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MyDomain / Design by Amelia Manley
If you have art or photographs piling up, it’s time to get them framed and on display. Online framing services eliminate excuses and make it easy to transform your favorite pieces or cherished memories into ready-to-hang mementos.
Full-service online framing companies will frame your artwork or photos for you. For art, documents, or memorabilia, you mail the items and the company will craft a custom frame, then assemble the final product before shipping it back to you. In the case of digital art or photography, you can upload the file to have it printed and framed. This is ideal for digital photos that are stashed away on your smartphone or cluttering your computer.
Generally, you’ll have a dozen or more options for frame material and color. Most online framing services include mat board options as well. Applying acrylic glazing (the cover protecting your art or photos) is generally the standard because it is durable and easy to care for. Protective coatings that eliminate glare or reduce UV exposure are often available for an additional fee.
Find the right frame for any of life’s special moments or mementos with these top online framing services.
The Best Online Framing Services of 2022
- Best Overall: Level Frames
- Best Budget: Frame It Easy
- Best for Art: American Frame
- Best for Digital Photos: Keepsake
- Best Frame Only: Framed & Matted
- Best Full Service: Framebridge
- Best for Options: Art To Frames
- Best for Canvas: Canvas On Demand
Best Overall: Level Frames
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Level Frames
Why We Chose It: A user-friendly site and a full spectrum of options and products make it easy to find the right frame for your project and budget.
What We Like
- Mail your art with prepaid packaging or upload photos for high-quality printing
- All wood frames are handcrafted in the United States
- Use the virtual frame builder to preview your image in a variety of frame styles
What We Don't Like
- Limited frame options
- Acrylic glazing only available for an upcharge
Level Frames is a full-service online framing shop that specializes in framing artwork, photography, and vinyl records. However, customers have the option to frame art at home, following easy-to-understand instructions included with each custom frame.
Level Frames is known for turning life’s special moments into matted, framed photographs ready to be displayed in your home or office. Upload your image and select from fine art or professional photo paper choices. The image is printed with archival inks that protect against fading. Finish the process by picking a frame from the all-wood options.
Take note that Level Frames offers fewer than 20 frame styles. However, the styles are divided into five distinct collections, so you’re likely to find a look you love.
Best Budget: Frame It Easy
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Frame It Easy
Why We Chose It: A step above DIY framing, Frame It Easy delivers custom-made frames for your art, photos, or memorabilia. Options are available a la carte, so you can easily control your spending or splurge on what is important to you.
What We Like
- Minimizes waste in the framing process and uses recyclable packing materials
- Offers quick turnaround times
- A la carte pricing gives you control over your budget
What We Don’t Like
- No full-service option for artwork; you’ll need to frame it yourself at home
- Shipping is an added cost
If you're looking for a custom framing experience but don’t want to shell out a lot of money, consider the simple solutions from Frame It Easy. While the frame selection isn’t as varied as some other online framing services, there are eight styles of wood and metal frames to choose from. Each frame has a variety of colors or finishes to complement your artwork.
Frame It Easy uses a simple frame builder to help you make selections for the size of your art or photo, the frame style you prefer, and matting plus glazing options. As you make your choices, the tool automatically calculates pricing—giving you an idea of where your dollars are being spent.
The company doesn’t accept incoming art for framing; it will only frame uploaded art or photographs. However, Frame It Easy does provide simple instructions to frame your own art at home. Keeping the process simple allows Frame It Easy to offer some of the fastest turnaround times of online framing services; most custom frames ship in just four to six days. Shipping costs vary based on the size of your frame, the distance it needs to travel, and how fast you want it to arrive.
Best for Art: American Frame
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American Frame
Why We Chose It: An emphasis on heirloom quality frames and options for displaying artwork and canvas prints makes American Frame a leading choice as an online framing service for art.
