How to choose a poster: the buying guide (sizes, paper, frame, shipping)

Updated September 16, 2026 — by César, editor at AestheticPoster

Choosing a poster comes down to four decisions: the subject (a passion or a style), the size (M 30×42, L 42×60 or XL 60×84 cm depending on your wall), the mounting (supplied adhesive strips or frame) and where it will live (light, humidity). This guide gives the short answer to each, with what we actually print.

Key takeaways

• Three formats, three prices: M 30×42 cm at €19.99, L 42×60 cm at €29.99, XL 60×84 cm at €49.99 — the proportions of A3/A2/A1.
• One paper only: matte, 250 g/m², water and crease-resistant PVC coating. No gloss, no warping.
• Ready to hang: adhesive strips in the box, frame available (black, white, light wood, dark wood), print on demand, delivery in 5 to 7 days, free from €39.

1. The subject: start with a passion or a style

A poster you keep is a poster that says something about you: a series, a film, a game, an artist, a city. That's the easiest path — our collections are organized by universe (cinema, manga, video games, art, cities, nature) and the choice is made in minutes. The other path starts from the room: a style (minimalist, japandi, industrial, black and white) and a palette, then a poster that fits — the Decoration collection is designed for that. For a wall that needs to please several people (living room, entryway), style is the safest choice; for a bedroom or office, passion. And if the image already exists on your phone, the custom poster prints it in the same formats.

2. The size: measure the wall, not the poster

The rule that avoids the classic mistake (too small): a single poster should occupy half to two-thirds of the width of the furniture below it. Above a 2 m sofa, it's an XL or two L's; above a 120 cm desk, it's an L. Details by room are in what size poster to choose.

3. The paper: what you receive

All our posters are printed on demand on 250 g/m² matte paper with a PVC coating. Concretely: no gloss under a lamp or facing a window, rigid paper that doesn't crease in the tube and doesn't warp with humidity, and a surface you can wipe with a dry cloth. We chose one finish rather than a matte/gloss choice: matte suits all subjects and all rooms, even behind glass. The poster arrives rolled in a tube; if it keeps a curve, 24 hours under a few books is enough (method in flatten a rolled poster).

4. Mounting: adhesive strips supplied or frame

Every poster comes with its adhesive strips: four strips on the back, a clean smooth wall, no holes. This is the recommended mounting for a bedroom, office, rental or a wall where posters rotate. The frame — black, white, light wood or dark wood, sized to the format, +€50 in M, +€70 in L, +€100 in XL — is essential above a sofa, in an entryway, on a textured wall or for a poster you want to keep for years. If you already have a shop-bought frame, check its interior height: 30×40 cm doesn't fit an M (42 cm). Full guides: how to hang a poster, how to frame a poster, IKEA frames compatible.

5. Location: light and humidity

Two enemies only. Direct sun fades any print in a few years: a wall facing full south deserves a frame, and the poster benefits from not being face-on to the window (protect a poster from sun). Bathroom humidity is tolerated by the PVC coating, but the adhesive holds less well on a wall that condenses: there, a closed frame is better. For height, the center of the image at 1.45-1.50 m from the floor in a walkway room, lower above furniture — see at what height to hang a poster.

Order and delivery

Print on demand, tracked shipment, delivery in 5 to 7 days. Free delivery from €39 (€4.90 below), secure delivery option against loss, breakage and theft at checkout.

FAQ

What size poster should I choose?

M (30×42 cm) for an office, hallway or series; L (42×60 cm) above a desk or 140 cm bed; XL (60×84 cm) above a sofa or 160 cm bed. A single poster should cover half to two-thirds of the width of the furniture below.

Are the posters matte or gloss?

Matte, all of them. 250 g/m² paper with PVC coating: no gloss, water and crease-resistant. We don't print a gloss version.

How do I hang the poster once it arrives?

With the adhesive strips supplied in the box, on a clean smooth wall, without drilling. For a gallery look or a difficult wall, order the poster already framed.

Over 10,000 posters sorted by universe: see all our posters.

César, editor at AestheticPoster — the only really common mistake is choosing too small a format. When in doubt, go up a size: a poster never looks too big once on the wall.