Poster Sizes
The most popular poster size is 24 × 36 inches (610 × 914 mm). Standard poster sizes range from 11 × 17 inches for small retail displays up to 46 × 67 inches for bus shelter advertising. International poster formats follow ISO A series sizes, with A2 and A1 being the most common.
What are Standard Poster Sizes?
The most common poster size is 24 × 36 inches (610 × 914 mm). Other standard sizes include 18 × 24 inches, 11 × 17 inches, and the 27 × 40 inch movie one-sheet. International posters use ISO A series sizes, with A1 and A2 being the most popular.
| Name | Inches (W × H) | Millimeters (W × H) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small / Tabloid | 11 × 17 | 279 × 432 | Tabletop displays, mini posters |
| Medium | 18 × 24 | 457 × 610 | Retail, indoor promotion |
| Large | 24 × 36 | 610 × 914 | Most popular retail poster size |
| Movie (One-Sheet) | 27 × 40 | 686 × 1016 | Standard film poster |
| Engineering | 36 × 48 | 914 × 1219 | Large-format displays |
| Bus Shelter | 46 × 67 | 1168 × 1702 | Transit advertising |
ISO Poster Sizes
| Size | Millimeters (W × H) | Inches (W × H) |
|---|---|---|
| A3 | 297 × 420 | 11.69 × 16.54 |
| A2 | 420 × 594 | 16.54 × 23.39 |
| A1 | 594 × 841 | 23.39 × 33.11 |
A2 is comparable to the US 18 × 24 medium poster. A1 is the most common international large poster format.
Poster Size in Pixels
Pixel dimensions for the most popular poster size (24 × 36 in):
| DPI | Width (px) | Height (px) | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 1728 | 2592 | Screen preview |
| 150 | 3600 | 5400 | Large-format (viewing distance >3 ft) |
| 300 | 7200 | 10800 | Standard commercial print |
| 600 | 14400 | 21600 | High-quality fine detail |
18 × 24 Poster in Pixels
| DPI | Width (px) | Height (px) |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | 2700 | 3600 |
| 300 | 5400 | 7200 |
27 × 40 Movie Poster in Pixels
| DPI | Width (px) | Height (px) |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | 4050 | 6000 |
| 300 | 8100 | 12000 |
Use our free Inches to Pixels converter or Millimeters to Pixels converter to calculate pixel dimensions at any DPI.
Poster with Bleed
Standard bleed is 0.125 inches (approximately 3 mm) per side for US sizes and 3 mm per side for ISO sizes.
| Size | Trim (in) | With Bleed (in) | Pixels at 300 DPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 11 × 17 | 11.25 × 17.25 | 3375 × 5175 |
| Medium | 18 × 24 | 18.25 × 24.25 | 5475 × 7275 |
| Large | 24 × 36 | 24.25 × 36.25 | 7275 × 10875 |
| Movie | 27 × 40 | 27.25 × 40.25 | 8175 × 12075 |
For ISO sizes, add 6 mm to both width and height (3 mm per side).
Movie Poster Size
The standard movie poster size is 27 × 40 inches (686 × 1016 mm), known as the "one-sheet." This format has been the film industry standard since the 1980s and is used for theater lobby displays and promotional materials worldwide.
The 11 × 17 inch mini poster is a smaller alternative used for retail sales, home decoration, and limited promotional runs. Both sizes use portrait orientation.
Common Uses
- Retail advertising and in-store promotions
- Movie and concert promotion
- Event announcements and festival lineups
- Art prints and gallery reproductions
- Educational and informational displays
- Transit and bus shelter advertising
Design Tips
- Large posters viewed from a distance (3+ feet) can use 150 DPI without visible quality loss. For fine text or close-up viewing, use 300 DPI.
- Consider viewing distance when setting font sizes — body text should be at least 24 pt for posters read from several feet away.
- Vector elements (logos, icons, text) scale freely to any poster size without resolution loss.
- Set up your file at the full poster dimensions with bleed. Export as a press-ready PDF.
- For a detailed explanation of resolution and DPI, see our DPI guide.
How to Design a Poster
Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop are the traditional choices for poster design. For large-format posters, set up your document at the full print size (or half size at double the DPI), add bleed, and use vector elements wherever possible to keep file sizes manageable and output sharp at any scale.
If you're working in a team or prefer browser-based tools, Figma with the Print for Figma plugin is a solid alternative. It includes a 24 × 36 inch Poster preset and supports custom sizes for any poster format. Set up bleed, verify that images meet resolution requirements for your viewing distance, and export a print-ready CMYK PDF — all within a collaborative Figma workflow. Learn more about designing posters in Figma →
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