For most walls, buy the 16x24. It is big enough to own a wall above a desk, bed or treadmill without taking over the room, and it is the size our customers buy most. Go 12x18 for small walls and sets, and 24x36 when you want one poster to be the focal point of a big wall. Here is how to choose by room, by how far away you will be standing, and by frame, plus how to hang a set of three.
Running poster sizes at a glance
All three sizes share the same 2:3 shape, so a design looks the same at every size, just bigger. Every poster is made to order on semi-gloss paper.
How big is a 16x24 poster?
A 16x24 poster is 16 inches wide and 24 inches tall, about 1.3 by 2 feet, or about 41 by 61 centimeters.
In our store it is the most popular size by a clear margin. Of the posters we sold between October 2025 and September 2026, 48 percent were 16x24, 32 percent were 12x18 and 20 percent were 24x36.
How big is a 24x36 poster?
A 24x36 poster is 2 feet wide and 3 feet tall, about 61 by 91 centimeters. It is a common large poster size, and it is more than twice the area of the 16x24: 864 square inches against 384.
That also makes it the best value per inch. At $45, the 24x36 costs about 5 cents per square inch. The 16x24 at $38 is about 10 cents, and the 12x18 at $30 is about 14 cents.
How far away will you stand? (size and viewing distance)
A rule of thumb used by galleries and photographers: a print looks best from about 1.5 to 3 times its diagonal. Closer than that and you are reading one corner of it. Farther than that and it starts to look small.
Use it the simple way. Stand where you will usually see the poster (your desk chair, your bed, the end of the treadmill) and measure the distance to the wall. Pick the size whose range includes that number.
What size poster for your room?
Bedroom
Above the bed, you usually see the wall from across the room, often 8 to 12 feet away. That points to a 24x36, or a set of three 12x18 or 16x24 prints hung as one group. Designers aim for art about two thirds to three quarters of the width of the furniture under it. A queen bed is about 60 inches wide, so the art should span roughly 40 to 45 inches: one 24x36 is a little narrow on its own, three 12x18s in a row with 2 inch gaps come to 40 inches, and two 16x24s with a 3 inch gap come to 35 inches.
On a side wall you pass up close, like beside a closet or above a dresser, a single 16x24 is the safe pick.
Dorm room
Dorm walls are small, shared and often off limits for nails. A 12x18 or 16x24 fits over a desk or a twin bed without crowding a roommate's side. Check your housing rules first, and use removable picture hanging strips rated for the weight of the frame. An unframed poster is the lightest option if strips are all you are allowed.
Home gym
In a garage or basement gym you see the wall from the rack, the bench or the treadmill, often 6 to 10 feet away, and you want to read it mid set. That is 24x36 territory. On a narrower wall between equipment, a 16x24 works. Keep posters out of the path of plates, bars and bands, and choose a frame with acrylic instead of glass anywhere something could hit it. For picking designs, see our guide to the best running posters for a home gym.
Team room or locker room
Team rooms are big and viewed from across the room, often by a whole squad. Go 24x36 for the main wall so the message reads from the benches. A row of three track and field posters or motivational running posters at 24x36 fills a long wall. Coaches: a set of three works out well with buy 2, get 1 free (more below).
Office or desk
At a desk, the wall is often only 2 to 5 feet from your eyes. A 12x18 sits right in that range, and a 16x24 works if the desk faces a larger open wall. In a shared or professional office, a single 16x24 behind you also reads well on video calls.
What frame fits a running poster?
Our three sizes match three standard frame sizes: 12x18, 16x24 and 24x36. You do not need custom framing. All three are sold ready made at big retailers such as Target and Michaels. The 24x36 is one of the most common poster frame sizes. The 12x18 is a little less common in stores, so check online if your local shop does not have one.
A few framing basics:
- Buy the frame by the print size. A 16x24 poster goes in a frame labeled 16x24 with no mat.
- For a matted look, go up a size. A 12x18 print in a 16x24 frame with a mat opening cut for 12x18 leaves a 2 inch border on every side.
- Acrylic or glass. Large poster frames often use acrylic, which is lighter and will not shatter. It is the better choice in a gym, a dorm or a team room.
- Weight matters at 24x36. A framed 24x36 is heavier. Hang it from a stud or a wall anchor rated for the weight, not a single small nail.
How high should you hang a poster?
Hang it so the center of the poster sits about 57 inches from the floor, the eye level standard used by galleries and professional framers. Above furniture, leave about 7 to 10 inches between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame so the art looks connected to it.
How to hang a set of 3 posters
Three posters hung as one group look intentional, and three is the number our poster offer is built around: buy 2 posters, get 1 free, applied automatically at checkout with no code. Three of the same size cost the price of two:
Stop Pre is priced lower, so any set that includes it costs less. US shipping is $7 on orders under $125 and free at $125 and up.
How to hang them:
- Pick one size for a row. Three of the same size in a straight row is the cleanest layout. Three 12x18s span about 40 inches with 2 inch gaps. Three 16x24s span about 52 inches. Three 24x36s span about 76 inches, a full wall above a bed, bench or couch.
- Keep the gaps equal. Galleries and framers suggest 2 to 3 inches between frames. Equal gaps matter more than the exact number.
- Center the group, not each poster. Treat the three as one piece and put the center of the whole group at about 57 inches from the floor, or 7 to 10 inches above the furniture under it.
- Mix sizes around a center. If you mix, make one poster the anchor. A 24x36 in the middle with a 16x24 on each side gives a clear focal point. For example, the Stop Pre poster at 24x36 between the Somebody May Beat Me poster and the Eugene, Oregon poster at 16x24 makes a three piece wall on one story. The Magnolia Dr poster at 24x36 next to the Magnolia Drive AD poster at 16x24 makes a clean pair on the same theme.
- Plan it on the floor or with paper first. Cut paper to the frame sizes, tape it to the wall, and live with it for a day before you drill.
Where to start
If you are buying one poster and are not sure where it will go, get the 16x24. If you are building a wall, pick the anchor poster first in 24x36 and add 16x24s around it. If you want a row, get three of one size and let buy 2, get 1 free cover the third.
Browse the full running posters collection, or go straight to track and field posters, motivational running posters or vintage running posters. Buying a gift? Every size of every design is under $50, and our posters are in the gifts for runners under $50 collection.
Running poster size FAQ
What is the most popular poster size?
In our store, 16x24. It was 48 percent of the posters we sold from October 2025 to September 2026. It fits most walls and standard ready made frames.
How big is a 12x18 poster?
12 by 18 inches, or 1 by 1.5 feet (about 30 by 46 centimeters). It suits small walls, desks, dorms and sets of three.
What size frame do I need for a 12x18 print?
A 12x18 frame, with no mat. For a matted look, use a 16x24 frame with a mat opening cut for 12x18.
Is 16x24 a good poster size?
Yes, for most rooms. It reads well from about 3.6 to 7.2 feet away, fits standard frames and is big enough to stand on its own above a desk, bed or treadmill.
Is 24x36 too big for a bedroom?
Not for the wall above a bed. You usually see that wall from 8 feet or more, which is right in the 24x36 range. On a small side wall you pass up close, a 16x24 is a better fit.
Are all sizes the same design?
Yes. All three sizes share the same 2:3 shape, so the design scales without cropping.
How much wall space do I need for 3 posters?
Using 2 inch gaps: about 40 inches wide for three 12x18s, about 52 inches for three 16x24s, and about 76 inches for three 24x36s (all hung upright).
Picking one as a gift? Our gift guide for runners has ideas for every kind of runner, and posters take 5 to 8 business days, so order early for the holidays.
