Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
Your poster is probably an odd size that no standard store frame fits. That 20 by 27 inch format sits right between common poster sizes — too big for an 18×24, too small for a 24×36. That odd size is why custom framing quotes run into triple digits while a ready-made 20×27 frame costs a fraction of that. The nine frames here all fit the real 20×27 opening, but they solve the problem in different ways: some give you a mat so a 16×24 print looks intentional, some ship as a two- or three-pack for gallery walls, and a few use real wood molding instead of plastic. The short answer: the PEALSN two-pack is the strongest all-rounder, the ArtToFrames soft-white is the best value for a light-colored frame, and the Craig Frames has the sturdiest wood grain for a glued puzzle.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind KitchPrep. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
Frames look identical in a thumbnail and wildly different on your wall, so the material, the cover, and how the back opens are what matter. Here is what separates a keeper from a return with 20 x 27 frame.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best 20 X 27 Frame
A 20×27 frame is a structural decision, not a decorative afterthought. Get the opening size wrong and your print slides around behind the glass. Get the material wrong and the frame shows every fingerprint or every reflection. Get the hanging hardware wrong and you are drilling new holes two weeks later. These are the four things worth checking before you order.
Opening size versus finished size
Those are two different numbers, and mixing them up is the single most common mistake. The opening is the visible window your art sits behind; the finished size is the outside edge of the whole frame. A 20×27 frame can have a finished size of 22 by 29 inches — the ArtToFrames model here works exactly that way. That matters on narrow walls, above doorways, or anywhere you have already measured the space. Measure the wall first, then check the finished size, then confirm the opening.
Mat or no mat
A mat is the cardboard border that sits between your art and the frame edge. It lets one frame hold two different print sizes: a 16×24 poster with the mat in place, or a full 20×27 poster with the mat removed. Several frames here work that way, including the PEALSN set and the Abtgt three-pack. If you own prints in both sizes, a mat-equipped frame gives you flexibility without buying twice.
Cover material: what protects your print
Plexiglass and acrylic are the two clear plastics used in almost every ready-made frame here, and both are lighter and more shatter-resistant than real glass. The trade-off is surface softness — plastic scratches if you clean it with a dry cloth. Real glass shows fewer micro-scratches but adds weight and arrives broken more often. For most 20×27 posters and puzzles, plastic is the practical answer, and the Craig Frames model is a good example of clear plexiglass doing the job well.
How the back opens
Rotating clips let you swap art by twisting a tab, while bendable metal tabs mean you are prying with your fingers each time. The Americanflat frame uses swivel tabs that avoid that pinch entirely. If you plan to change the print inside more than once, this detail shows up every single time you do it.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Pack Size | Frame Material | Cover Material | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEALSN 20×27 Puzzle Frame Set of 2★ Best Overall | Mat flexibility plus a spare | 2 frames | Engineered Wood | Plastic | Amazon |
| ArtToFrames 20×27 White Picture FrameBest Value | Light-colored frames on a budget | 1 frame | Engineered Wood | Acrylic | Amazon |
| Craig Frames 20×27 Black Wooden FrameBest for Puzzles | Framing glued jigsaw puzzles | 1 frame | Plastic, Wood | Acrylic | Amazon |
| Americanflat 20×27 Poster Frame | Wide-molding gallery look | 1 frame | Engineered Wood | Plexiglass | Amazon |
| Rustic Walnut 20×27 Frame | Warm woodgrain decor | 1 frame | PS (Polystyrene) | Acrylic | Amazon |
| YiTanli Puzzle Frame 20×27 2 Pack | Repeat buyers stocking up | 2 frames | Engineered Wood | Plexiglass | Amazon |
| JCJMY 20×27 Picture Frame Set of 2 | Child-safe glass replacement | 2 frames | Plastic | Plexiglass | Amazon |
| WallsThatSpeak 20×27 Brown Frame | Rustic pine finish on a budget | 1 frame | Engineered Wood | Acrylic | Amazon |
| Abtgt 20×27 Puzzle Frame 3 Pack | Wall-covering multi-frame value | 3 frames | Engineered Wood | Plexiglass | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. PEALSN 20×27 Puzzle Frame Set of 2, for Wall Mounting Display, Black
Our pick — over 4.5★ from 750+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
One frame, two poster sizes — and you get two of them.
