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Framed art, posters, or photographs on the walls can make a house feel like a home. A collection of memories adds character and uniqueness to an individual space—but where are the best places to find frames? Local retail stores often have a limited selection, and custom shops can be pricey when adding in extras, such as matting or non-glare glass. The best online framing services offer a wide selection of frames and mats with options for customers to digitally upload photos or mail in memorabilia and documents.
For those looking for a variety of frames to choose from, it’s tough to beat the flexibility and selection that online framing services offer. Before searching for the best online photo printing and framing services, customers will want to consider the following recommendations for the top picks for picture framing online.
- BEST OVERALL: Framebridge
- RUNNER-UP: Level Frames
- BEST FOR DIY FRAMING: Framed & Matted
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Simply Framed
- ALSO CONSIDER: Keepsake
What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Online Framing Services
There are several factors for customers to consider when choosing custom frames online or the best online framing service to help with modern picture framing. These include the types of framing services offered, the types of framable items that are accepted, the frame materials sold, the available size options, the average turnaround time, the pricing, the availability of additional services, and the reliability of the company’s customer support.
Type of Framing Services Available
Before selecting an online framing and matting service, customers will want to determine what types of framing options each company offers. Many of the best online framing services provide the following options.
- Digital uploads: Many online framing services provide the ability for customers to digitally upload photos from a computer or mobile device, and some allow uploads from Instagram, Facebook, Google Drive, Dropbox, and Google Photos. The company will print and frame the digital photo in the customer’s frame of choice before mailing it to them.
- Mail-in service: Mail-in framing services are for photos, posters, textile art, objects, or documents that the customer already has in their possession. The online service will provide a shipping label, and the customer can send their item to the company, which will frame the item and ship it back to the customer.
- DIY service: A DIY service requires the customer to measure the item they want to have framed. The company will custom build a frame and ship it to the customer, and the customer will put their item into the frame at home.
Understanding these individual services can help a customer choose the online framing service that best suits their needs.
Framable Items
Customers aren’t stuck with just framing family portraits or documents—the best online framing services can help customers realize their unique wall decor ideas and go outside the box with what they’re able to frame. Beyond photos, many services are able to frame textiles, jerseys, objects, and vinyl records. Customers looking to frame one of these items will want to seek out a company that specializes in framing objects with depth. This will generally be more expensive than framing a photo or poster.
Frame Material and Size Options
If a customer has a vision of the perfect frame for their piece of art, it’s important that they check with the company to make sure it offers a variety of frame materials, styles, and size options to suit those needs. Some companies have more options than others, so finding the right frame to fit a customer’s aesthetic needs should be straightforward. If a customer finds that the frame type they want isn’t available though a certain company, they can check it off their list and move onto the next option.
Turnaround Time
While the turnaround time for digital uploads is typically quicker than mail-in services, some of the best online framing services have shorter wait times than others. Some companies can return a framed photo of a digitally uploaded file within 3 to 5 business days, but others can take up to 3 to 4 weeks to return an item that’s been mailed in for framing. Customers will want to ask each company on their short list about turnaround time to ensure that they will receive their framed item in a timely manner.
Pricing
Many online framing companies have a base price for their frames, and the frames will get more expensive depending on the material, style, and size. Choosing any additional features, such as mats or anti-glare glass, will raise the price as well. Customers on a budget will want to look at the various options at each company to determine which will fit their price range as well as their aesthetic needs.
Additional Services
Some companies offer additional services, such as photo editing for digital photos, design consultations to help customers choose the best frame for their art, or gallery wall consultations to assist with mapping and designing a gallery wall in a customer’s home. Customers will need to check into these services to make sure their chosen company offers the ones they need for their project.
Customer Support
If a customer finds they have questions about the ordering and framing process, there are often a few avenues for customer support. Some companies offer live chat, email, phone, and even text message support to address any issues regarding an order. Before choosing a company, customers can look into its customer support options to make sure the options suit their communication style. For example, some people dislike talking on the phone and prefer live online chat or text message support, whereas others like the personalized touch of talking to a representative on the phone.
