Large Format Poster Printing
- Free shipping
- Free proof — pay after you approve
- Our designer emails your free proof within 1 business day. You're charged only once you approve it. Changes are free, and you can cancel free any time before you approve.
- Semi-gloss paper — rich color, no heavy glare
- Won’t stick to the glass when framed
- Ready to frame · frame not included
How it works
- Upload your filePhoto, artwork or PDF. No file yet? Order now, upload later.
- Free proofA designer checks crop and sharpness, then emails it within 1 business day.
- Printed in 2 daysOn semi-gloss poster paper, 2 business days after you approve.
- Ships free, flatUp to 15″ goes in a rigid mailer that won’t bend.
- Ships free, rolledOver 15″ ships rolled in a sturdy tube.
On real walls
How to get it right
What large format is for
At 36x48 a poster stops being something you read and becomes something you stand in front of. That is exactly what a conference poster session, a lobby display or a shop wall needs. It is also where the quality of the file matters most: every weakness in a low-resolution image is twice as large as it was at 18x24.
The file is the whole job at this size
A vector PDF is the answer for anything with text, charts or logos - it stays sharp at every poster size. A photograph needs around 10800 by 14400 pixels for 300 DPI at 36x48; very few cameras produce that, and at viewing distance 150 DPI usually looks fine, but a phone photo will look soft. Our designer checks every large file before the proof and says plainly if it will not hold up.
Handling and delivery
Large posters ship rolled in a sturdy tube, which is the standard way to move paper this size without creasing it. Production is two business days after proof approval, shipping is free and takes 3-5 business days. Unroll a large print a day before you hang it, image side up with something light on the corners, and it lies flat.
Choosing between 30x40, 36x40 and 36x48
The three large sizes are close in area but not in shape, and picking the right one is mostly about the wall, not the image. 30x40 and 36x48 share the same 3:4 proportions, so a design made for one crops cleanly to the other. 36x40 is nearer to a square, which suits a wide wall where a narrower poster would look stranded, or artwork that was composed in a near-square frame to begin with. If the design already exists as a rectangle in a specific ratio, measure it before ordering rather than picking a size first - stretching or cropping a finished piece to fit a size it was not made for is the most common reason a large print disappoints.
Viewing distance and wall clearance for large format
A poster this size is meant to be seen from six to ten feet away, not read up close like a page - if a design only looks right standing a foot from the wall, it is usually too busy for the space it is going into. Keep ceiling clearance in mind too: a 36x48 print wants at least a foot of clear wall above and below it to read as a piece rather than crowd the room. Where the room is narrow enough that six feet is not available, 30x40 or a standard 24x36 usually serves the space better than the largest standard size, since a viewer standing closer than the design was meant for notices texture and grain rather than the whole picture.
Questions people ask about these
What is the largest poster you print?
The largest standard size is 36x48 inches; the large sizes are 30x40, 36x40 and 36x48. A custom size goes up to 48x72 - type the width and height in the calculator.
Can a phone photo be printed at 36x48?
It will print, but it will look soft up close. Phone photos suit the smaller sizes; for 36x48 use a camera original or a vector file. Our designer tells you before the proof if it will show.
Do you mount large posters on board?
No - we print on semi-gloss paper and ship it rolled. Mounting, if you want it, is done separately.
How do I get a rolled poster to lie flat?
Unroll it image side up a day before hanging and weigh the corners down with something light. It relaxes flat on its own.
How long does a large format order take?
Two business days in production after you approve the proof, plus free US shipping in 3-5 business days.
What's the difference between 36x40 and 36x48?
36x40 is closer to square, which fits a wide wall or artwork made in a near-square ratio. 36x48 is a longer rectangle and shares its proportions with 30x40, so a design for one crops cleanly to the other.
How much wall space do I need for a 36x48 poster?
Leave at least a foot of clear wall above and below it, and stand back six to ten feet when checking the proof on screen - that is the distance most large posters are actually viewed from.
