spot you have in mind.
Custom portraits come in three orientations, each in four sizes. Every canvas arrives stretched and ready to hang.
| Size | Vertical | Square | Horizontal |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 23×30 cm (9×12 in) | 35×35 cm (14×14 in) | 25.5×20.3 cm (10×8 in) |
| M | 30×45 cm (12×18 in) | 40×40 cm (16×16 in) | 50.8×40.6 cm (20×16 in) |
| L | 41×61 cm (16×24 in) | 50.8×50.8 cm (20×20 in) | 76.2×60.9 cm (30×24 in) |
| XL | 60×90 cm (24×36 in) | 81×81 cm (32×32 in) | 121.9×91.4 cm (48×36 in) |
Dimensions on a screen are hard to feel, so anchor them to things you know:
Go Large, and XL if the wall allows. The designer rule of thumb is that art should span roughly half to two-thirds of the width of the furniture beneath it — for a 220 cm three-seater, that means at least 110 cm of art, which is XL territory (or a pair of Large canvases side by side). This is where a dramatic scene like a Viking couple portrait earns its wall space.
Medium is the sweet spot — visible from across the room without dominating it. It is also the most-gifted size for exactly that reason: it fits somewhere in every home, which matters when you cannot scout the recipient's walls first.
Small. On a desk or shelf it leans against the wall nicely, and on a gallery wall several Smalls mix well with a Medium or two. One Small alone on a large empty wall, though, will look like it is apologizing for being there.
Vertical is the natural choice for portraits of one or two people — a full-length cowboy portrait of dad simply needs the height. Square suits symmetrical spots: gallery walls, shelf displays, the wall between two windows. Horizontal fits wide scenes and low-and-wide spaces like the strip above a headboard. If you are torn, vertical is the default for a reason — it matches how the subjects stand in most artwork styles.
Size is only half the decision. The canvas arrives stretched and ready to hang — no frame needed. The rolled glossy poster is the budget route: same artwork, shipped in a tube, but plan on framing it yourself. The digital download is instant and lets you print locally at any size — useful for last-minute gifts or if you already have a framer you trust.
A quick order-of-operations note: the artwork quality is set by the photo you upload, not the canvas size — a sharp photo looks great at XL, and no size flatters a blurry one. Two minutes with our guide on how to choose the best photo for a custom portrait is the best thing you can do for the finished piece.
Medium (30×45 cm / 12×18 in) if it is a gift and you do not know the wall. Large or XL above sofas and beds. Small for desks, shelves and gallery walls. And whichever you choose, the preview is free — so settle the style first and the size will pick itself.
Medium vertical — 30×45 cm (12×18 in). It is the default gift size because it hangs comfortably in any room, ships easily and still reads clearly from across the room. If you are buying for someone else and do not know their wall, Medium is the safe pick.
Large (41×61 cm / 16×24 in) at minimum, and XL (60×90 cm / 24×36 in) for a typical three-seat sofa or double bed. The rule of thumb is that wall art should span roughly half to two-thirds of the furniture width below it — a Small or Medium canvas alone above a sofa looks like a postage stamp.
Both are listed for every size — for example Medium vertical is 30×45 cm, which is 12×18 in. The physical canvas is the same wherever you order from; only the label differs.
Yes — every canvas is stretched on a frame and arrives ready to hang, no extra hardware or framing needed. The rolled glossy poster option is different: it ships rolled in a tube and needs a frame, which is why it costs less. The digital download is just the high-resolution file, delivered instantly, for printing wherever you like.
Vertical suits most portraits of one or two people — it matches how people naturally stand in the artwork. Square works well on gallery walls, shelves and anywhere you want a symmetrical look. Horizontal fits wide scenes and the space above sofas and headboards. All three orientations come in the same four sizes, Small through XL.