What We Like
- Wide assortment of frame materials and styles
- Free design assistance
- Options to customize your package, including acrylic coatings, mat board style, and more
What We Don’t Like
- Limited two-hour cancellation window
- Design assistance requires filling out a form and waiting for a response
A leader in framing services since the 1970s, American Frame has developed a reputation as an online framing service for artwork, photographs, and canvas. The company caters to art professionals, but is equally accessible for anyone and even offers one-on-one expert help for your framing project. Mail in your art or posters for full-service framing, or upload your photography or artwork to have American Frame print and mount your selections in a custom frame.
Like most online framing services, American Frame offers both wood and metal frames. Unique options that make the company stand out include specialty art frames, metal frames from industry-leader Nielsen, and canvas-depth frames. Regardless of which type of frame you choose, American Frames offers precision cutting to within 1/16th of an inch for every custom frame, guaranteeing that the frame will fit your artwork perfectly.
Best for Digital Photos: Keepsake
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Keepsake
Why We Chose It: This digital-friendly online framing service is all about taking your quick snaps and preserving them with a custom frame, ready for display in your home or office.
What We Like
- Ships in three to five days
- Easy to visualize your picture in all available frames
- Indicates if you’ve chosen a size that isn’t right for the resolution of your photo
What We Don’t Like
- Limited frame selection by category
- Matting is pre-selected based on the frame type
Keepsake is an online framing service that specializes in framing digital photos. Start by uploading a photo from your computer, popular social media sites, or file-sharing services. The image instantly populates across the site’s selection of small, medium, and large frames.
At a glance, you can see frame color options and costs. Pick your favorite and add it to your cart—it's that simple. The process takes a matter of minutes, and Keepsake generally ships custom frames in less than a week. True to its mobile-friendly character, Keepsake also offers an app for both Apple and Android users. Download it to make it even easier to transform the photos on your phone into framed keepsakes.
Best Frame Only: Framed & Matted
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Framed & Matted
Why We Chose It: Order a custom frame and assemble it with your artwork or photography at home, saving time and money. Unlike many other online framing services, Framed & Matted delivers just a frame and mat board.
What We Like
- Fast three-day turnaround
- Free shipping
- Receive two complimentary mat board options
What We Don’t Like
- Must email customer service to receive a free additional mat board
- UV glazing for acrylic incurs a $21 upcharge
Peruse the extensive frame and mat board options of this online framing service to find the look you love for your existing artwork or favorite photos. Framed & Matted keeps it simple by just offering custom-order frames, leaving it in your hands to assemble and mount your art. The company offers a worry-free guarantee that the mat board will fit your specifications. If it doesn't fit, Framed & Matted will send a replacement for free.
In addition, Framed & Matted distinguishes itself by offering a free double mat option, plus the option to include a complimentary mat in another color with your frame order.
Best Full Service: Framebridge
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Framebridge
Why We Chose It: Offering full-service framing services for art, photography, and memorabilia, Framebridge offers excellent customer service and delivers a quality product that is ready to hang. Shipping is free both ways, and your art is insured.
What We Like
- Get help from a designer if you’re unsure of options
- In-store experience in select locations
- Gallery packages are available
What We Don't Like
- Frames are somewhat limited in style
- Limited to acrylic for the front of the frame
While many online framing services exist to transform your digital photos into framed art, there are fewer full-service online framing services available. However, Framebridge does both very well and is a great option to consider if you have existing art you want to frame or if you’re looking to have recent photographs memorialized with a custom frame.
To take advantage of Framebridge’s full-service framing options, you’ll receive prepaid postage materials to safely mail your art or objects to Framebridge. Don’t worry—the package is insured and Framebridge will replace your art if the package is lost or stolen. Once received, your artwork, poster, diploma, stamp collection, or a wide range of other items will be mounted and matted inside the frame of your choice.
Framebridge offers more than 50 frames to choose from. You can also use the company’s free design service for help in frame selection, matting options, and placement. In addition, Framebridge offers free photo editing. Pricing is fair and transparent; options start at $39 for art or photographs at 5 x 5 inches and top out at $209 for 32 x 40 inches.
Best for Options: Art To Frames
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Art To Frames
Why We Chose It: If you’re looking for an abundance of options on everything from frame material to mat board and glazing, Art To Frames is hard to beat.
