Standard Poster Size

The poster has become one of the top mediums in sending messages publicly for diverse commercial and non-commercial campaigns. You can easily find a variety of poster sizes in public spaces from the smaller posters to the ones that can even cover your body. Once you go to the printing shop, you can request any poster size based on your requirements and preferences.

What is standard poster size? In fact, there is no international standard for general poster size. Posters vary in size, and vary in different regions, which gives artists and designers enough space to use their talents and imagination. However, as you often see, there are indeed some common poster sizes, each of which can be called the average poster size for a specific purpose in some field.

ISO Sizes (A and B Series) – International Standard

The ISO A and ISO B paper sizes are used in over 100 countries worldwide. The system is based on a consistent aspect ratio of √2, making it easy to scale sizes up or down. Below are the common and average poster sizes used globally.

A Series Sizes (most common for posters)

• A0: 841 x 1189 mm (33.1 x 46.8 inches)
• A1: 594 x 841 mm (23.4 x 33.1 inches) (Common poster size for large prints)
• A2: 420 x 594 mm (16.5 x 23.4 inches) (Common poster size for medium prints)
• A3: 297 x 420 mm (11.7 x 16.5 inches) (Smaller posters, typically for personal use or advertisements)

B Series Sizes (less common for posters)

• B0: 1000 x 1414 mm (39.4 x 55.7 inches)
• B1: 707 x 1000 mm (27.8 x 39.4 inches) (Common in Europe for large posters)
• B2: 500 x 707 mm (19.7 x 27.8 inches)

ISO Poster Sizes Chart – Dimensions in mm, cm, inches, and pixels

* PPI (pixels per inch) = DPI (dots per inch) = Resolution
300 PPI is the best printing resolution of digital printer.

US Poster Sizes

Standard Poster Sizes 

8.5”x11” (Letter Poster), 11”x17” (Small Poster), 18”x24” (Medium Poster), and 24”x36” (Large Poster) are the average, standard, and most common poster sizes in US. 

8.5”x11”: Letter Poster

Letter Poster, as the name implies, is a poster made into letter size. The dimensions can also be expressed as  216 x 279 in mm and 21.6 x 27.9 in cm. Since Letter-sized paper is one of the most common office papers in America, it makes letter sized poster the most convenient since everyone can even print them with a regular desk printer.

Because of its small size, the poster can fit bulletin or shared community boards, and is more suitable for indoor use, it is very popular in small exhibition halls or corridors as a publicity medium.

11”x17”: Small Poster

The 11”x17” poster means that the poster is made by 11×17 paper, or other kind of flat surface materials of same dimensions. The dimensions is 279 x 432 in mm, or 27.9 x 43.2 in cm. 11”x17” paper size is actually a US standard ANSI B size, also called tabloid size or ledger size.

11”x17” poster is the smallest poster in the true sense. The letter size poster and A4 size poster look more like pasters on the wall, as it is difficult to read the information well at a distance over meters.

The poster size is ideal for indoor notifications or advertisements like in the corridors, rooms, entrance doors, and so forth. It’s slightly bigger than the leaflets so you can practically add more text, use a bigger font, and have some flexibility in layout design.

18”x24”: Medium Poster

The 18”x24” poster is slightly larger than the 11”x17” poster, measuring 457 x 610 in mm and 45.7 x 61.0 in cm. This size is right the standard Arch C size of American architectural paper, but in addition to making architectural drawings, it’s also great for posters.

18”x24” posters are suitable for both indoor display and outdoor posting. Therefore, in addition to being seen in shopping malls or office buildings, as a medium of advertising, posters of this size most often appear on campuses, outdoor bulletin boards and sidewalks. In the most comfortable and conventional sight distance, for example, 15 feet, the poster which combines prominent large fonts with photography or well-designed pictures, is very eye-catching.

Of course, posters of this size can also be used as movie posters in some small cinemas or theaters, or some small-scale film and television activities.

24”x36”: Large Poster

The 24” x 36” poster, measures 609.6 x 914.4 in mm and 61.0 x 91.4 in cm, which is a very eye-catching poster size outdoors. The size also is known as Architectural D in the United States, is a drawing size applicable to the construction industry; But it’s also a great size for making large posters too. It’s the ideal size to create eye-catching posters to which you can add vivid embellishments such as images, graphics, and special fonts.

