Poster Sizes
Poster sizes are fairly standard nowadays with smaller posters being printed on standard paper sizes (A series in the UK/Europe and Ledger or Arch Series in the US). Larger posters are printed on billboard paper sizes. There are also special movie poster sizes that are fairly standard these days. Older movie posters, that are very collectible, have sizes that are specific to the country of origin.
UK Poster Sizes
Posters in the UK are now printed ISO 216 A series paper, apart from some movie posters and some large format posters. In the tables below sizes are given in portrait layout, swap the width and height for landscape layout.
ISO A Series Poster Sizes
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 2A0 | 1189 x 1682 mm | 46.8 x 66.2 in |
| A0 | 841 x 1189 mm | 33.1 x 46.8 in |
| A1 | 594 x 841 mm | 23.4 x 33.1 in |
| A2 | 420 x 594 mm | 16.5 x 23.4 in |
| A3 | 297 x 420 mm | 11.7 x 16.5 in |
| A4 | 210 x 297 mm | 8.3 x 11.7 in |
UK Billboard Poster Sizes
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sheet | 508 x 762 mm | 20 x 30 in |
| 2 Sheet | 762 x 1016 mm | 30 x 40 in |
| 4 Sheet | 1016 x 1524 mm | 40 x 60 in |
Single sheet billboard size is a hangover from British Imperial paper sizes having the dimensions of Double Crown. Find out more about larger billboard sizes here
UK Movie Poster Sizes
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Cards | 203.2 x 254.0 mm | 8 x 10 in |
| Double Crown | 508 x 762 mm | 20 x 30 in |
| One Sheet | 685.8 x 1016 mm | 27 x 40 in |
| Quad | 762 x 1016 mm | 30 x 40 in |
| Three Sheet | 1016 x 2057.4 mm | 40 x 81 in |
| Six Sheet | 2032 x 2057.4 mm | 80 x 81 in |
Notes:
Cards are "Front of House Cards" often for picking up when leaving a cinema.
Double Crown paper is also known as 1 Sheet for billboard posters, probably being called Double Crown for movie posters to avoid confusion with the One Sheet movie poster specific size.
Quad is also known as two sheet and may take its name from Quadruple Crown (i.e. double the size of the Double Crown paper).
British Three Sheet posters are sometimes given non-standard dimensions from 40 x 80 inch to 41 x 83 inch - probably caused by variations in print overlap for posting and uncut paper sizes.
British Six Sheet is sometimes given as 81 x 81 inch, again this may be due to variations in print overlap and uncut paper sizes.
US Poster Sizes
In the US posters are often sized Small, Medium and Large, with Letter paper sized posters being smaller than the Small size. Small posters are printed on Ledger paper, Medium poster are on Arch C and Large on Arch D. Click the following link for US billboard poster sizes. US movie posters again have their own set of sizes.
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Letter | 215.9 x 279.4 mm | 8.5 x 11 in |
| Small | 279.4 x 431.8 mm | 11 x 17 in |
| Medium | 457.2 x 609.6 mm | 18 x 24 in |
| Large | 609.6 x 914.4 mm | 24 x 36 in |
US Movie Poster Sizes
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Lobby Card | 279.4 x 355.6 mm | 11 x 14 in |
| Window Card | 355.6 x 558.8 mm | 14 x 22 in |
| Insert | 355.6 x 914.4 mm | 14 x 36 in |
| Half Sheet | 558.8 x 711.2 mm | 22 x 28 in |
| One Sheet | 685.8 x 1016 mm | 27 x 40 in |
| Three Sheet | 1041.4 x 2057.4 mm | 41 x 81 in |
| Six Sheet | 2057.4 x 2057.4 mm | 81 x 81 in |
| 30 x 40 Drive In | 762 x 1016 mm | 30 x 40 in |
| 40 x 60 Drive In | 1016 x 1524 mm | 40 x 60 in |
| Door Panels | 508 x 1524 mm | 20 x 60 in |
Notes:
Lobby Cards, Window Cards and Insert posters were produced on card stock.
Modern One Sheet is 27 x 40 inch, older one sheet posters were 27 x 41 inch (685.8 x 1041.4 mm).
The 81 x 81 inch Six Sheet is an inch smaller than two Three Sheet posters placed together.
French Poster Sizes
Most modern French poster sizes are from the ISO A series, with some suppliers offering B series sizes especially B1 and B2. French film posters come in standard but not ISO sizes.
French Movie Posters
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Petite | 400 x 600 mm | 15.7 x 23.6 in |
| Moyenne | 600 x 800 mm | 23.6 x 31.5 in |
| Pantalon | 600 x 1600 mm | 23.6 x 63.0 in |
| Demi-Grande | 800 x 1200 mm | 31.5 x 47.2 in |
| Grande | 1200 x 1600 mm | 47.2 x 63.0 in |
| Double Grande | 1600 x 2400 mm | 63.0 x 94.5 in |
Notes:
The 3 x 4 m billboard poster size is also sometimes used for movie posters.
German Poster Sizes
German posters take their sizes from the ISO A series paper sizes, including movie posters
Italian Poster Sizes
Italian posters are generally in ISO A & B series sizes with movie posters having their own set sizes.
Italian Movie Posters
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Un Foglio | 700 x 1000 mm | 27.6 x 39.4 in |
| Due Fogli | 1000 x 1400 mm | 39.4 x 55.1 in |
| Quattro Fogli | 1400 x 2000 mm | 55.1 x 78.7 in |
| Locandina | 330 x 700 mm | 13.0 x 27.6 in |
| Photobusta | 500 x 700 mm | 19.7 x 27.6 in |
Australian Poster Sizes
Australian posters are usually ISO 216 A4 - 2A0, B1 and B0 in size. As in many countries movie posters come in their own special sizes, having derived from Imperial sizes used before the introduction of ISO 216.
Australian Movie Posters
| Size | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Lobby Card | 279.4 x 355.6 mm | 11 x 14 in |
| Daybill | 660.4 x 762 mm | 26 x 30 in |
| One Sheet | 685.8 x 1016 mm | 27 x 40 in |
| Three Sheet | 1041.4 x 2057.4 mm | 41 x 81 in |
Notes:
Prior to 1980 different Daybill sizes were in use with common formats being 14 x 40 inch (Long Daybill), 13 x 27 inch, 10 x 30 inch (wartime) and 13 x 30 inch (post-war).