What We Like
- Extensive selection of frames, mats, and more
- Upload your photo for an instant preview
- Choose the upgrades that matter most to you
What We Don't Like
- Advanced configuration might lead to mistakes
- Does not offer full-service framing; customers must assemble the final product at home
Online framing services specialize in delivering custom frames that are selected by you and built with your specifications in mind. However, most sites offer a standard selection of frames, mat board options, and glazing. Art To Frames takes the standard selection of most online framing services and bests it by giving you more options in just about every category.
A quick search for a typical 8 x 10 inch frame yields more than 200 results, including rustic wooden frames alongside sleek, contemporary frames made of metal. Look for single- or double-mat framing solutions and choose from options like mat type, color, and cut. Glazing options are abundant, and include both acrylic and glass—which is hard to find at most online framing services.
Art To Frames offers the most options to manipulate your frame selections online. All of this customization can be useful for experienced users, but it might lead to potential problems if you don’t understand framing specifications. Use caution when manipulating advanced settings.
Best for Canvas: Canvas On Demand
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Canvas On Demand
Why We Chose It: Affordable pricing meets quality construction in the warp-resistant frames of these canvas creations. The site makes it super simple to upload your photo and preview it as a canvas in sizes up to 32 x 48 inches.
What We Like
- Affordable prices for small to large photo canvases
- Other photo services are available, including framing and print-to-metal options
What We Don't Like
- Shipping costs extra
- Professional image review incurs an additional charge
As an alternative to a traditional framing service, consider ordering a canvas print of your favorite photos. Available in a wide range of sizes, canvas photo printing makes a statement. Canvas On Demand is an affordable service that specializes in canvas prints—although the company also offers framing services.
Photo canvases are available in 18 different sizes, from as small as 8 x 10 inches to as large as 32 x 48 inches. The back is sealed to keep out dust and includes hanging hardware so it’s ready to display. Customize the canvas edge and choose an optional frame to finish the process.
Final Verdict
Online framing services are a great option for finding a custom solution to display your favorite memories or art. Whether you choose a full-service company or order a frame only, you’ll be satisfied with the professional-looking results from ordering a high-quality frame.
Level Frames offers a great combination of features and value for most projects. The package pricing makes it easy to get started but lets you upgrade the options that are most important to you. However, if you’re looking for the most economical option, Frame It Easy is a simple, one-stop-shop for a frame that fits your specifications, although you’ll have to mount your photo or artwork inside once you receive it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Online Framing Services?
Online framing services offer custom-made frames for artwork, photographs, posters, memorabilia, and other flat items. Full-service framing companies will intake your art or photos and deliver them to you in the frame. Other options include print and frame services, which will print your photograph or art and mount it in the frame of your choice. With some companies, you can opt to order a frame only.
Who Should Use Online Framing Services?
If you can't find the time to take your art or photographs to a frame shop, an online framing service is a great way to jumpstart the process. These companies also generally offer substantial savings when compared to the costs of a brick-and-mortar frame shop. Whether you’re short on time or shopping for a deal, an online framing service is a great option to consider.
How Much Do Online Framing Services Charge?
The cost of a custom frame will depend on several factors, including the size of the frame and the material it’s constructed from. Hardwood frames with specialty finishes are among the most expensive options, but there is an abundance of options to fit every budget.
Online framing services typically offer package pricing—including the frame, mat, and glazing—or they let you build your frame with a la carte options. The first route saves you time, but you might overpay for the convenience. The second option requires you to make more decisions and may require more research and decision-making if you’re a novice at art or photo framing.
As a general estimate, however, you can expect to pay $40 or more for a small photo or art display that measures 8 x 8 inches. Larger framing projects, such as those measuring 32 x 40 inches or more, might cost in excess of $200.
How We Choose the Best Online Framing Services
To find the best online framing services, we researched more than 16 of the top service providers and compared the essential features and benefits for each. We evaluated the functionality of the website, assessed the number of frames and options available, and uploaded our own photos to test the process and determine pricing. Based on this hands-on process, we determined the niche for each online framing service and took note of its strengths and limitations.