Our Top Picks
We researched online framing services and narrowed our list down to five of the best offerings. The following are our choices for the best online framing services.
Best Overall
Framebridge
- Type of framing services available: Digital upload, mail-in
- Framable items: Photos, art, prints, documents, textiles, jerseys, objects
- Turnaround time: 7 to 10 days for mail-in items
- Pricing: Starting at $100 for a 9-by-12-inch frame
- Additional services: Designer consultation, photo editing, gallery wall consultation
- Customer support: Live chat, email, phone, text message
Pros
- Free designer consultations and photo editing services
- Custom gallery wall consultations offered
- Wide variety of photos, art, prints, textiles, and objects able to be framed
- Relatively fast turnaround time of 7 to 10 days for mail-in items
- Customer support available via live chat, email, phone, and text message
Cons
- Prices can be relatively high
Why It Made the Cut: For its ability to frame a wide variety of items and an extensive selection of frame styles and sizes, Framebridge is a standout choice in the online framing service space. Framebridge not only accepts digital photo uploads, documents, and posters for framing, but it can also handle a wide variety of objects including textiles, jerseys, original art, and more. The service offers a relatively quick turnaround time for mail-in items of 7 to 10 days, so customers don’t have to wait long to receive their framed works. Framebridge’s pricing for a 9-by-12-inch frame starts at $100, which is relatively expensive, but the company also offers free shipping with every order, which can help customers save on the overall framing cost. For customers who have questions regarding photo editing or how to showcase their framed pieces, Framebridge offers free photo editing services and designer consultations and gallery wall consultations starting at $99. Customers can reach out to a support representative via email, phone, live chat, and text message.
Runner-Up
Level Frames
- Type of framing services available: Digital upload, mail-in, DIY for vinyl records
- Framable items: Photos, art, prints, documents, vinyls
- Turnaround time: 1 to 2 weeks after item has been received for mail-in items
- Pricing: Starting at $75 for a 9-by-12-inch frame
- Additional services: NFT framing
- Customer support: Live chat, email, phone
Pros
- Standard, UV protective, and non-glare acrylic glazing options
- High-resolution NFT printing and framing
- Mail-in or at-home vinyl record framing offered
- One tree planted for every frame sold
Cons
- Custom requests required for colored mats
Why It Made the Cut: Level Frames uses museum-quality materials to construct its handcrafted frames to showcase art, prints, photos, documents, or vinyl records. Level Frames is an excellent choice for printing and framing photos online. The company offers digital uploads for photos and mail-in services for other items including prints, art, documents, and vinyl records. If a customer has a record they don’t want to ship for in-studio framing, they can opt for the company’s easy-to-assemble DIY framing kits. A unique additional service Level Frames provides is NFT framing. Customers can link their virtual wallet and Level Frames will find the highest resolution of their NFT available, print it on archival fine art paper, and have it shipped to the customer in about a week. Customers can choose from standard, UV protective, and non-glare acrylic glazing options for framing. While Level Frames offers the choice of only black or white mats when a customer places an order, customers can contact the company directly for color or double-mat requests. The turnaround time is roughly 1 to 2 weeks after the item has been received, and pricing for a 9-by-12-inch frame starts at $75. To minimize its impact on the environment, Level Frames also plants one tree for every order placed. For questions or concerns, customer support is available via phone, email, or live chat.
