How to Choose the Right Mat for a 16×24 Frame?

The right mat for a 16×24 frame does two jobs: it holds your artwork securely behind the glass, and it gives the piece breathing room so the frame doesn’t overpower the art. Get the opening wrong and the print can slip or show raw edges; get the border wrong and the whole presentation feels off. The sizing math is straightforward once you know the three numbers that matter: the artwork size, the overlap, and the border width.

What Size Should the Mat Opening Be?

The mat opening—the window your artwork shows through—should be cut slightly smaller than the artwork itself. This overlap is what keeps the print from sliding around or falling through the frame.

When in doubt, err toward a slightly wider overlap—especially if the artwork has irregular paper edges or isn’t perfectly square. A 1/4″ overlap hides minor imperfections that a tight 1/8″ margin would expose.

How Wide Should the Mat Border Be?

Smaller pieces can get away with 2″ minimum-ish borders, but a 16×24 print carries enough visual weight that a narrow mat can make the frame itself feel dominant.

Two rules of thumb settle most decisions:

• Go wider than the frame moulding. If your frame is 1″ wide, a 3″ mat will look intentional; a 1″ mat will look like an afterthought.
• When between two widths, go wider. The extra border reads as gallery-style; a too-narrow mat just reads as undersized.

The outer mat size then becomes the opening plus the border on all sides.

How to Measure a Frame’s True Interior Size

The single most common mistake is measuring the frame by its front-facing nominal label.

Before cutting or ordering a mat, confirm three measurements:

1. The artwork’s exact dimensions (measure it, don’t trust the listed size).
2. The frame’s rabbet/glazing interior size, measured from the back.
3. The amount of overlap you want per side (1/8″ to 1/4″ is the safe zone).

For a ready-made framing solution with the interior dimensions already handled, our roundup of tested 16 x 24 frame options covers frames sized to fit standard mat board.

Mat Board Quality and Common Mistakes to Avoid

Beyond material, four mistakes account for most poorly framed 16×24 pieces:

• Cutting the opening the same size as the artwork. This lets edges show through gaps or lets the print slip entirely.
• Trusting the frame’s nominal size. Always verify the back-side rabbet measurement instead.
• Going too narrow on the border. A 1″–1.5″ border on a 16×24 print makes the frame look oversized and the art cramped.
• Overly busy double-mat color combos.

These rules apply to paper prints, photos, and flat artwork mounted behind glass or acrylic. Canvas pieces, shadowboxes, and object framing follow different sizing logic entirely—if your piece isn’t flat paper, stop here and work with a framer who specializes in that medium.