How to Hang Posters Without Damaging Your Walls
The safest way to hang a poster is in a frame, on a picture hook or adhesive picture-hanging strips. For an unframed look, use magnetic poster hangers or clips hung from a single small hook, and keep sticky putty and tape off the front of the paper.
Below: how to hang posters without a frame, when a frame is worth it and which size to buy, renter-friendly options that will not mark your walls, and how to flatten a poster that arrives rolled.
Prints for this look
How to hang a poster without a frame
- Magnetic poster hangers. Wooden or metal rails that clamp the top and bottom edges of the poster with magnets. They hang from one small hook, keep the paper flat and leave no marks on the print.
- Clips on a hook. Two small clips along the top edge, hung from a hook or a length of cord, give a relaxed, studio look.
- Leaning. A poster on a stiff backing board, leaned on a shelf, ledge or sideboard, needs no fixings at all.
- Low-tack tape. Fine for a short time on a smooth painted wall, but use it on the back corners only and test a hidden spot first.
Avoid drawing pins through the corners and sticky putty on the front. Pins tear the paper, and putty can leave greasy marks on both the print and the wall.
Framing a poster: is it worth it, and what size?
A frame protects the paper from dust, damp and creases, keeps it perfectly flat and makes even a simple poster look finished. For anything A2 or larger, or anything you want to keep for years, a frame is worth it.
Standard poster sizes fit off-the-shelf frames of the same size: A3 posters go in A3 frames, and A2 posters in A2 frames. If you want a white mount around the print, choose a frame one size larger with a mount cut to your poster. Frames with acrylic glazing are lighter and safer than glass for bigger sizes.
Not sure which size suits your wall? See the size table below, or read the best place to put posters in your room for placement ideas.
Renter-friendly ways to hang posters
- Adhesive picture-hanging strips hold light frames on smooth, clean, painted walls. Stay within the weight limit on the pack, and remove them by pulling the tab slowly straight down along the wall.
- Picture rails, if your room has one, take hooks and cord with no holes at all.
- A picture ledge or shelf lets you lean several posters and swap them whenever you like, with only one set of fixings.
- Removable adhesive hooks work with magnetic hangers and clips, since an unframed poster weighs very little.
How to flatten a rolled poster
Unroll the poster on a clean, flat surface, print side up, and gently roll it the opposite way for a few minutes. Then lay it flat, cover it with a sheet of clean paper, and weigh the corners and middle down with books. Leave it for a day or two. Handle the print with clean, dry hands and never iron it.
Looking for something new to hang? Browse all our prints and posters, or let the Art Match quiz suggest prints for your room.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Centimetres | Inches | Works for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 | 8.3 x 11.7 | Shelves, desks, small gaps, sets of 3 |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Hallways, side walls, pairs |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Above a sideboard or small sofa, the anchor of a gallery wall |
| A1 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Above a standard sofa or bed |
| A0 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Large walls, open-plan rooms, statement pieces |
All our A sizes fit standard off-the-shelf frames, and every print is made to order on museum-grade matte paper.
