Poster · US standard
11 × 17 poster
11 × 17 inches (279.4 × 431.8 mm) is the most common small-poster size in North America. It is large enough to read from across a room but small enough to print and ship cheaply. With 0.125 in bleed the export size is 11.25 × 17.25 in.
Trim, bleed and safe area
| Unit | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Millimetres (mm) | 279.4 | 431.8 |
| Centimetres (cm) | 27.94 | 43.18 |
| Inches (in) | 11 | 17 |
| Pixels @ 72 DPI | 792 | 1,224 |
| Pixels @ 96 DPI | 1,056 | 1,632 |
| Pixels @ 150 DPI | 1,650 | 2,550 |
| Pixels @ 200 DPI | 2,200 | 3,400 |
| Pixels @ 300 DPI | 3,300 | 5,100 |
| Pixels @ 600 DPI | 6,600 | 10,200 |
11 × 17 in
Typical uses
- · Small event and gig posters
- · Retail in-store signage
- · Movie release one-sheets (smaller variants)
- · Community noticeboards
- · Restaurant and bar promotion
Readability at distance
For a poster read from 2 m away, headlines should be at least 60 pt and body text at least 18 pt. A useful rule: maximum readable distance in metres is roughly equal to cap-height in centimetres × 5. So a 2 cm tall headline reads cleanly up to about 10 m.
Frequently asked questions
Is 11 × 17 the same as Tabloid?
Yes — 11 × 17 inches (279.4 × 431.8 mm) is the Tabloid paper size when used in portrait orientation, or Ledger when used in landscape. The two names refer to the same physical sheet.
What bleed does a poster need?
For an 11 × 17 poster, 0.125 inch (3.175 mm) of bleed on every side is standard, making the export size 11.25 × 17.25 inches. Some large-format printers prefer 0.25 inch (6.35 mm) of bleed — check the printer's spec sheet before exporting.
Is this size good for wall posters?
For wall posters, 11 × 17 is on the smaller end. It is closer to a "noticeboard" or "indoor sign" size than a full wall poster. For visibility from across a room, 18 × 24 inches or larger is more typical.
What DPI for the image?
At 300 DPI, an 11 × 17 poster is 3300 × 5100 pixels. For posters viewed from more than 2 m away, 150–200 DPI is often enough. Source large images at native resolution rather than upscaling smaller ones.
Can I print 11 × 17 on a home printer?
Most home printers max out at Letter or A4. A wide-format ("11 × 17 capable") inkjet is needed for at-home Tabloid prints, or you can use an online print service.