Best for DIY Framing
Framed u0026 Matted
- Type of framing services available: Digital upload, DIY
- Framable items: Photos, art, prints, documents
- Turnaround time: 4 to 5 business days for print and frame orders
- Pricing: Starting at $109 for a 9-by-12-inch frame kit
- Additional services: N/A
- Customer support: Email
Pros
- Digital print-and-frame or DIY frame kit options available
- Wide selection of mat colors
- One tree planted for every frame sold
Cons
- No mail-in framing option
Why It Made the Cut: Framed & Matted makes frames from high-quality materials and ships them to a customer’s home so they can place the artwork in the frame and hang it on the wall in minutes. Framed & Matted’s DIY online framing service can get artwork framed in three easy steps. Customers measure the art, choose a frame with the Frame Builder tool, and place the order. After the order is placed, it will arrive to the customer within 4 to 5 business days. The frame will arrive with hanging wire, picture hooks, archival hinging tape, and D-hooks. Customers place their photo, print, or document in the frame and it can be hanging on the wall in minutes. Customers who want Framed & Matted to frame a digital photo can simply upload the file and choose their frame. The service’s pricing starts at $109 for a 9-by-12-inch frame kit, and Framed & Matted offers design advice if customers have any questions about mats or frame colors. While there’s no mail-in service available, Framed & Matted has a wide selection of mat colors for digital print-and-frame or DIY frame kit options. As part of its commitment to sustainability, the company will plant one tree for every order it receives.
Best Bang for the Buck
Simply Framed
- Type of framing services available: Digital upload, mail-in
- Framable items: Photos, art, prints, documents, textiles
- Turnaround time: 3 to 4 weeks for mail-in items
- Pricing: Starting at $55 for an 8-by-10-inch frame
- Additional services: Gallery wall consultation
- Customer support: Email, phone
Pros
- Custom gallery wall consultations offered
- Standard, UV protective, and non-glare acrylic glazing options
Cons
- Relatively long turnaround time of 3 to 4 weeks for mail-in items
Why It Made the Cut: Simply Framed is an excellent option for budget-conscious customers with options to frame photos, prints, art, documents, and textiles. Simply Framed has digital upload options for photos and mail-in service for prints, art, documents, and textiles. While it does have a long turnaround time of 3 to 4 weeks for mail-in items, pricing starts at an affordable $55 for an 8-by-10-inch frame. Every frame is cut and built by hand, which means the company can’t accept returns or exchanges. However, customers can request samples before designing their frame to help ensure the finished product will be exactly what they want. Customers can choose from standard, UV protective, and non-glare acrylic glazing options for framing. Simply Framed offers gallery wall consultations, and customer support is available via phone and email.
Also Consider
Keepsake
- Type of framing services available: Digital upload
- Framable items: Photos
- Turnaround time: 3 to 4 business days for digital uploads
- Pricing: Starting at $49 for a 9.5-by-12.5-inch frame
- Additional services: N/A
- Customer support: Email
Pros
- Relatively affordable pricing
- Convenient mobile app or online photo upload options
Cons
- No mail-in or DIY framing options
- Only white mats available
Why It Made the Cut: With its convenient mobile app for photo uploads, Keepsake is another top pick for online framing services. Keepsake makes it easy for customers to get photos off their phone and framed on the wall. The service allows its customers to upload digital photos from a computer, phone, Facebook, or Instagram via a convenient mobile app. While the company offers relatively affordable pricing at $49 for a 9.5-by-12.5-inch frame, it doesn’t offer DIY or mail-in services. Matting options are also limited to white mats only. But Keepsake does have a quick turnaround time of 3 to 4 business days for digital uploads. Keepsake’s wide selection of frames are made from quality materials and come with hanging hardware and scratch-resistant glass. If a customer has any questions or concerns about their order, customer support is available via email.
Our Verdict
Based on its ability to frame a wide variety of items, its large selection of frame styles and sizes, and the additional services it offers, Framebridge is our top pick for best online framing service. For unique framing options for vinyl records and NFTs, Level Frames makes the list as the runner-up.
How We Chose the Best Online Framing Services
In order to find the best online framing services, we considered several factors. We focused on the types of items each company frames, the type of framing services offered, the available uploading options for digital prints, the time it takes to complete a framing project, the pricing of services, the additional services offered, and the availability of customer service. We thoroughly examined the quality and selection of frame material, styles, and sizes, as well as the ease of use for each company’s website. Another important factor was the option to frame personal keepsakes and objects for longevity.