24”x36” poster are very ideal for display in crowded places. This kind of posters are widely used in commercial exhibitions, holiday celebration venues, supermarket halls, sidewalks in business districts and so on. Large size bold text plus well-designed photos or patterns, a 24”x36” poster can easily catch people’s eyes at a distance of 30 feet, thus achieving good publicity effect.

Standard US Poster Sizes Chart – Dimensions in inches, mm, cm, and pixels

  * PPI (pixels per inch) = DPI (dots per inch) = Resolution
    300 PPI is the best printing resolution of digital printer.

US Movie Poster Size

Since its birth at the beginning of the 20th century, movies have become more and more deeply involved in daily life, and posters have gradually presented outstanding culture. From the original hand-painted posters, to later gradually evolved into all prints, and the size of movie posters has also undergone a long time of change.

Modern Movie Poster Sizes

In Nowadays, although there is no standard size requirement for a normal poster, in the American film industry, there are posters that can be called as in standard size. 27″x40″, 40″×60″, and 11″x17″ are the sizes used popularly now.

 – One-Sheet Size: 27″x40″, displayed in movie theater
 – Mini One-Sheet Size: 11″x17″, used in marketing campaigns, given away as collectibles, or printed as flyers.
 – 40″×60″: Displayed in subway stop and bus stop
 – 24″×36″: Sold online or in poster store and hang in dorm rooms

Modern US Movie Poster Sizes Chart – Dimensions in inches, mm, cm, and pixels

* PPI (pixels per inch) = DPI (dots per inch) = Resolution
300 PPI is the best printing resolution of digital printer.

One-Sheet Size poster is the most common standard poster size in the film industry in nowadays. Since the 1980s, the one-sheet size has been reduced from the original dimensions of 27″x41″ to current 27″x40″, and has been used ever since. Today, the 27″x40″ one-sheet size poster has become the standard, officially produced and distributed posters, as you can see in the lobby of the movie theater in every city.

Old Days US Movie Poster Sizes

The following table is a list of most movie poster sizes used until around the 1980s. Since then, One Sheets, reduced to 27 “X 40”, has been the only poster released in the US.

* PPI (pixels per inch) = DPI (dots per inch) = Resolution
300 PPI is the best printing resolution of digital printer.

European Poster Sizes

In Europe, the A-series is the dominant standard, with some variations based on regional needs or specific uses.

• A0: 841 x 1189 mm (33.1 x 46.8 inches)
  Used for large-scale posters like billboard prints.
• A1: 594 x 841 mm (23.4 x 33.1 inches)
  Standard size for movie posters, exhibitions, and commercial use.
• A2: 420 x 594 mm (16.5 x 23.4 inches)
  Common for event posters, announcements, and in-store promotions.
• A3: 297 x 420 mm (11.7 x 16.5 inches)
  Often used for smaller prints like flyers and local event posters.

Other Regional European Poster Sizes:

• B1: 707 x 1000 mm (27.8 x 39.4 inches) (Popular in the UK and parts of Western Europe)
• Royal: 610 x 915 mm (24 x 36 inches) (Used in the UK)
• Quad Crown: 610 x 915 mm (24 x 36 inches) (Used in the UK and some other countries for larger posters)

European Poster Sizes Chart – Dimensions in mm, cm, inches, and pixels

* PPI (pixels per inch) = DPI (dots per inch) = Resolution
300 PPI is the best printing resolution of digital printer.

UK Poster Sizes

The UK follows the A-series but also uses some imperial sizes that are tailored for commercial printing.

• A0: 841 x 1189 mm (33.1 x 46.8 inches)
• A1: 594 x 841 mm (23.4 x 33.1 inches)
• A2: 420 x 594 mm (16.5 x 23.4 inches)
• A3: 297 x 420 mm (11.7 x 16.5 inches)
• Royal: 610 x 915 mm (24 x 36 inches)
  (This size is common for theater, music, and film posters.)
• Quad Crown: 610 x 915 mm (24 x 36 inches)
  (Used for movie posters and promotional displays.)

