A 16×20 photo is so large that you can see the content and composition inside it with your naked eye from about 4 to 5 feet away. No matter how you think of its orientation, landscape or portrait, it fits perfectly as a wall decor in the living space.
You can give the full credit to this size feature that makes the photo the main center of attraction of the wall and even the room.
Keep reading, as you go deeper into this blog, you will get the details of this photo size, along with its pixel expression, how to frame it, and above all, the shipping methods.
TL;DR:
- Converting a 16×20 photo from inches to centimeters is 40.64×50.8, which is large enough with 4:5 aspect ratio to be suitable as wall decor, where either matte or glass can be used for framing.
- To get good print quality, it is best to keep the resolution at 4800 x 6000 pixels, and if the photo paper is thick, it is more efficient to roll it up and ship it in a tube instead of laying it flat.
Features of 16×20 Photos at a Glance
| Parameter | 16×20 Photo Feature |
| Size in Different Metrics | 16 × 20 inches
40.64 x 50.8 cm 406.4 x 508 mm 1.33 x 1.67 ft |
| Resolution | 3200 x 4000 px (200 ppi)
4800 x 6000 px (300 ppi) |
| Aspect Ratio | 5:4 (Landscape) / 4:5 (Portrait) |
| Framing | Matte or Glass |
| Best Places to Display | Hallway gallery and Bedroom wall |
| Shipping Process | Flat (if the paper is thin), Tube (if the paper is thick) |
How Big Is a 16×20 Photo in Different Scales?
By area, this measurement is 320 square inches, which roughly represents the area of a mid-size wall portrait. In this case, the vertical portion of the image would be 20 inches, and the horizontal portion would be 16 inches. In the case of a landscape, it would be the other way around.
In other common metrics, you will find this measurement as:
- 16×20 photo size in cm = 40.64×50.8 = 2064.512 square cm
- 16×20 photo size in mm = 406.4×508 = 206451.2 square mm
- 16×20 photo size in ft = 1.33×1.67 = 2.2211 square ft
What Is the Aspect Ratio of a 16×20 Size Photo?
Divide the two figures of a 16×20 photo size by 4, and you will easily get the aspect ratio of the photo: 4:5 for portrait orientation and 5:4 for landscape. The ratio is commonly adopted for portraits, especially wedding photography, but with modern cameras, sometimes you may have to resort to cropping or resizing.
If the original image is too long and you do not go for cropping, you will have to sacrifice a small part of the top and bottom of your photo.
However, if you are lucky enough to get this ratio photo frame, which is not difficult at all, then you will be able to visualize its decorative benefits because the picture of this size looks very natural to the naked eye.
Which Areas 16×20 Photos Work Best In?
The 16×20 size is more than enough to capture your eyes, which makes it a great choice for picture lovers. Let’s explore the areas where this photo size has traditionally been widely used:
- Wall decor: If you have a large wall to decorate, you can easily choose a 16 x 20 print to enhance your wall without sacrificing your imagination. You can draw the attention of your entire room to the decorated wall without looking too busy.
- Anniversary and Wedding Pictures: Be it a large canvas or a medium framed print, both look great in a gallery, a hallway, or a bedroom. Also, with such a large sized picture, you can clearly see the impressions of faces in the picture from any corner of the room.
- Art and Vista Landscape: Frames are quite affordable, and if not, they will fit into other common frames, so frames of this size look great in any entryway. You will see photographers using this size extensively to sell their photos.
What Resolution Should You Use for a 16×20 Photo?
Photo resolution is largely dependent on the pixel density, which is expressed in pixels per inch (PPI). Its effect on resolution works in a proportional way; that is, as the PPI increases, the resolution also increases in the same proportion.
For example, if the PPI for a 16×20 photo is 125, then the resolution, regardless of portrait and landscape photos, will be:
(16×125) 2000 pixels x (20×125) 2500 pixels
The following table gives you a clear idea of the comparative calculation of resolution for different PPIs:
| PPI | Resolution (px) | Quality |
| 96 | 1536 x 1920 | Low |
| 125 | 2000 x 2500 | Acceptable |
| 200 | 3200 x 4000 | Standard |
| 300 | 4800 x 6000 | Recommended |
| 600 | 9600 x 12000 | High |
How to Choose the Right 16×20 Photo Frame
It’s a good thing that one of the American standard sizes is 16×20, so finding the right frame for it shouldn’t be difficult. The thing is, you have to decide:
Whether you use glass or matte for your picture framing?
If the answer is matte, the surface of the picture will be protected; plus the picture will get a very artistic weight. You can even plan for a gallery, for which all you have to do is get a 2-inch matte that will give the picture a frame size of 20×24 inches.
On the other hand, if you choose glass, place the picture opposite a window that gets plenty of sunlight. The problem here is the glare of bright sunlight at midday. Don’t worry about it, just use non-reflective glass for the frame.
Tube or Flat: How to Handle 16×20 Photo Shipping?
The 16×20 size is quite large, so if the photo paper is thick, you will need to pay close attention to the corners so that they do not bend in any way. To ensure this, choose a sturdy, flat, large box for packaging the photo before shipping it.
The same condition applies when the photo is mounted on a board.
If the photo print is thin and soft, you can carefully roll it up and put it in a thick tube. In this case, of course, you should keep the photo flat by pressing it under something flat and heavy (such as a few weighted books) for a couple of days before framing.
Frequently Asked Questions about 16×20 Photo Size
1. How Big Is a 16×20 Photo in cm?
When you convert a 16 in x 20 in photo to cm, you get 40.64 cm x 50.8 cm, which occupies 2064.512 square cm area.
2. How can I find the aspect ratio of a 16×20 photo?
For this, you need to find the basic ratio of the 16:20 size, which you can get by dividing both numbers by 4. The result will be 4:5, which is considered for portrait orientation, and if you think in landscape, then it will be 5:4. This ratio, in turn, means the photo size is taken as 20:16.
3. What resolution can I get good quality when printing a 16×20 photo at?
In fact, the higher the resolution, the better your print quality will be. It may not be a good idea to go below 3200 x 4000 pixel resolution to get standard quality in photo printing. However, when it comes to getting the composition of the photo clearly, you should print at 4800 x 6000 pixels.
4. How can I avoid too much glare when using glass in a photo frame?
What you can do to avoid extra glare caused by reflections on the glass is to use a glass that has a non-reflective nature in your photo frame.
5. How should I package a 16×20 photo paper for shipping if it is thick?
If the photo paper is thick, you should pack it in a flat, thick, heavy box so that its edges are not bent by all means in any way.
Pilling Up
Printing for any purpose, including decorating the walls of your home, will only be effective when you know how big is a 16×20 photo at first. 40.64×50.8 cm in size and with a 4:5 aspect ratio, this photo can easily grab everyone’s attention on the wall of the room.
However, this will only work if your print quality is good, and to ensure this, you need to choose a resolution of 4800 x 6000 pixels. When using matte or glass in photo framing, you need to keep in mind where you are actually planning to set the photo.
Above all, it would not be wise to overlook the fact that your photo paper is thick or thin during shipping.
