Framed or unframed? Choosing how to buy your print
By Amy Byrne · · 6 min read
Framing adds €20 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: rolled and unframed, or ready-to-hang in a solid oak frame for +€20 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 250gsm archival matte fine-art paper, pigment inks, signed on the reverse
- A white border for mounting
- Rolled in a rigid tube (or flat-packed for 5×5″)
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 | €50 |
| 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 — a rolled tube 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. Pigment inks on archival paper are rated 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 €20 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 €20 less and postage is lower because a rolled tube 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
- How to plan a gallery wall (four layouts that always work)
Grid, salon, row and staircase gallery wall layouts, with spacing, frame mixing and a paper-template method that saves you drilling twice.
- How to hang a picture properly (the 145 cm rule)
The simple gallery rule for hanging pictures at the right height, plus fixings for Irish walls, spacing above furniture and how to hang prints on a stairway.