Metal poster, canvas print and framed poster are three ways to put the same image on a wall, and they differ in material, finish, size range and how they hang. This guide compares them using the specifications on our own product pages, so you can see what you are actually buying. We have not run durability or fading tests, so we make no claims about how long any of them lasts.
At a glance
| Metal poster | Canvas print | Framed poster | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | 3 mm aluminium composite panel | Cotton-polyester canvas with a print coating, on a pine frame | 250 g/m² photo paper in a pine frame |
| Finish | Matte | Matte | Protective acrylic glass cover |
| Depth / thickness | 3 mm | Frame 0.75 in (1.9 cm) deep | Frame plus acrylic cover |
| Sizes | 20 × 30 cm up to 50 × 70 cm | Square 10 × 10 in up to 24 × 24 in; rectangles 8 × 10 in up to 36 × 24 in (91 × 61 cm), depending on motif | 8.3 × 11.7 in up to 20 × 28 in (51 × 71 cm), depending on motif |
| Hanging | Pre-mounted hanging hardware | Hanging hardware included | Hanging hardware included (the smallest size has a small metal opening on the back) |
| Indoor / outdoor | Supplier lists it as suitable for indoor and outdoor use; not tested outdoors by us, indoor use recommended | Not stated | Not stated |
| Cleaning | Water or mild soap, soft cloth | Dust with a clean, damp cloth | Dust with a clean, dry cloth |
All three are made to order. Production usually takes 2 to 7 business days and delivery times are in the shipping policy.
Metal poster: flat, rigid, thin
A metal poster is a panel, so it stays flat and does not stretch or sag. At 3 mm it sits close to the wall and suits a narrow hallway or a spot where a deeper canvas would stick out. It is the only one of the three that the supplier lists as suitable for indoor and outdoor use. We have not tested it outdoors and cannot say how it ages in sun, humidity or rain; for indoor use we recommend it without reservation, for outdoor use please check the supplier’s product details yourself. The largest size is 50 × 70 cm, or 3,500 cm². Example: Floating Cathedral Island Above Clouds Metal Poster. Browse metal posters.
Canvas print: texture and the largest sizes
A canvas print is cloth stretched over a pine frame, so it has a slight texture and a soft look without glass. It reaches the largest size of the three: 36 × 24 in is 91 × 61 cm, or 5,574 cm², about 1.6 times the area of the largest metal poster. The product details say sizes can deviate by about 1/8 in (3 mm). Because it has no glass cover, it reduces the mirror-like glare that glazing can create near a window, but it also has no cover over the surface. Example: Joshua Tree in Desert Canvas Print. Browse canvas prints.
Framed poster: paper, a frame colour and a cover
A framed poster is a paper print in a pine frame that you can choose in natural wood, black or white, behind a protective acrylic glass cover. That cover protects the paper but, like any glazed surface, can show reflections depending on the light in the room. The largest size is 20 × 28 in (51 × 71 cm), 3,613 cm², about the same area as the largest metal poster. Example: Barrel Sauna by Lake Framed Poster. Browse framed posters. If you would rather frame it yourself, buy the plain poster and read the paper guide.
Which should you choose?
| You want | Look at |
|---|---|
| The biggest picture for your money in area | Canvas, up to 91 × 61 cm |
| Something thin, rigid and wipeable | Metal poster |
| A frame colour that matches furniture, and paper detail | Framed poster |
| A wall opposite a bright window | Canvas or metal poster, which have no glass cover |
| A small gallery wall of matching sizes | Framed poster, see the gallery wall guide |
Worked example: a 160 cm sideboard
Using the 60 to 75 percent guideline, art above a 160 cm sideboard should be 96 to 120 cm wide. A single 36 × 24 in canvas is 91 cm, 57 percent: slightly under. Two portrait metal posters of 50 × 70 cm with a 5 cm gap are 105 cm wide, 66 percent. Two framed posters of 20 × 28 in (50.8 cm each) with a 5 cm gap are 106.6 cm, 67 percent. So on this piece of furniture the pair of smaller pieces fits the guideline better than the single canvas, and the choice between metal and framed becomes a question of finish and frame colour, not of size.
What is the same
The image, the production time and the made-to-order process are the same for all three. Each is printed after you order. The artwork is AI-generated or AI-modified, so the picture does not change from one type to the other, only the object that carries it.
Sizes depend on the motif
Not every motif is offered in every size. Print resolution limits the sizes: a motif that does not have enough pixels for a large print is offered only in smaller ones. Always read the size list on the product page, and use the size guide with your wall measurements before ordering.
Renting
A rigid piece with hanging hardware needs a fixing in the wall. If you rent, see how to hang without damaging the wall and consider leaning a framed piece on a shelf instead.
Returns
Because each item is printed for you, we cannot accept returns for a wrong size or style choice after delivery, except where you have a statutory right of withdrawal (14 days for consumers in Germany and the EU, return shipping at your cost) or warranty rights; measuring first is a recommendation. Defective or damaged items are handled under the refund policy.
Disclosure: the artworks named in this guide are AI-generated or AI-modified artwork, directed by Burak Basci. How that works is explained in What AI-generated wall art actually means.