Framed or unframed? Choosing how to buy your print
By Amy Byrne · · 6 min read
Framing adds €15 to any print here. Bespoke framing in Ireland typically runs €60–€150. Here is how to decide which route makes sense for your wall.
Every print in the shop comes two ways: unframed, or ready-to-hang in a solid oak frame for +€15 on any size. Both are the same photograph on the same paper. The difference is entirely presentation, protection and cost.
What the framed option includes
- Solid oak moulding, natural finish
- Acid-free mount board so the print never touches the glazing
- Museum-grade glazing
- Hanging hardware fitted, ready for the wall
- Protective packaging with corner guards
What the unframed option includes
- The print on high-quality archival paper, signed on the reverse
- A white border for mounting
- Sent flat in protective packaging
The real cost comparison
Bespoke picture framing in Ireland generally runs €60–€150 for a print this size once you add a mount and decent glass. Off-the-shelf frames from a homeware shop start around €15–€30 but usually come in standard metric sizes that fight with an imperial print.
| Route | Typical total for a 12×16″ |
|---|---|
| Print + framing here | €45 |
| Print + high-street ready-made frame | €30 + €20–€40 |
| Print + bespoke local framing | €30 + €60–€150 |
Full pricing sits on the prints and framing page.
When to frame it yourself instead
- You want a specific timber, a coloured mount, or a wide gallery mount.
- You are matching frames that already hang in the room.
- You are building a large gallery wall and buying frames in bulk locally is cheaper.
- You are buying 5×5″ prints for a shelf and already own square frames.
Ordering unframed also cuts postage — an unframed print is lighter and cheaper to send than glazed timber, and there is no glass to worry about in transit.
When to let me frame it
- It is a gift and it needs to arrive finished.
- It is going up straight away and you do not want a project.
- It is a large piece — a 16×24″ is the size people most often never get around to framing.
A note on glass and light
Wherever you frame it, keep the print off a wall in direct sun. Archival prints are made to last for decades, but nothing survives an afternoon of south-facing glare every day for years. Bathroom walls and above radiators are the other two places to avoid.
Still deciding on size? The print size guide walks through which size suits which wall.
Frequently asked
- How much does picture framing cost in Ireland?
- Bespoke framing typically costs €60–€150 for a mid-size print once a mount and quality glazing are included. Ready-made high-street frames run €15–€40. Framing added to a print here is a flat €15 on any size.
- What frame do the prints come in?
- A solid oak moulding in a natural finish, with an acid-free mount, museum-grade glazing and hanging hardware fitted, delivered ready to hang.
- Is it cheaper to buy a print unframed?
- Yes. Unframed prints cost €15 less and postage is lower because an unframed print is lighter than a glazed frame. It also lets you choose your own frame to match a room.
- Are framed prints safe to post?
- Yes. Framed prints ship in protective packaging with corner guards. If you would rather avoid glass in transit entirely, order unframed and frame locally.
More guides
- Wall art room by room: nursery, home office and hallway
Which prints suit a nursery, a home office and a hallway — sizes, subjects, heights and colours for the three rooms people leave until last.
- How to photograph your dog (and get one worth framing)
Practical dog photography tips — get down low, use the right light, freeze movement, keep their attention, and how to tell if a phone photo will print well.
- Irish landscape photography: chasing light in a country with none
How to photograph the Irish landscape in bad light — golden hour, the twenty minutes after rain, blue hour, and which conditions actually print well.