Best Online Framing Services for Turning Your Photos Into Art

If you’ve been meaning to spruce up your home’s bare walls, your photo app is overflowing with unforgettable memories, and your social media’s “like” tab is filled with beautiful images, you owe it to yourself to learn how easy it is to order premium framed art online. Whether you need an extra-large statement piece in a stunning frame, or an assortment of charming, minimalist, framed smartphone snapshots to cheer up your space, many businesses make uploading an image and pairing it with the perfect frame a breeze.

Since nothing is more disappointing than receiving a sub-par framed print for which you’ve overpaid, I researched, compared, designed framed pieces, and tested a number of different services. Based on that research, I’ve assembled a list of the best online framing services, offering the widest array of framing options and styles, a streamlined design process, and the highest quality prints you can find on the internet.

Our top picks for the best online framing services

Best online framing service for most cases: Framed & Matted

Many websites offer a wider variety of printing services, but the streamlined uploading and customization process, top-tier frames and mats, and outstanding customer service of Framed & Matted sets it apart as the go-to business for high-end framed art. I tested them to craft a piece featuring artwork from my book, “The Tome of Apeula,” and the brand’s craftspeople knocked it out of the park with a sturdy and beautiful golden frame, a pixel-perfect print of my primate’s poster, and surprisingly speedy shipping. Anyone searching for museum quality prints, sturdy wooden frames sporting a timeless style, and a premium construction sure to retain its beauty for many years to come should trust Framed & Matted.

Specifications:

• Free shipping: Yes, on all orders
• Customization: Yes, frame style/size/color, mat size/frame/color, print type, etc.
• Starting price: $100

What we like:

• Premier customer service
• Premium framing materials
• Surprisingly fast turn-around time

What we don’t like:

• Unable to ship to Alaska and Hawaii

The bottom line:

With its user-friendly customization app, stylish and durable frames, and team of friendly and knowledgeable designers, Framed & Matted is a top pick for framed art.

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What to consider when using an online framing service

Quality

Look for features that indicate that the service’s prints and frames were made for longevity, such as ultraviolet-protected acrylic to prevent fading, and premium archival materials (cotton mat boards, acid-free tape, etc.) that keep your illustrations and photos from deteriorating over the years.

Variety and versatility

The best printing services will often offer customers a huge range of options, including frames of many sizes, colors, and materials such as wood, plastic, and metal, an archive of existing prints to browse through, and an adaptable image editing app so buyers can easily resize, rotate, and crop uploaded images so they fit within their preferred frame.

Price

Online framing services vary wildly in price from affordable to fairly expensive, depending on the size, type of frame, the customization options you want, shipping and handling fees, and other factors. Extra-large pieces and extravagant custom orders are likely to be on the pricier side, so it’s worth comparing costs and services across multiple companies to find the business best suited to your project and budget.

Customer service

Since you’re ordering a special framed item and may not be a design expert yourself, a good online framing brand’s customer service is always an email away to make sure your art is properly aligned and photos are crystal-clear before you buy. The best online framing services pride themselves on helping customers select the best frame for their art, double-check that uploaded images will be crisp and vibrant for the printer, and field questions throughout the customization and ordering processes.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How can I save money on framing services?

Whether you’re planning on buying multiple smaller frames or one large premium edition, buying handmade custom framed art can get expensive quickly. Some of the most reliable ways to save on your order include searching for digital discounts via promotional codes or signing up for a mailing list, using your own image instead of one of the pricier pieces offered, and shopping around to find a frame with the style and size you want for less.

How much should I expect to pay for framing?

That depends on the piece’s size, the quality of the frame, and potential shipping fees. For example, the average price for an 8 inch x 10 inch framed, user-uploaded piece of art from the websites listed here is between $39 and $82. Selecting the finest customization options offered will significantly increase the cost, but a museum-quality order is worth the price for showcasing a meaningful image within a beautiful and well-made frame.

Is it worth it to get something professionally framed?

Absolutely! In addition to keeping beautiful art and precious photographs protected from fading or gathering an unpleasant layer of dust, and greatly enhancing the general appearance of your art with an attractive matching frame, a professional designer will ensure your framed image is perfectly oriented, the frame itself is top-quality, and that the final product will be as close to perfect as possible.

A seasoned framer will also assemble your preferred combination of artwork and frame more quickly and easily than the average person can, and it’s worth avoiding the time spent, as well as the uncertainty if you’re afraid of making a mistake, especially if you want to frame something bulky, unwieldy, fragile, big, or expensive.

Do paintings look better framed?

Whether a painting needs to be placed in a frame or not is subjective, however there are arguments for both. Some highly textured paintings may seem to lose definition and detail when set in an acrylic frame, but the same clear pane will shield paintings from dust, fading via ultraviolet light exposure, and smudging from being touched by handsy art enthusiasts. Generally speaking, it’s better for the longevity of a painting for it to be placed in an attractive and protective frame.