Aaron Brothers built a loyal following by making framing feel approachable, whether you needed a simple 5x7 for a family photo or a custom shadow box for a jersey. If you are sorting through an old Aaron Brothers frame, trying to replace one, or searching for the right size for a print, the key is understanding how Aaron Brothers frame sizes were labeled. Most sizes referred to the opening that holds the art, not the finished outer dimensions of the frame itself.
That distinction matters more than most people expect. A frame marked 11x14 may measure 14x17 or larger on the outside once the moulding is included. Aaron Brothers carried standard photo sizes, poster sizes, and custom framing options, and availability often varied by store and collection. This guide breaks down the common Aaron Brothers frame dimensions, explains how matting changes the fit, and shows you how to measure a frame with confidence.
Common Aaron Brothers Frame Sizes Explained
Aaron Brothers frame sizes generally followed standard U.S. framing dimensions, which made it easier to shop for ready-made frames. The most common sizes were tied to photo prints, art paper, and poster dimensions. For small photos, you would typically see 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, and 8.5x11. For larger prints, 11x14, 12x12, 16x20, 18x24, 20x24, and 24x36 were staples in many stores.
Those numbers usually describe the frame's inner opening, or the rabbet, where the glass, mat, and artwork sit. The outer frame size depends on the width and depth of the moulding. A chunky 2-inch frame will add several inches to the overall footprint, while a slim metal frame adds very little. If you are matching a frame to a specific wall space or replacing a broken one, always measure the opening instead of assuming the labeled size reflects the outer edge.
Ready-Made Sizes for Photos and Small Art
For snapshots and small prints, Aaron Brothers stocked the familiar photo frame sizes that fit lab prints and home printers. A 4x6 frame is ideal for wallet-sized enlargements and small desk photos. A 5x7 works for slightly larger portraits, while an 8x10 remains one of the most popular sizes for family photos, certificates, and small art prints. The 8.5x11 size fits standard letter paper, making it useful for documents, kids' artwork, and simple posters.
When you move up to 11x14, you gain more matting options. An 11x14 frame can hold an 8x10 photo with a generous mat border, which often looks more polished than cramming an 8x10 into an 8x10 frame. Square formats were also common, especially 12x12 for scrapbook pages and square Instagram-style prints. Other useful in-between sizes included 9x12 and 12x16, which appear in art supply stores and custom framing counters because they suit watercolor paper, sketches, and digital prints.
Poster, Print, and Oversized Frame Dimensions
Larger Aaron Brothers frames were built around poster and fine-art print standards. A 16x20 frame is a common choice for medium art prints and enlarged photographs. An 18x24 frame fits many gallery posters and art prints, while 20x24 and 20x30 handle larger photographs and open-edition prints. For classic movie posters and concert posters, 24x36 is the go-to size, and 27x40 is the standard one-sheet movie poster dimension.
Some Aaron Brothers locations also carried 24x30, 30x40, and even 36x48 frames, though these oversized options were less consistent from store to store. If your print is an odd size, such as 13x19 or 16x24, you may not find a ready-made frame that fits without a custom mat or custom frame. In those cases, the original Aaron Brothers custom framing service was often the best route because it allowed any dimension down to a fraction of an inch.
Custom Framing and Measuring Aaron Brothers Frames
Aaron Brothers was known for custom framing as much as for its ready-made selection. Custom work was not limited to a fixed list of Aaron Brothers frame sizes. You could frame almost anything: odd-sized art, canvas paintings, jerseys, mirrors, maps, and three-dimensional objects in shadow boxes. The final size was determined by the artwork dimensions, the mat borders, and the width of the chosen frame moulding.
To order a custom frame or match an existing one, you need to measure the rabbet, which is the inner lip where the artwork and glass rest. Measure the rabbet width and height from the back of the frame, not the front outer edge. Use a metal ruler or tape measure and record to the nearest 1/16 inch. If you are measuring art instead of a frame, measure the artwork itself and then decide how much mat border you want. That total, plus a small allowance for fitting, determines the frame size you need.
How Matting Changes the Effective Frame Size
Matting is the most common reason a frame size seems confusing. A 16x20 Aaron Brothers frame might be labeled 16x20, but if it includes a mat, the visible opening could be 11x14 or even 8x10. The mat acts as a border between the art and the frame, and it can make a smaller piece fit a larger frame beautifully. The effective size is the mat opening, not the frame's outer dimensions or even the rabbet size.
If you are replacing a mat, you need two measurements: the frame rabbet size and the artwork size. For example, an 11x14 frame with a 2-inch mat border can display an 8x10 photo. A 16x20 frame with a 2.5-inch mat border can hold an 11x14 print. Custom mat cutting lets you adapt a standard frame to a nonstandard print, as long as the frame opening is larger than the art and the mat board is wide enough to cover the difference. This is why vintage Aaron Brothers frames with mats should always be measured at the opening before you buy replacement art.
Tips for Replacing or Matching Vintage Aaron Brothers Frames
Vintage Aaron Brothers frames can have slight size variations because of manufacturing tolerances, age, or metric-to-imperial conversion. A frame sold as 8x10 might measure 8 1/16 by 10 1/8, or a 24x36 frame could be a fraction off. These small differences matter when you order glass, backing, or a custom mat. If you are buying a used Aaron Brothers frame online, ask the seller for rabbet measurements and clear photos of the back corners.
To match a set of frames, pay attention to the moulding profile, finish, and rabbet depth as well as the opening size. Two frames can both be 11x14 but look completely different if one has a wide gold profile and the other has a thin black metal edge. A local frame shop can recreate a similar profile, cut glass to the rabbet size, or build a new mat that fits your existing frame. If you only need to replace the art, measure the mat opening first, then choose a print that matches those dimensions or have a new mat cut to fit your artwork.
Whether you are hanging a single vintage Aaron Brothers frame or assembling a gallery wall from thrifted finds, accurate measuring is your best tool. Start with the rabbet, account for the mat, and compare those numbers to standard photo and poster sizes before you buy anything new. With a tape measure and a little patience, you can make old Aaron Brothers frame sizes work for modern prints, odd-sized art, and whatever you want to display next.