This is the pick that solves the size problem twice over. Order it and you receive 2 picture frames, each built to display a 16×24 poster with the mat in place or a full 20×27 poster once you pull the mat out. That single feature means the same box works for the small art print you already own and the oversized poster you buy next month. The back is a Medium Density Fiberboard board — the pressed wood composite most frames use — which keeps the print flat rather than letting it bow behind the cover.
What wins people over is the build quality, and by a wide margin it is the most-praised thing about this set. The look follows close behind, which is why you get comments like these frames turning a child’s dinosaur prints into something that reads as far more polished than the price would suggest. Assembly barely registers as a task; owners describe sliding a painting in and having the whole thing framed in under a minute. Hanging runs both directions too, so a landscape poster and a portrait print can share the same wall without one of them looking like a mistake.
The honest catch is weight and feel. Each frame comes in at 4.52 kg for the pair, and the engineered wood reads as plastic-like in the hand rather than solid. A few buyers report the finish does not survive rough handling, and the recurring note across the listing is that one panel can arrive cracked. It also calls for a bit more care on the wall than the ArtToFrames model, which carries the same 4.5 rating but with a slightly lighter 4.4 pound build per frame.
What earns its place
- Two frames in one box — a complete gallery pairing rather than a single start
- Holds 16×24 with the mat or 20×27 without, so one purchase covers both print sizes
- MDF backing keeps the poster flat instead of bowing behind the cover
- Hangs horizontally or vertically from the included suspension hardware on the back
Where it asks more of you
- 4.52 kg for the pair — noticeably heavier than the ArtToFrames pick at 4.4 pounds per frame
- Engineered wood finish feels plastic-like rather than solid wood
- Occasional reports of a panel arriving cracked in transit
Buy it if: you own both a 16×24 print and a full-size poster and want one order to handle both.
Look past it if: you want a single frame and no spares taking up closet space.
2. ArtToFrames 20×27 Inch White Picture Frame, This 1.2500 Inch Custom Poster Frame is Soft White
The soft-white odd-size specialist that skips the mat entirely.
If the art on your wall is light, bright, or Scandinavian in feel, this is the frame that disappears into the room and lets the print lead. It arrives in Soft White with 1.2500 inch wide molding, which is wide enough to read as a deliberate border instead of a thin lip. The build is engineered wood with a matte finish, and the color is less stark than pure white — closer to a greige, which is why buyers describe it as fitting modern and rustic rooms alike.
Here is the number almost nobody checks until it is too late: the finished size is 22×29 inches, not 20×27. The frame is made to order around a 20×27 opening, so the outside edge adds an inch on every side. Confirm that against your wall before ordering. The lip that covers your photo is 0.2500 inch, and the rabbet — the gap between that lip and the back of the frame — is 0.3750 inch, which sets the maximum thickness of art this frame can hold. A flat poster slides in easily; a thick mounted canvas will not close.
Where this one really separates itself is artwork depth. Raised-relief prints and textured maps sit inside without being crushed flat against the cover, something a thinner frame simply cannot do. It ships with acrylic, corrugated backing, wire, nails and hooks for wall mounting, so there is no separate hardware run. The recurring gripe is that included wire: buyers have found the hanging wire short and the nail undersized for a frame this size, and swapping in sturdier hardware is a cheap fix worth doing before you hang it.
Room for thick art: a 0.3750 inch rabbet gives raised prints and mounted pieces the clearance they need to sit without being flattened.
Measure twice: 22×29 inches finished is more wall than a standard 20×27 frame, so this is the one to double-check against your space.
Reach for this if: you want a light-colored frame that suits bright rooms and can hold art with real thickness.
Choose another if: you cannot spare the extra two inches of wall on each side.
3. Craig Frames 20×27 Black Wooden Picture Frame with Clear Plexiglass for Wall Display, Puzzles, or Posters
Built for the puzzle you spent three weekends finishing.
Framing a glued jigsaw is a different job than framing a poster, because a puzzle is rigid, slightly uneven, and has no margin to spare. This one is sized for exactly that. The inside opening measures 19.5 by 26.5 inches with a 21×28 inch outer edge and 0.75 inch molding, so a standard 27×20 inch 1000-piece puzzle drops in with a small gap on each side. Owners bridge that gap with a strip of black poster board behind the puzzle, which also covers the glued seams.
