How to Frame a Picture Cheaply | Skip the $200 Custom Bill

Framing a picture cheaply means using off-the-shelf frames, pre-cut mats, or repurposed thrift-store finds instead of paying a custom framer’s $100-plus markup.

For the full breakdown, see our best Affordable Picture Frames guide.

The trick is knowing which shortcut fits your artwork and your skill level before you buy anything.

Frame The Artwork Yourself: Four Budget Methods

Each of these approaches avoids the custom-framing markup entirely. The best choice depends on whether you already own a frame, how handy you are with a ruler, and whether the art is valuable enough to justify archival materials.

• Standard frame plus pre-cut mat. Buy a ready-made frame in a standard size (8×10, 11×14, 16×20), pick up a pre-cut mat that fits, and assemble it yourself in minutes. The mat gives the gallery look without custom cutting fees.
• Floating frame, oversized. Buy a floating frame larger than the artwork. The visible gap between the frame edge and the art creates a mat-like border using nothing but the frame — no mat board required at all.
• Thrifted or flea-market frame. Hunt used frames and aim for no more than $5 for smaller pieces and $10 for larger ones. Apartment Therapy recommends adding D-ring hangers if the frame lacks picture wire.
• DIY acrylic sandwich. Buy an acrylic sheet at least 2 inches larger than the artwork in each dimension, cut cardboard backing to the acrylic’s exact size, layer acrylic over art over backing, and tape the edges with black gaff tape.

Before you commit to any method, decide whether the piece is worth archival treatment. Cheap tape and cardboard can damage valuable art over time. For keepsakes, budget for acid-free artist tape and hinging materials — the extra few dollars matter.

Measure the mat width with a simple formula: subtract the artwork’s width from the mat’s width, divide by two — that’s the border for each side. Repeat for the height. Then add about 1/8 inch (3 mm) to each measurement before cutting, per The Postman’s Knock tutorial, so the art sits comfortably inside the opening rather than slipping through it.

Cutting your own mat only makes sense if you already own the cutter or plan to frame many pieces.