Framed prints are a product many wall art sellers overlook, usually for a sensible reason. Holding stock of framed posters means buying in bulk, storing something bulky and fragile, and absorbing the losses when a corner gets knocked.
Print on demand removes all of that. Nothing is framed until an order comes in, there is no minimum quantity, and you never store anything. The result is a higher value product you can add without holding any additional stock.
This guide covers why framed prints are worth adding, how to choose sizes and finishes, what to say in your listings, and and how to price and deliver them without losing the margin.
Why framed prints suit print on demand
- No stock, and none of the storage problem. Framed goods are awkward to hold as inventory because they are bulky and take up space. Print on demand removes the issue entirely.
- Higher value per order than the same artwork sold unframed, without needing a new design.
- It uses artwork you already have. If you sell posters, the framed version is a listing rather than a project.
- It removes a barrier for the buyer. Someone who likes a print still has to buy a frame, measure it and fit it. A number of them give up at that point.
- Strong gift appeal. Gift buyers usually want something ready to give, not something that needs assembling first.
- Fewer variants than apparel. Size and frame finish, and nothing else to manage.
The trade off is that framed prints are heavier and cost more to deliver, which is the one thing worth getting right before you list them.
What buyers are actually paying for
It helps to be clear about this, because it determines how you write the listing.
Very few people buy a framed print because they want a frame. They buy it because they want the thing finished. No trip to a shop, no measuring, no discovering the frame is a slightly different size, no fitting it badly.
That convenience can support a higher selling price than the unframed version. Listings that lead with “ready to hang” tend to do more work than listings that lead with the frame specification.
Who tends to buy framed prints
- Gift buyers. Birthdays, weddings, new homes, retirements and anniversaries. They want it ready to give.
- People furnishing a room properly such as new home owners and home décor enthusisasts.
- Buyers of personalised work. Names, dates, coordinates, family details. Personalised prints and framing go together, since the print is already meaningful enough to finish properly.
- Anyone buying at the last minute. Framed prints don't require any extra work and are ready on arrival.
Choosing sizes and finishes
Keep the range small. Every additional option is another decision the customer has to make before buying.
- Offer a few sizes, not many. Four or five covers most walls, and a shorter list makes the choice easier rather than harder.
- State dimensions in both centimetres and inches, and say whether the measurement is the frame or the print.
- Be clear what is included. Whether there is a mount, what the glazing is, and whether hanging hardware comes with it. These are three of the main details buyers want clarified before ordering.
- Limit frame colours. Black, white and natural wood are usually enough to cover the most common interior styles. More choice tends to slow the decision rather than widen the appeal.
Getting the artwork right
Most of this carries over from unframed prints, with a few differences that matter once something sits behind glazing.
- Work at 300 dpi at final print size, and never enlarge a smaller image.
- Match the aspect ratio to the frame. A design that fills an A-series frame will crop differently in an inch based one.
- Leave room at the edges. A mount or frame lip covers a few millimetres of the print, so anything important should sit well inside.
- Expect colour to sit slightly darker. Paper reflects rather than emits light, and glazing can flatten it further.
Pricing and margins
Framed prints can offer a stronger margin than the same artwork sold unframed, and they are also where sellers are most reluctant to price properly.
- Price on the finished product, not the parts. Customers are not adding up the cost of a print and a frame. They are comparing it to a framed print in a shop.
- Use size as a price ladder. A larger framed print justifies a considerably higher price, and offering three sizes often moves buyers to the middle one.
- Show the unframed price alongside it. Seeing both makes the framed version look like a choice rather than an expense.
- Do not discount to compete. At this point, buyers are often weighing convenience and presentation as much as price.
Build the price from base cost, then platform fees and payment processing, then your margin. The full breakdown is in the guide to what it costs to start a print on demand business, and current costs are on the pricing page.
Delivery
This is the part that decides whether framed prints are worth selling, and it is where they differ most from every other product.
A framed print is heavier and more vulnerable in transit than an unframed poster, which normally makes delivery the most expensive part of the order. That cost has to go somewhere, and it usually ends up either eroding your margin or appearing at checkout and losing the sale.
Tundra Print includes free delivery on every product, to over 40 countries, with no minimum order. That matters particularly on framed prints, where delivery charges are normally much higher than on lightweight apparel or paper products.
Common mistakes
- Only offering unframed prints. The framed version costs nothing extra to list and carries more value.
- Too many frame and size combinations. More options usually means slower decisions.
- Not saying what is included. Mount, glazing and hanging hardware are the three most common pre purchase questions.
- Artwork designed for a different aspect ratio. The design will have to be cropped, which could negatively alter your artwork.
- Using artwork, lyrics or characters you do not own. The risk is the same as on any other product.
Frequently asked questions
Are framed prints worth selling as print on demand?
Yes. They tend to carry a higher value per order than the same artwork unframed, and print on demand removes the storage and breakage problems that normally make framed stock unattractive.
Do I need to hold stock of frames?
No. Nothing is framed until an order comes in, and there is no minimum quantity, so adding framed versions costs you listing time rather than money.
How much more should a framed print cost than an unframed one?
Enough to cover the frame and leave a better margin than the unframed version. Customers are comparing it to a framed print in a shop, not to your own poster listing.
What frame colours should I offer?
A short list. Black, white and perhaps a wooden colour suit most interiors, and a shorter list makes the decision easier for the buyer.
Can I sell the same artwork framed and unframed?
Yes, and it is usually worth doing. It is the same artwork file listed twice, and it lets the buyer choose between price and convenience rather than choosing whether to buy at all.
Where to start
- Add framed versions of the prints that are already selling
- Offer four or five sizes and a small number of frame colours
- State clearly what is included, in both centimetres and inches
- Photograph them hanging in a room, at a believable scale
- Confirm what is included before you write the listings
Traditionally, selling framed prints meant taking on more stock, storage and transit risk than selling unframed artwork. Print on demand removes most of that burden, making framed prints one of the simplest ways to raise the value of a wall art range without creating new artwork.
You can see the full range and current costs on the framed poster page and across the wall art collection. For more on the unframed side, see the guide to selling print on demand posters.