The wood grain finish is what this frame is known for, and it is the thing buyers come back for. It reads as real wood from a few feet away, which is a real step up from the flat painted plastic most frames at this size use. Plexiglass handles the front; it stays clear, keeps dust off the finished puzzle, and unlike glass it will not explode into shards if the frame takes a knock. One word of warning from the listing that is worth repeating: the plexiglass is reflective, so keep this away from a window that gets direct sun or you will be looking at yourself instead of your puzzle.
Setup asks a little more of you than the two-pack sets. You screw a metal hook to the back and choose portrait or landscape orientation yourself. The wood here is dense, and driving those screws by hand is genuinely hard work — drilling a pilot hole first is the difference between a five-minute job and a split frame. Also worth knowing: this single frame weighs 5 pounds, heavier than the ArtToFrames at 4.4 pounds, so use a wall anchor that suits the weight.
This one is for: puzzle finishers who want a genuine wood-grain look and a cover that will not shatter.
Keep shopping if: you want to open the box and hang it in two minutes with no screwdriver involved.
4. Americanflat 20×27 Poster Frame – Engineered Wood – Black
The wide black border that makes a cheap poster look deliberate.
This is the frame for the concert poster that has been sitting rolled in a tube for six months. It comes in Black on durable engineered wood with wide molding, a veneer finish, and a polished plexiglass front, and the overall result is the classic gallery black that reads as intentional rather than improvised. The included hanging hardware works for both vertical and horizontal placement, so a portrait gig poster and a landscape film poster can both go up without an adapter.
The detail that separates it from cheaper frames is how the back opens. Swivel tabs rotate out of the way instead of bending, which means no pinched fingers and no metal fatigue after a few swaps. Buyers who compared it directly against another brand’s frame called out those swivel tabs as the deciding difference — easier and safer than prying at bendable metal, and kind to your knuckles every time you change the print.
The material is where opinions split. Some people love the polished plexiglass and say it looks just like glass; others want real glass and find the plastic disappointing. The surface is also softer than glass, so clean it with a damp cloth rather than a dry one. It also arrives with removable protective film on both sides, and leaving that on by mistake is a common and entirely self-inflicted mistake. Take it off before you hang.
The knuckle-saver: swivel tabs instead of bendable metal make swapping prints painless, which matters if this frame will hold a rotating poster.
Know what you are getting: the front is polished plexiglass, not glass — perfectly clear, but softer to the touch than the real thing.
Pick this one if: you want a wide black frame that flatters a poster and a back you can open without tools.
Step over it if: only real glass will satisfy you.
5. Rustic Walnut 20×27 Frame – Single Frame, 20 x 27 Poster Frame for Artwork, Puzzles, Photos and Movie Posters
A deep walnut tone that makes an ordinary print look vintage.
Black frames are the safe default; this one takes the other road. It arrives in a walnut tone with a textured finish, built from PS — that is polystyrene, a rigid plastic molded to imitate woodgrain — and the result is warm and old-school rather than crisp and modern. The texture runs through the surface instead of sitting flat on top, which is the difference between a convincing wood look and an obviously printed one. If you are framing a vintage movie print, a lithograph, or anything with a retro palette, this is the frame that agrees with it.
The acrylic front is the practical part of the story. It is lightweight, shatterproof, and ships with a removable protective film on both sides, so you peel off the film after installing the print and get a clean cover with no handling marks. That film is easy to miss, and leaving it on is why some people think their new frame looks cloudy. Two metal hooks on the back let it hang vertically or horizontally. The back opens with a twist of the metal clips, so swapping the print is a few seconds of work.
Size is the one thing to get right here. This frame holds a full 20×27 picture without a mat, so there is no mat to shim a smaller print — you need a 20×27 piece of art. The outer dimensions run slightly larger than the opening, and buyers have noted the sizing is not always perfect, which is what you expect from a molded frame. As long as your print is nominally 20×27, it works.
The look: textured walnut with a non-flat surface gives a vintage feel that plain black molding cannot match.
The material truth: the frame is PS plastic with a woodgrain texture, not real wood — the finish is convincing, but the wall-hung weight reflects it.
Made for: retro and vintage prints that want a warm wood tone behind them.
Not the one for: prints smaller than 20×27, since there is no mat to fill the gap.
6. Puzzle Frame 20×27 2 Pack, for 27×20 in Poster and Art Print, Black
The pair people buy a fourth time without thinking about it.
