Framing guides
Print Frame Co 1 min read

How Much Does Picture Framing Cost in the UK? (2026 Guide)

What picture framing really costs in the UK in 2026 — high street vs online made-to-measure, what drives the price, and where the money goes.

Picture framer measuring a conservation mount beside an oak frame

In the UK in 2026, framing a typical A3–A2 print costs roughly £60–£150+ at an independent high-street framer, while the same made-to-measure frame ordered online typically comes in at a fraction of that. The gap isn't quality — it's overheads. Here's how the pricing actually works, so you can judge any quote you're given.

What actually drives the price

Four things set the cost of any frame, high street or online:

  • Size. Price scales with the length of moulding used and the area of glazing and backing. Doubling the dimensions roughly doubles to triples the price.
  • Moulding. A slim painted wood profile costs much less than a wide hardwood or ornate moulding. This is the biggest lever you control.
  • Mount. A bevel-cut conservation mount adds a little to the price and a lot to the finished look — it's the single best value upgrade. See our picture mounts range.
  • Glazing. Standard clear glazing is included in most online prices; speciality glass (UV, anti-reflective) is where high-street quotes climb sharply.

High street vs online made-to-measure

Option Typical cost (A2 print) What you're paying for
Independent framer £75–£200+ Hand work, consultation, premises
High-street chain £50–£150 Convenience, standard ranges
Ready-made standard size £10–£40 Mass production — if your art fits
Online made-to-measure From around a third of high-street quotes The same cut-to-order frame, no shop overhead

Figures are typical advertised ranges as of 2026 — always check current prices. The structural difference is fixed: a high-street framer prices in rent, rates and labour per job; an online workshop cuts the same moulding to the same millimetre with those costs spread across far more frames.

When a ready-made frame is fine

If your artwork is exactly A4, A3 or another standard size and you're happy with a basic finish, a ready-made frame is the cheapest route. The problem: most things worth framing aren't standard sizes — and trimming artwork to fit a frame is the one mistake you can't undo. If the piece matters, frame to the artwork, not the other way round.

Getting an exact price

Prices are shown per size on each page — A3 picture frames, A2 picture frames, 50x70cm picture frames — or enter your own dimensions for a custom size picture frame.

Every frame we make is cut to order in our own workshop and dispatched in 2–5 working days, with glazing, backing board and fixings included. Pick a finish on our picture frames page, enter your dimensions, and the price updates instantly — no quote, no waiting. For a full custom job with mount and frame together, start at custom picture framing.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to frame a picture yourself?

Only if you already own the tools and accept standard sizes. By the time you've bought a mount cutter, glazing and backing materials, a single made-to-measure frame is usually cheaper — and cut to the millimetre.

Why do framing quotes vary so much between shops?

Labour and overheads, not materials. The moulding and glass in a £150 quote and a £60 quote are often identical; the difference is rent, rates and time per job.

Does a mount make framing more expensive?

It adds a small amount — typically far less than people expect — and it's the upgrade that makes a frame look professionally finished. Conservation mount board also protects the artwork from contact with the glazing.