Custom Size Map Poster: Any Dimensions in cm or Inches (Free)
Most map poster makers stop at a short list of sizes. Real walls and real frames don't: an IKEA frame is 50 × 70 cm, an American one 18 × 24 inches, and the gap above a sofa might want a long panorama. Here is how to make a map poster in exactly the size you need, how many pixels that size needs, and how to get an odd size printed.
1. Start from the frame, not the file
Buy or measure the frame first, then design for it. A poster that is even slightly the wrong shape ends up cropped or with white strips at the sides. Measure the opening (or the mat window, if the frame has a mat), not the outside of the frame.
Two size families cover most frames:
- A-sizes (A4, A3, A2, A1) — standard in Europe; they all share one shape, so a design scales between them without cropping.
- Frame sizes — 30 × 40, 50 × 70 and 70 × 100 cm in Europe; 8 × 10, 11 × 14, 16 × 20, 18 × 24 and 24 × 36 inches in North America. Each has its own shape, so set it exactly.
2. Set the exact size in the editor
- Open PrintMap, find your place and pick a style.
- In the export panel, type the width and height in centimetres — anything from 5 to 500 cm — or start from A4–A1 and adjust.
- Switch between portrait and landscape with one click; the numbers swap for you.
- The frame on the map changes to the new shape straight away, so you can move and zoom until the composition fits — what is inside the frame is what gets printed.
3. How many pixels does your size need?
Pixels = size in inches × dpi. 150 dpi is plenty for a poster you look at from a step away; 300 dpi is what print shops usually ask for and what small prints held close need. The editor shows the exact pixel size before you export, and the poster size calculator works it out for any size and viewing distance. The common ones:
| Size | cm | 150 dpi (px) | 300 dpi (px) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 10 in | 20.3 × 25.4 | 1200 × 1500 | 2400 × 3000 |
| 11 × 14 in | 27.9 × 35.6 | 1650 × 2100 | 3300 × 4200 |
| 12 × 16 in | 30.5 × 40.6 | 1800 × 2400 | 3600 × 4800 |
| 16 × 20 in | 40.6 × 50.8 | 2400 × 3000 | 4800 × 6000 |
| 18 × 24 in | 45.7 × 61.0 | 2700 × 3600 | 5400 × 7200 |
| 24 × 36 in | 61.0 × 91.4 | 3600 × 5400 | 7200 × 10800 |
| 30 × 40 cm | 30 × 40 | 1772 × 2362 | 3543 × 4724 |
| 50 × 70 cm | 50 × 70 | 2953 × 4134 | 5906 × 8268 |
| 70 × 100 cm | 70 × 100 | 4134 × 5906 | 8268 × 11811 |
| 50 × 50 cm (square) | 50 × 50 | 2953 × 2953 | 5906 × 5906 |
| 30 × 90 cm (panorama) | 30 × 90 | 1772 × 5315 | 3543 × 10630 |
PNG exports go up to 16,384 px on the long side — about 138 cm at 300 dpi. Above that the resolution steps down automatically, which is still fine for a large poster seen from across the room. For really big prints use the vector PDF or SVG: lines and labels are drawn rather than made of pixels, so they stay sharp at any size. (Satellite maps, 3D terrain and tilted or rotated maps are exported as images, so they always come out in pixels.)
4. Unusual shapes that work well
- Square (30 × 30, 50 × 50 cm) — islands, round cities and circular street patterns like Paris or Amsterdam.
- Panorama (30 × 90, 20 × 60 cm) — rivers, coastlines and long trails; great above a sofa or a bed.
- Tall and narrow (20 × 60 cm) — Manhattan, Chile, a ski run or a single long road.
- Postcard (10 × 15 cm) — a small set of matching maps for a shelf or a gift card.
5. Getting an odd size printed
For standard sizes the easiest route is Order it printed & shipped in the editor: your design goes straight to a print partner, where you pick paper, frame and size. Online print shops work from their own size lists, though, so for a truly custom size download the PDF and take it to a local print shop — they print on large rolls and cut to any size. Ask for "print at 100%, no scaling" so nothing is cropped.
Make a map in exactly your size
Any width and height, free download, no account and no watermark.
Create your map →Frequently asked questions
Can I make a map poster in a custom size?
Yes. In PrintMap you can type any width and height from 5 to 500 cm in the export panel, in portrait or landscape. The frame on the map changes to the new shape, so you see exactly what will be printed.
How do I set a size in inches?
The editor works in centimetres: multiply inches by 2.54. 18 × 24 in is 45.72 × 60.96 cm, 24 × 36 in is 60.96 × 91.44 cm.
How many pixels do I need for a custom size poster?
Width in inches × dpi. At 150 dpi a 50 × 70 cm poster is 2953 × 4134 px; at 300 dpi it is 5906 × 8268 px. PrintMap shows the exact pixel size before you export.
What is the largest size I can export?
PNG files go up to 16,384 px on the long side, which is about 138 cm at 300 dpi; larger sizes step the resolution down automatically. A vector PDF or SVG has no pixel limit and prints sharp at any size.