Buy the wrong frame and your print either rattles behind glass or loses half an inch off each edge to a mat you didn’t plan for. Once you know how mats and frame lips actually overlap a print, picking the right size takes about thirty seconds.
Does A 17 x 22 Picture Need A 17 x 22 Frame?
Yes. A 17 x 22 print needs a 17 x 22 frame when the art is meant to sit edge-to-edge with nothing covering it.
That’s the simple case, and it’s the one most poster and print sellers assume. If you’re framing a photo print or poster with a border you want fully visible, stop here — 17 x 22 is your size.
The complications start the moment a mat enters the picture. And since a mat is what makes a framed print look finished rather than tacked up, that’s most of the time.
What Mat Opening Fits A 17 x 22 Frame?
Mefoto’s frame size reference shows the pattern across standard print sizes: the mat opening is always smaller than the frame, because the mat has to overlap the print’s edges to hold it flat.
That overlap is deliberate — it’s what keeps your print from shifting behind the glass.
Same frame, two different visible sizes depending on whether you use the mat.
| Display Style | Frame Size Needed | Visible Opening |
|---|---|---|
| Print shown edge-to-edge (no mat) | 17 x 22 | 17 x 22 |
| Matted, common retail mat | 17 x 22 | 14 x 19 |
| Matted, framed product example | 17 x 22 | 13 x 19 |
| Print slightly cropped by mat overlap | 17 x 22 | Up to 0.5 in smaller per side |
| Oversized mat, wide border look | 17 x 22 | Smaller than 14 x 19 |
| Mat only (no frame included) | Buy frame separately | Matches listed photo size |
| Framed product sold as “matted” | Check the listing | Often 13 x 19, not 17 x 22 |
What Size Frame Do You Need If You Want A Mat?
The mat is what changes, not the frame.
Here’s how the pieces stack up so nothing surprises you at checkout:
- The frame sets the outer dimension: 17 x 22.
- The mat sits inside the frame and covers the print’s outer edges, which is why its listed size is smaller.
- Your print stays at 17 x 22 and just tucks under the mat overlap.
- The frame lip takes another sliver, so expect a hair of the print edge to disappear behind the frame itself.
Frame Destination notes that openings are intentionally smaller than the photo size, and that sizes are usually listed in inches — so a print edge being covered slightly is normal, not a defect. If a half inch of your image absolutely cannot be hidden, go frameless or order a custom mat with a wider opening. For most prints, that border is exactly the breathing room that makes the art look intentional. If you’re still deciding which frame to buy, our tested roundup of the best 17 x 22 frames covers the models that get the mat sizing right.
Where People Go Wrong Buying Frames
Most frame mistakes trace back to one of two mix-ups: reading the frame size as the mat opening, or buying a mat and assuming it comes with a frame.
Two checks catch nearly all of them:
- Read the listing twice. Several 17 x 22 listings are mat-only products, not complete frames. If it says “mat,” confirm whether a frame is included.
- Confirm the opening size, not just the frame size. A frame sold as “matted” for a 13 x 19 photo will not show a full 17 x 22 print.
Frame Destination’s guide to frame and mat dimensions spells out the same logic for every common print size, and it’s worth a look before you order anything custom. The sizes are almost always in inches, so if a listing shows centimeters, convert before you buy — a 17 x 22 frame is roughly 43 x 56 cm.
FAQs
Can a 17 x 22 print fit in a smaller frame?
No, not without cropping. A frame smaller than 17 x 22 won’t hold the full print — the edges would either stick out or have to be trimmed off, and trimming permanently alters the artwork. If you want a smaller visible image without losing any of the print, use a mat instead, which covers edges temporarily while keeping the print intact behind it.
Do I need a custom mat for a 17 x 22 frame?
Only if you want an opening other than the standard sizes. For anything wider or narrower than those, a custom mat is the route, since retail stock sizes won’t match a nonstandard opening.
Does the mat size have to match the frame size?
No. The mat is cut to fit inside the frame while its opening is sized for the photo, which is why a 17 x 22 frame can carry a 14 x 19 opening. The frame sets the outer boundary; the mat decides how much of the print stays visible. Those are two separate measurements, and mixing them up is the most common framing error.
References & Sources
- Frame Destination. “Guide to Frame and Mat Dimensions for Common Print Sizes” Explains that frame size is the outer dimension while the mat opening is cut smaller to overlap and secure the print.
- Frame Destination. “Picture Frame Sizes” Confirms frame sizing conventions for standard print dimensions and the inches-based listing standard.
- Mefoto. “Picture Frame Sizes” Reference chart showing mat openings sized smaller than frame dimensions across common print sizes.