There is a pattern in the reviews here that you rarely see: buyers coming back for their third and fourth set. Repeat buyers at this rate are the strongest signal in the listing. The frames are engineered wood in a matte black finish with an HD shatterproof plexiglass front, and they are sized for 27×20 photos, posters, and prints. Two come per order, which makes them easy to build out a wall of matching frames as your collection grows.
The design goal is avoiding fuss. There is no mat and no adapter — you open the back, lay your print in, close it. The back opens on a rotating buckle design, so you twist it open, place the print, and twist it back into the locked position. From there the dedicated hanging hardware on the back takes over and you choose horizontal or vertical mounting. Owners describe putting them up as straightforward and quick, which is exactly what you want from a frame.
Where this pack earns its keep is on the wall itself. The black frame against a white wall is a high-contrast look, and buyers hunting for an inexpensive way to display large prints they did not want to pay specialty framing prices keep landing on this set. Two frames for this price undercut what a custom shop would charge for a single 20×27.
Why the repeat buyers return
- Two frames per order makes building a matched wall affordable in one move
- Rotating buckle back opens and locks by hand — no tools needed
- Shatterproof HD plexiglass front protects the print without glass-splinter risk
- Dedicated hanging hardware on the back supports vertical or horizontal mounting
Small print on the box
- No mat included, so the frame expects a true 20×27 print
- Matte black finish shows dust quickly against light walls
- Engineered wood construction rather than solid wood, in line with the mid-range category
The right buy for: anyone planning a multi-frame wall and wanting matching pieces without rebuying singles.
Skip the second pair if: you only have one print to hang and no plans for more.
7. JCJMY 20×27 Picture Frame Set of 2 Black for Puzzles Poster Photo Picture, Horizontal and Vertical Formats
The plastic front that removes glass-shard worry from a child’s room.
Hanging framed art at kid height changes the calculation. Glass breaks; plastic does not. This two-pack is built from plastic with a shatterproof plastic plexiglass front, and the listing makes the point plainly: it is the safer option for anyone with children, since there is no glass to shatter if the frame gets knocked or falls. That is a real feature, not a marketing flourish, and it is why this set works well in bedrooms, playrooms, and anywhere a frame is within reach.
Installing is tool-free. There is a rotating tab on the back, so you swing it open, drop in the photo, and rotate it fixed. Two hooks on the back let you hang the frame vertically or horizontally, which means one product covers both orientations without bending anything. The finish is a painted black on a lightweight plastic body, so putting a frame up and adjusting it later is genuinely easy — and it will not overwhelm a wall hook rated for light loads.
Size runs slightly larger than the stated opening, and the listing is upfront about it: the visible display opening is about 0.5 inch smaller than the photo, which is the lip that holds the photo in place, not a defect. If your print is exactly 20×27 with no bleed, plan for a slight crop at the edges or accept a thin border. The removable film on the plexiglass has two sides, and peeling both is what gives you a clean, scratch-free front.
Built for houses with kids: the shatterproof plastic front means there is nothing to break if the frame takes a hit.
Plan for the lip: the viewing window runs about 0.5 inch smaller than the photo, so a full-bleed print will lose its edge.
Best suited to: parents and pet owners who want framed art on the wall without glass risk.
Think twice if: your artwork has a signature or text running right to the paper edge.
8. WallsThatSpeak 20×27 Brown Picture Frame, Wall Decor for Art and Photos
A timeworn pine finish for wall art that should look lived-in.
This frame is for the room that already has wood, linen, and warm neutrals in it. The finish is described as timeworn rustic pine with a light walnut underlay and a narrow flat face, and the material is BonanzaWood from Framerica — a composite made by collecting and milling residual wood into uniform particles, then forming the board under heat and pressure. The point of that process is a smooth, solid surface that looks like solid wood without the solid-wood cost. The front is rigid plexiglass, chosen for being durable and shatterproof, so hanging it in a hallway or above a sideboard is not a breakage hazard.
Hardware is included but not installed. You get a sawtooth hanger to attach yourself, and it works for vertical or horizontal hanging, so both orientations are open to you. A plastic safety sheet on the plexiglass protects it during shipping and comes off before you hang the frame — again a step people skip and then wonder why the view looks hazy.
