A 17 x 14 frame is sized by its inside opening, so measure the rabbet edges where the art sits, and size your mat window to overlap the artwork by at least 1/8 inch per side.
One wrong measurement is why a print refuses to sit flat, corners curling behind the moulding. A frame that swallows your artwork versus one that displays it cleanly comes down to one habit: measure the inside, not the outside.
Below is the order that works — measure the frame, measure the art, then decide on a mat before ordering.
How Do You Measure a 17 x 14 Frame Correctly?
Measure from the inside edge, where the glass and artwork rest, not the outer moulding. That inner boundary is the rabbet, and it is the only measurement that tells you what the frame can hold.
Run your tape from left inside edge to right inside edge for width, then top to bottom for height. Ignore the decorative border. According to Logan Graphic’s framing guide, measuring the outside is the most common sizing mistake, because moulding adds an inch or more per side that has nothing to do with fit.
For a frame sold as 17 x 14, the inside opening should read 17 x 14. Artwork slides in with no mat and little clearance.
What Art Size Fits With and Without a Mat?
Without a mat, artwork needs to sit at or just under 17 x 14. With a mat, the artwork must shrink, because the mat window is smaller than the frame opening.
A mat’s outer edge matches the 17 x 14 opening; its cut window frames smaller art and must overlap the artwork by at least 1/8 inch per side — 1/4 inch per side is the common trade standard, per American Frame. Skip the overlap and edges peek through the cut or the art slips through the window.
Work backward from your art. The mat’s outer edge then steps up to the frame opening.
| Setup | Artwork Size That Fits | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| No mat, standard 17 x 14 frame | At or just under 17 x 14 | Confirm the inside opening first |
| With a 17 x 14 mat, standard 1/4 inch overlap | Roughly 16.5 x 13.5 or smaller | Window overlaps art on all sides |
| With a 17 x 14 mat, minimum 1/8 inch overlap | Roughly 16.75 x 13.75 or smaller | Bare minimum overlap, edges risky |
| Thick canvas in a 17 x 14 frame | Depends on stretcher depth | Rabbet must be deeper than bars |
| Existing frame, ordering a custom mat | Art smaller than the window | Mat outer size matches opening exactly |
If you are still choosing which frame to buy, a tested roundup of 17 x 14 frame options worth buying can save you a lap through generic listings.
Does Frame Depth Matter for Canvas?
Frame depth is the spec that quietly rules out a frame for thick media. A standard 17 x 14 frame holds paper, photos, and flat prints. Stretched canvas is different: it sits on wooden stretcher bars that push the surface forward, so the rabbet depth — from front lip back to where art rests — must exceed the bar thickness, or the canvas never seats and the frame won’t close. Logan Graphic’s measuring guide makes the same point: size the artwork first, then match rabbet depth to media thickness.
Measure the canvas from the back, across the stretcher bars, for its true footprint, then check frame depth before ordering. Forcing oversized or too-thick art into a shallow opening risks cracking the frame joint or bowing the art.
How Do You Confirm the Fit Before Ordering?
Write down two numbers — the frame’s inside opening and your artwork’s exact size — then check whether a mat sits between them.
- Inside opening width and height measured where the art rests
- Artwork width and height measured edge to edge
- Mat overlap at 1/4 inch per side standard, 1/8 inch minimum
- Rabbet depth confirmed against canvas stretchers or thick mounts
Treat every “17 x 14” listing as its own product. Two frames with the same label can differ in inside opening once moulding and rabbet dimensions vary, so confirm the numbers rather than assuming the label means the same fit.
FAQs
Is a 17 x 14 frame measured inside or outside?
Inside. The listed size refers to the opening where glass and artwork sit, measured from the rabbet edges. Outside moulding dimensions run larger and are not the fit measurement. Measure only the outer border and you will order art and mats too large for the opening.
Can I skip the mat and use the full opening?
Yes, if your artwork measures at or just under 17 x 14. With no mat, the art sits directly against the frame opening and covers the full visible area. Artwork larger than 17 x 14 will not fit without trimming, which damages the piece.
How much does a mat shrink the usable art size?
The mat window must overlap the artwork by at least 1/8 inch per side, with 1/4 inch per side as the common standard. A 17 x 14 mat comfortably frames art around 16.5 x 13.5. Larger artwork does not leave enough overlap room inside the window.
References & Sources
- Logan Graphic Products. “Measuring and Sizing” Covers inside-opening measurement and sizing the artwork against frame dimensions.
- Logan Graphic Products. “Measuring Mats” Explains mat openings and the overlap that covers artwork edges.
- American Frame. “Measuring Art” Details artwork measurement practice and standard overlap guidance.
