Guide to Photo Sizes

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Last Updated on July 25, 2025 by Michelle Barton

Current research finds the average American takes out their smartphone to take a photo six times a day. We may not all be featured in National Geographic’s “Pictures of the Year”, but documenting life’s moments can be a great way to connect with others, and experts are now saying that old-fashioned print photos are the best way to preserve those images.

If preserved properly, print photographs can create a connection between you and generations to come. Of course, in order to truly preserve photographs, you are going to need more than just a shoebox. Selecting high-quality material to keep your most treasured memories and prints will help you and others enjoy your photographs for years. When selecting a photo safe plastic bag for storage, make sure you select one that is archival quality, acid-free, and lignin free. Crystal-clear plastic allows for you and others to view the photo without removing it, and selecting a thicker plastic ensures an added layer of protection from tears and punctures. Finally, you want to choose a bag that fits your print properly without excessive movement inside the bag. Selecting the right packaging will keep your photographs pristine for yourself and your posterity.

ClearBags offers a wide selection of protective closure bags. From the environmentally conscious to the archivist, ClearBags provides the protection you need for your photographs. Standard photo sizes include 4×6, 5×7, and 8×10 with larger prints coming in at 11×14, 16×20, and 20×30. ClearBags carries products as small as 2.5×3.5 (wallet size) up to 24×36 (poster size). 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through standard photo sizes and the best protective closure options to keep your prints safe from dust, moisture, and sticky fingerprints:

Standard Photo Sizes and Matching Protective Bags

  • 2.5 x 3.5 The Wallet Photos
    • Ideal for: The classic school photos and small keepsakes
    • Recommended Bag Size: 3 x 4 
    • Product Recommendation: Eco Clear Protective Closure Bags 3 1/4″ x 4 1/8″ (GC43PC)
    • Why we love it: These small but mighty bags are made from 1.6 mil PLA material, which makes them eco-friendly bags as they are commercially compostable. 
  • 4 x 6 – The Classic Photo
    • Ideal for: Standard photo prints and postcards 
    • Recommended Bag Size: 4.25 x 6.125
    • Product Recommendation: Crystal Clear Protective Closure Bags 4 1/4” x 6 1/8” (B4X6PC)
    • Why we love it: These Crystal Clear bags are acid-free and archival safe, and we love that we can show off the photographs we love while still protecting them from the environment around them. 
  • 5 x 7 – The Desk Frame Photo
    • Ideal for: Portraits and framed/matted prints
    • Recommended Bag Size: 5.25 x 7.125
    • Product Recommendation: Premium Crystal Clear Protective Closure Bags with Flap 5 1/4” x 7 1/8” (PR75S)
    • Why we love it: With a 2 mil thickness, these bags high-quality bags will not easily rip, tear, wrinkle, or fog. Because they are acid and lignin free and archival safe, they are the ideal way to protect prints for storage or shipping. In fact, they are even USPS approved!
  • 8 x 10 – The Hallway Frame Photo
    • Ideal for: Headshots and Art Photography
    • Recommended Bag Size: 8.25 x 10.25
    • Product Recommendation: Premium Eco Clear Protective Closure Bags 8 7/16” x 10 1/4” (GC108PC)
    • Why we love it: Premium Eco Clear Protective Closure Bags are an earth-friendly packaging solution that gives you features the same things we know and love about our Crystal Clear and Premium bags. We love that this bag is commercially compostable, which is a great option for all those who want a high-quality bag to protect their photographs while also protecting the environment. 
  • 11 x 14 – The Event Photo
    • Ideal for: High-quality Event Photos and and Keepsake Posters
    • Recommended Bag Size: 11.25 x 14.125
    • Product Recommendation: Crystal Clear Protective Closure Bags 11 1/4” x 14 1/8” (B11SPC)
    • Why we love it: This bag accommodates backing boards and mats up to 1/8 inch thick, which is ideal for art and photography. Like all of our protective closure bags, the adhesive strip is on the body of the bag so you can easily insert your artwork and photos without getting hung up on the resealable adhesive on the bag. These are great for when your product requires a professional display, and they are USPS approved for bulk mail.
  • 16 x 20 – The Oversized Photo
    • Ideal for: Posters, Gallery Prints, and Professional Portfolios
    • Recommended Bag Size: 16.25 x 20.25
    • Product Recommendation: Crystal Clear Bags with Protective Closure 16 7/16” x 24 1/4” (B1624PC)
    • Why we love it: The material on these bags is made of Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) for a high clarity presentation and outstanding durability. They give your photographs the attention and protection they deserve. Because they are also archival safe, they are perfect for protecting your mounted prints at art shows and preserving them in storage. 

Protective Bags: Crystal Clear, Premium, and Eco Options

  • Crystal Clear Protective Closure Bags
    • Germany Kent said, “When the vision is clear, the results will appear,” and when it comes to seeing things clearly, no one does clear like ClearBags. Our Crystal Clear Protective Closure bags make perfect sense for packaging art, photos, cards, and crafts. The protective closure design places the adhesive strip on the body of the bag rather than the flap, which allows you and others to insert and remove items without any contact with the adhesive tape. More efficient packaging and better safeguarding means enhanced preservation of your photographs. The material is 1.6 mil thick and is made of archival grade polypropylene for outstanding clarity and durability. This sleeve won’t rip, tear, wrinkle, or fog like other plastics. Clearly, the high clarity of these bags will provide the barrier you need without sacrificing the visual impact of your photographs.
  • Premium Crystal Clear Protective Closure Bags
    • Capturing a moment in time brings joy, but capturing the perfect moment is truly priceless. For those items you want to keep forever, you want something that gives you a bit more. ClearBags Premium Crystal Clear Protective Closure bags offer the same high clarity of our standard Crystal Clear bags while featuring a thicker material and stronger seam to keep your photos in pristine condition. They also offer the same adhesive strip design feature, are archival safe, and are acid and lignin free. In addition to securing photographs, the sturdiness of these bags make them ideal for cards so you can treasure those old greeting cards and postcards from loved ones and friends long after they are gone. ClearBags Premium Crystal Clear Protective Closure bags are made from 10% recycled content and are USPS Approved, making them a great choice for protecting your prints and ensuring a successful delivery. 
  • Eco Clear Protective Closure Bags
    • Made from high clarity, food safe and plant based polylactic acid (PLA) material, ClearBags Eco Clear Protective Closure Bags feature the same protective closure of our Crystal Clear and Premium bags with the added bonus of being environmentally friendly. These commercially compostable bags are also recyclable, food safe, and heat sealable. Whether packaging photographs for shipping or storage, these bags keep contents safe from moisture and dust while showcasing your photography. ClearBags Eco Clear Protective Closure Bags come in a variety of sizes and, like our Crystal Clear and Premium bags, they can be reused multiple times, further reducing waste. 

We know that not every picture comes standard sized, and ensuring a good fit on your photo bags means added protection. See the chart below for a quick reference on our bag selection for your photos and artwork. To aid in determining which product is right for keeping your items safe, we have outlined our most popular categories for enclosing your treasures.

Whether you are a photographer, a collector or someone who values their printed photos, you know that caring for your collection is the best way to ensure its longevity. Protecting your cherished photographs is important, and adding the layer of security afforded by one of our protective enclosure bags can safeguard your memories. Whether you are safeguarding a black and white of your granddad or preserving the album cover from your favorite vinyl, ClearBags has a protective closure bag that’s just the right size for you. 

Published by Megan Curtis