The photographs in the listing suggest this frame suits vintage travel posters particularly well, and the narrow flat face means it will not compete with a busy print. The finish is the draw; the construction is honestly what the category delivers at this level, and buyers have flagged that the wood-tone look is a contact paper finish over manufactured wood. It is a look-alike, not solid wood, and the price asks you to accept that trade.
The finish is the point: timeworn rustic pine with light walnut underlay gives an antique look without the antique weight or cost.
Set expectations on material: the wood tone comes from a composite surface, not solid wood — the appearance is real, the material is not.
Choose this if: you want a warm, rustic finish that suits a lived-in room rather than a pristine one.
Move on if: solid wood construction is a firm requirement.
9. Abtgt 20×27 Puzzle Frame with 16×24 Mat for Wall Art, 3 Pack Black
Three matted frames so a blank wall stops being blank.
Covering a whole wall is a different problem than hanging one poster, and this three-pack is built for it. Each frame displays a 16×24 print with the mat in place or a full 20×27 piece with the mat out, so a mixed collection of small art and large posters can all go up from one order. The frames are built from durable MDF with a clear plexi front, and the back panel carries its own hanging hardware for vertical or horizontal wall mounting. You can also stand them on a table instead of hanging them, which is useful for a shelf or a console.
The finish is semi-gloss black, which reads as clean and contemporary rather than matte or shiny, and the black frame with a white wall is the gallery look that buyers keep pointing to. Weight is manageable. Owners note these are not too heavy, which makes them easier to hang high without wrestling a heavy frame onto a nail. The mat doubles as a pause for the eye, giving a smaller print more breathing room than a bare opening would.
Two practical notes before you order. First, the plexiglass ships with a protective film that has to come off for a clear view; if the glass looks scratched at first, it is almost always the film. Second, the durability of any individual frame in the box can vary. A few arrive with chips or scratches, and the backing clips have been called flimsy by some buyers. Since you get three, you have room to sort through which goes on the most visible wall.
The pick for: a gallery wall, a child’s bedroom, or any space that needs more than one frame in one order.
One thing to expect: check each frame in the box on arrival — the occasional chip or scuff does show up.
Understanding the Specs
Molding Width and Rabbet Depth
Molding width is the visible thickness of the frame border, measured across the front face. A 1.2500 inch molding — like the ArtToFrames model — gives a substantial presence, while a 0.75 inch molding reads as a slimmer border. Rabbet depth is the distance from the lip that covers your photo to the back of the frame; it is the maximum art thickness the frame can physically hold. A 0.3750 inch rabbet will accept a poster or a thin mounted print without bowing, but a thick foam-core mount will not close. Both numbers are worth checking before you buy, especially if your artwork is anything but flat.
Finished Size versus Opening Size
These are the two size numbers on any frame and they are not the same. The opening is the visible window the photo sits in — often quoted as 20×27, though the listing may explain that the visible area is roughly 0.5 inch smaller per side to make sure the photo stays put. The finished size is the outside edge of the frame, which is larger than the opening by the width of the molding on all four sides. A 20×27 opening with 1.2500 inch molding arrives at about 22×29 inches finished. Measure the wall space you have before ordering, not just the poster.
FAQ
Will a 20×27 frame hold a 16×24 poster?
Is plexiglass better than real glass in a 20×27 frame?
How do I know what size print fits a 20×27 frame exactly?
Can I hang a 20×27 frame horizontally and vertically?
Will a 20×27 frame fit a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle?
Should I buy a multi-pack or single frames?
What is the difference between a poster frame and a picture frame at this size?
How do I hang a 20×27 frame safely on drywall?
Can I place a 20×27 frame on a table instead of hanging it?
Do I need a mat to protect my print inside a 20×27 frame?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most people, the 20 x 27 frame winner is the PEALSN 20×27 Puzzle Frame Set of 2, because it handles both a 16×24 print with its mat and a full 20×27 poster without it, and you get two frames for the same order. It carries a 4.6-star rating across 700+ reviews, with buyers praising the build quality. If you want a frame that suits a bright room and holds a thicker piece of art, grab the ArtToFrames 20×27 White Picture Frame, with its 1.2500 inch molding and 0.3750 inch rabbet for depth. And for the puzzle finisher, the Craig Frames 20×27 Black Wooden Frame is the one to reach for — genuine wood grain, clear plexiglass, and an inner opening of 19.5×26.5 inches that drops a standard 1000-piece puzzle straight in.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of September 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, KitchPrep earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.
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