Before You Use One of the Best Online Framing Services
While it may be quicker and easier for a customer to run to a big-box store and pick up one of the best picture frames for a photo or document, the quality of the frame may be lacking. Some issues that many people find with store-bought frames are that they are often made with lesser-quality materials or they only fit standard-size photos, prints, or documents. Store-bought frames can also have acidic backing, which can compromise the longevity of a photo or document. When people think of custom frames, they typically imagine exorbitant pricing that is out of reach for the average consumer. For smaller, standard-size photos, custom frames are made from high-quality material, and the prices are comparable to frames bought in retail stores. Customers will want to keep in mind that the larger the custom frame, the more expensive it will be.
Some online framing companies provide the option to frame items other than photos, such as newspaper clippings, online articles, textile art, NFTs, screen-printed posters, fine art prints, sports jerseys, T-shirts, objects, and vinyl records. If a customer knows their options based on what they need to have framed, they can more easily make an informed decision. Selecting an online framing service may come down to price, but customers will want to keep in mind that just looking for a cheap online framing option may not result in the best quality. Choosing an online framing service can provide a wide variety of custom frames instead of the limited selection at a retail store.
When the framed art arrives in the mail, customers will want to review picture hanging tips to make sure they know how to hang a photo and that they have some of the best nails for hanging pictures on hand so that the finished product looks good on the wall.
Cost of Using One of the Best Online Framing Services
For the framing services on this list, the pricing starts at $49 for smaller frames and ranges up to $488 for larger, custom-size frames. The prices are typically dependent on size, but material, quality, and extra options, such as single and double matting, increase the overall cost. Custom frames from an online service are typically more affordable than those that can be purchased from a local custom framing shop. This is because online services have lower overhead costs than brick-and-mortar stores.
Customers will want to be aware that custom online framing prices can vary from site to site. Factors that can impact the fluctuation in pricing include material quality, frame size, labor costs, shipping, and available discounts. Many online framing companies offer free or discounted shipping, but some don’t, so customers will want to make sure they double-check shipping rates before ordering. Some framing sites offer discounts, coupons, special promotions, or sale items. It’s helpful for a customer to look those over to see if they meet their needs before placing an order on a full-price item.
The Advantages of Using One of the Best Online Framing Services
Online framing services provide custom-made frames for photos, documents, objects, and pieces of artwork in one’s life. The following are some advantages of using one of the best online framing sites.
- Custom frames protect artwork with high-quality, acid-free, and archival materials.
- Customers have the ability to choose a frame that complements the artwork and works with their aesthetic.
- Customers can get personalized service based on the artwork and their vision.
- Online services have reasonable turnaround times compared with local custom frame shops.
FAQs
For those who have never used an online framing service, deciding on a frame can be an intimidating experience. Below are a few frequently asked questions regarding online framing to help customers choose the best service and frame for them and their artwork.
Q. How much does it cost to get prints framed?
The overall cost to frame prints depends on the type, material, and size of the frame, as well as if a customer orders additional options, such as single or double matting. Choosing textured mats can also increase the overall cost of the project. For the services on this list, the prices start at $49 for smaller frames and go up to $488 for larger framed pieces.
Q. Why is framing a picture so expensive?
Framing can be expensive because of the materials and the wide selection of frames, mats, and glazes available. The pricing of framing materials can fluctuate wildly depending on the quality and availability of the materials. The cost of labor and framing expertise also comes into play when getting an item custom framed.
Q. How much does custom framing cost?
Custom framing costs depend on the options a customer chooses for a frame. Selecting a simple frame without a mat will cost less than if a customer chooses a more ornate frame with an expensive, textured mat.
Q. How long does it take to get a custom frame?
Usually, custom framing jobs can take 2 to 3 weeks, but some online services have a faster turnaround time. It’s typically faster to upload a digital photo to the website for framing rather than sending in an item by mail to be framed.