How Far Apart Should Two Prints Hang?
Measure the empty space between the hanging outer edges, then add both outers plus the gap.
If you’re asking how far apart to hang two prints, start with 3 inches between the hanging outer edges. Use 2 inches for a tight pair that reads as one unit, or 4 inches for a looser large pair. Measure unframed print width, or the intended mat/frame outer width if known. Two unframed 16×20 portraits with a 3-inch gap make a 35-inch pair.
At a glance
- The gap is between hanging outer edges, not paper edges if a mat or frame is planned.
- Use 3 inches as the default starting gap; 2 inches tight, 4 inches loose.
- Formula: pair_width = outer_a + gap + outer_b.
- For unframed Known Elsewhere portrait prints, supported widths are 8, 11, 16, and 18 inches, with landscape mirrors.
- This page covers horizontal gap math only; size scale, height, and framing details belong to separate guides.
Measure the hanging outer, not just the art
Before choosing the gap, decide what the wall will actually receive: bare paper, a matted frame, or another finished outer size. The number you need is the full outside width of each hanging piece.
- If the prints are unframed with no mat planned, use the print width as the outer width.
- If a mat or frame is planned and you know the final outside width, use that finished outer width.
- If the finished outer width is not known yet, do not guess extra inches; pause the final pair-width calculation.
- Write the two inputs as outer_a and outer_b, even when both prints are the same size.
Use a 2–4 inch starting gap
For two prints meant to read as a pair, the gap should usually stay small enough that the eye groups them together. Treat these as styling starting points, not a building code.
- Pair-width formula: pair_width = outer_a + gap + outer_b.
- Keep the same formula for matching or near-matching prints.
- The gap is the empty space between the two finished outside edges.
| Pair reading | Starting gap between outers |
|---|---|
| Tight pair that reads as one unit | 2 in |
| Default two-print pair | 3 in |
| Looser pair or larger 18×24 prints | 4 in |
Worked examples for unframed pairs
Known Elsewhere prints are sold unframed, so an unframed calculation can use the print width directly. If a mat or frame changes the finished outside width, recompute with that finished width instead.
| Case | Inputs | Pair-width result |
|---|---|---|
| Default 16×20 portrait pair | outer_a = 16 in; gap = 3 in; outer_b = 16 in | 16 + 3 + 16 = 35 in |
| Tight 11×14 portrait pair | outer_a = 11 in; gap = 2 in; outer_b = 11 in | 11 + 2 + 11 = 24 in |
| Same 16×20 pair with a larger matted frame | Use the finished outer width for each piece; keep the gap in the 2–4 in band | Recompute pair_width with the known finished outers |
Stop before the pair reads as two separate hangs
A wider gap can work intentionally, but once the empty space grows beyond about 5 inches, the two pieces usually stop reading as one pair. At that point, solve the larger wall layout instead of stretching this rule.
- If the gap is more than 5 inches, treat the pieces as separate hangs or a broader wall layout.
- If the prints are different sizes, keep the same 2–4 inch gap band and align tops or centers.
- If the pair looks too small for the wall, the print sizes may be the issue, not the gap.
- If the vertical mark is unresolved, finish height separately after the pair width is known.
Choose this if / Avoid this if
Choose this if
- You are hanging exactly two prints and want them to read as one pair.
- You can measure each hanging outer width, either unframed or finished.
- You need the finished pair width before marking the wall.
Avoid this if
- You are deciding how wide art should be above a sofa or large furniture piece.
- You need the vertical hanging height rather than the side-to-side gap.
- You are building a full one-wall layout with three or more pieces.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2 inches too close for unframed prints?
Not if the goal is a tight pair. A 2-inch gap can help two small unframed prints read as one unit. If the pair feels crowded, move to the 3-inch default before changing the print size.
Do I measure the paper or the frame?
Measure the finished outside width of what will hang. If the print will be unframed, use the paper width. If a mat or frame is planned and its final outer size is known, use that larger outside width.
Should two different sizes use the same gap?
Yes, start with the same 2–4 inch gap band. Then align the tops or centers so the pair has one clear visual rule. Do not invent a second spacing system just because the sizes differ.
Method & sources
How we know
This guide applies a Known Elsewhere editorial spacing heuristic to measurable print outers. Known Elsewhere publishes original unframed art prints on archival matte paper in fixed made-to-order sizes for U.S. fulfillment.
What this is based on
- The 2, 3, and 4 inch gaps are labeled as styling starting points, not code requirements.
- The pair-width formula uses visible inputs: outer_a, gap, and outer_b.
- Supported sizes and unframed product state are taken from Known Elsewhere commerce and size-guide records.
- Framing guidance is limited to using known finished outer dimensions; no frame profile or mat dimension is invented.
Limits
- This article does not decide total art width above furniture.
- This article does not set the vertical hanging height.
- This article does not cover three-print layouts or full gallery-wall planning.
- Room photos may show frames for styling context, but Known Elsewhere prints are sold unframed.