What Does It Cost to Frame an Art Print? Build a Complete Display Budget
The cost to frame an art print is not one number. Add the print, the frame, any mat or glazing upgrade, mounting supplies, delivery and tax as separate lines, then compare a ready-made frame with a custom quote only after both cover the same components. The two examples below were observed on October 7, 2026. They are dated snapshots, not a typical price range.
Start with the pieces of the finished display
An unframed print is the paper artwork only. According to Known Elsewhere's own explanation, it comes without a frame, mat, glass, hanging hardware or mounting service. Each of those is a separate decision, and each can be a separate charge.
A useful budget has one line per component:
| Line | Ready-made example (8×10) | Custom example (up to 9×12) | Your quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| $29.00 | $29.00 | ||
| Frame | $3.99 | Included in service price | |
| Mat | Not included in the listing | Included in described service | |
| Glazing | Listed front is polystyrene | Included in described service | |
| Mounting or hardware | Unknown, may need added supplies | Included in described service | |
| Service or mailing fee | No custom service assumed | $115 service + $10 mail-in | |
| Shipping | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Sales tax | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Subtotal before shipping, tax and extras | $32.99 | $154.00 |
Copy the table into a spreadsheet and replace the last column with your own figures. Leave a cell blank or write "unknown" instead of guessing. An allowance, such as a few dollars for picture-hanging supplies, is your own estimate and should be labeled that way, not mixed in with observed prices.
Example one: an unframed print in a ready-made frame
The Last Branch by Known Elsewhere is sold as an unframed print on matte paper. On the public product page, the selected 8×10 size was $29.00, within a size range of $29.00 to $59.00.
The IKEA US listing for the FISKBO black 8×10 frame showed $3.99 for article 505.849.38, with a picture size of 8×10 inches, a depth of 1/2 inch and a polystyrene front. The listing excludes art, shipping, tax and added mounting supplies.
The arithmetic: $29.00 + $3.99 = $32.99 before tax, shipping and extras.
What this does not tell you: nobody here tested whether this print fits this frame, whether the frame is in stock near you, or how the frame holds up over time. The listing does not describe a mat. If you want a border, price a mat separately. The sizing article linked below explains why a matted look usually needs a larger frame with a mat opening cut for the print.
Example two: a custom quote for physical art
Framebridge's pricing page, read October 7, 2026, listed $115 for existing physical artwork up to 9×12 inches, with mailing the artwork adding $10. The described service includes frame, mat, glazing and mounting. Checkout, tax and availability were not tested.
The arithmetic: $115 + $10 mail-in + $29 print = $154 before tax and any other fees.
One caution: the same page mentions a $90 price for small digital photo printing and framing. That is a different service, so it is not used here. Comparing it with a framed paper print would understate the cost.
The first price is for an 8×10 ready-made frame. The custom-service price covers physical artwork up to 9×12, including the same 8×10 print used here, and bundles a mat, glazing and mounting. The custom frame’s finished outside size is not quoted. The $121.01 difference compares known subtotals with different included components; it does not establish which display offers better value.
Compare quotes on the same terms
Before you put two totals side by side, check each one against this list:
- Is the frame size the print size, or a larger frame with a mat?
- Is a mat included, and who cuts the opening?
- What is the glazing, and is it included?
- Is mounting or hanging hardware included?
- Is there a mailing, handling or minimum fee?
- Is shipping to your address stated, and is it free or charged?
- Is sales tax added at checkout?
- What date is the price, and does it apply to your exact size?
- Does the quote include the print, or only framing?
Mat color is a style choice, not a cost rule. One framing retailer's article, dated May 2023, notes that white mats vary from warm to cool and that screens show color differently, so a physical sample helps. That is styling guidance, not a conservation specification.
Decide, then recheck
A ready-made frame is likely the cheaper route when the size is standard and you are content with the included parts. A custom quote earns its price when you want a mat, specific glazing or professional mounting, and you can confirm all of that is in the total. The dollar figures here are dated October 7, 2026. Frame prices, shipping and tax change, so rebuild the table with fresh listings before you buy.
For fit questions, see How to Frame 8×10, 11×14, 16×20, and 18×24 Prints. For what an unframed order includes, see What Does Unframed Art Print Mean?.