In the UK, there is also a preference for imperial sizes (inches), particularly for movie posters:

• 27 x 40 inches (Used in cinema advertising, often referred to as a “one-sheet”)
• 20 x 30 inches (Used for smaller film posters, gallery prints, and limited editions)

UK Poster Sizes Chart – Dimensions in mm, cm, inches, and pixels

* PPI (pixels per inch) = DPI (dots per inch) = Resolution
300 PPI is the best printing resolution of digital printer.

Japan Poster Sizes

Japan has its own set of paper sizes, which tend to be larger than the A-series.

• B0: 1030 x 1456 mm (40.5 x 57.3 inches)
  (Large-scale posters used for advertising and events.)
• B1: 728 x 1030 mm (28.7 x 40.5 inches)
  (Used for posters in cinemas, stores, and public spaces.)
• B2: 515 x 728 mm (20.3 x 28.7 inches)
  (Common for smaller advertisements or posters for personal use.)

Japanese posters often have a distinctive vertical orientation, and sizes can vary slightly depending on the print service or publisher.

Japan Poster Sizes Chart – Dimensions in mm, cm, inches, and pixels

* PPI (pixels per inch) = DPI (dots per inch) = Resolution
300 PPI is the best printing resolution of digital printer.

Chinese Poster Sizes

In China, A-series sizes are widely used, but there are also some local preferences for specific sizes, particularly for advertising and entertainment.

• A0: 841 x 1189 mm (33.1 x 46.8 inches)
• A1: 594 x 841 mm (23.4 x 33.1 inches)
• A2: 420 x 594 mm (16.5 x 23.4 inches)
• 70 x 100 cm (27.6 x 39.4 inches)
  (Common size for large promotional posters, film promotions, and concerts.)

Larger poster sizes like A0 and A1 are often used in public spaces for advertising, while A2 and 70 x 100 cm sizes are common for retail and events.

Chinese Poster Sizes Chart – Dimensions in mm, cm, inches, and pixels

* PPI (pixels per inch) = DPI (dots per inch) = Resolution
300 PPI is the best printing resolution of digital printer.

Australian Poster Sizes

Australia primarily uses the A-series sizes, but some other formats like Royal (610 x 915 mm) are common for posters in retail and public spaces.

• A0: 841 x 1189 mm (33.1 x 46.8 inches)
• A1: 594 x 841 mm (23.4 x 33.1 inches)
• A2: 420 x 594 mm (16.5 x 23.4 inches)
• A3: 297 x 420 mm (11.7 x 16.5 inches)
• Royal: 610 x 915 mm (24 x 36 inches)
  (Used for larger poster formats, especially in cinema and public advertising.)

Posters in Australia typically follow the same metric-based standards used in Europe, with A1 being the most common for large posters.

Australian Poster Sizes Chart – Dimensions in mm, cm, inches, and pixels

* PPI (pixels per inch) = DPI (dots per inch) = Resolution
300 PPI is the best printing resolution of digital printer.

South American Poster Sizes

In South America, A-series sizes are widely adopted, similar to Europe, but some countries (like Brazil) also use US-based sizes, particularly for commercial posters.

• A0: 841 x 1189 mm (33.1 x 46.8 inches)
• A1: 594 x 841 mm (23.4 x 33.1 inches)
• A2: 420 x 594 mm (16.5 x 23.4 inches)
• 70 x 100 cm (27.6 x 39.4 inches)
  (Common in Brazil for film and event posters.)

In addition to these, certain US-based sizes are often used for commercial purposes:

• 24 x 36 inches (Similar to US “large poster” size)
• 27 x 40 inches (Common in movie theaters and for film posters.)

South American Poster Sizes Chart – Dimensions in mm, cm, inches, and pixels

* PPI (pixels per inch) = DPI (dots per inch) = Resolution
300 PPI is the best printing resolution of digital printer.

Metric vs. Imperial

One of the primary differences across these regions is the measurement system:

• Metric System: Common outside of the US, used by most countries in Europe, Asia, and Oceania (e.g., A0, A1, B1 sizes).
• Imperial System: Primarily used in the US, but also found in countries like the UK, especially for film and promotional posters (e.g., 24 x 36 inches, 27 x 40 inches).

Questions?

Let us know if there is anything unclear or you want more information about poster sizes.