If you’re having photos taken, such as school photos or pictures for an engagement or wedding, you might be wondering how many pictures and what sizes to have printed.
Many people enjoy keeping a small photo of their significant other, children, family, or a special person or pet in their life in their wallet.
To make sure the pictures fit in a wallet, however, it’s a good idea to get a feel for just how big a wallet-size photo is.
What are the dimensions of a wallet-size photo?
In general, wallet-size photos are 2.5 inches or 6.35 centimeters wide and 3.5 inches or 8.89 centimeters tall.
Wallets are usually wider than they are tall, so portrait pictures are usually placed sideways.
If you’ve taken a group or family photo, however, it might be printed in a landscape format, so it will look like it’s positioned correctly when you open your wallet.
Although this is the most common size, two other wallet-size photos are available. The first is a die-cut wallet photo, which comes with four photos on a single sheet.
These photos have rounded corners, so they’re 2.25 inches or 5.715 centimeters wide and 3.25 inches or 8.255 centimeters tall.
The final type of wallet photo is called a mini wallet photo. It’s designed for use in smaller wallets or tiny frames. These photos come as a sheet of eight pictures, which can be cut to create individual photos.
These mini pictures are 2.5 inches or 6.35 centimeters by 1.75 inches or 4.445 centimeters.
What are other common photo sizes?
Aside from wallet-size photos, you may be asked what other photo sizes you would like.
The most common picture size is 4 by 6 inches or 10.16 by 15.24 centimeters.
If you’re having prints developed from a roll of film or disposable camera, this is almost always the size the pictures will be printed as unless you specifically ask for something different.
A 5 by 7-inch or 12.7 by 17.78-centimeter photo is bigger enough than a 4 by 6-inch picture to make a slightly bolder statement. This picture size is sometimes used for greeting cards.
Eight by 10 inches and 8.5 by 11 inches are also popular picture sizes. For larger photographs that make a bigger statement, 12 by 18, 18 by 24, and 24 by 36-inch sizes are often used.
These larger sizes are a good choice if you want to hang the picture, particularly if it will be hung in a wide-open space. They’re also great for pictures with a lot of detail.
How do I find what size photo will fit in my wallet?
The easiest way to figure out what size photo you need for your wallet is to simply measure the size of the picture space in the wallet.
Wallets can vary in size, but the picture area is generally standardized. However, if the picture’s edges will be covered by fabric, it can sometimes be difficult to get an exact measurement.
In this case, it’s best to use a piece of paper to help you estimate.
To use a piece of paper to estimate the proper size for a photo, first cut the paper into a rectangle measuring 2.5 by 3.5 inches.
Then, try to slip the paper into the wallet holder. If it doesn’t fit, cut it down to 3.25 by 2.25 inches.
Continue decreasing the size of the paper until you find measurements that work, and purchase or print your photos accordingly.
What else can wallet-size photos be used for?
Aside from use in wallets, wallet-size photos are excellent for scrapbooking. They’re small enough that they can be used with other photos or decorations without taking up too much space.
These pictures also work well in small frames and are great for setting in a collection on a small end table or nightstand.
Wallet-size photos are also popular with kids. After picture day, many students enjoy trading their pictures with their friends.
The wallet-size photo is small enough to collect so that kids can have pictures of all of their classmates.
The back of the photo also offers just enough space for kids to sign their names or write a small note.
