Buyer tool · canvas and bar dimensions
Canvas Frame Specs: Inner Size, Bar Section and Packing
Canvas framing is arithmetic before it is a product. The frame has an inner size and an outer size, a bar has a width and a depth, and the canvas has to clear the rebate and the stretcher. This page sets out the measures, the typical sections in the catalogue and the questions a framer or an art-supply buyer should ask before a volume order. The recorded figures for each model are on its product page.
A canvas frame is bought by inner size (the canvas opening) and a stretcher bar by length, width and depth. Typical trade bar sections are about 20-40 mm wide and 20-40 mm deep; depth is the measure that clears the frame rebate. Confirm inner and outer size together, the corner joint, whether wedges are included, and the units per carton before comparing unit costs.
At a glance
| Inner size | the opening the canvas sits in - match it to the canvas |
|---|---|
| Outer size | inner size plus twice the bar width - what fits a shelf or a customer's frame |
| Bar width | typically 20-40 mm in this catalogue |
| Bar depth | typically 20-40 mm; clears the frame rebate |
| Joint | pinned, stapled, mitred or finger-jointed depending on the model |
| Carton | flat cartons in multiples; count stated per model |
Canvas frame measures: the reference table
| Measure | Definition | Typical range | What it decides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inner size | opening for the canvas or print | standard frame sizes | which canvas the frame accepts |
| Outer size | inner size + twice the bar width | inner size plus about 4-8 cm | shelf fit and the customer's rebate |
| Bar width | face width of the frame | approx. 20-40 mm | visual weight and outer size |
| Bar depth | how far the frame stands off the wall | approx. 20-40 mm | clears the stretcher and hardware |
| Units per carton | how many frames ship together | stated per model | landed cost on a volume order |
Typical trade values for this catalogue. Each model page carries its recorded inner size and bar section; where a figure is missing it is confirmed per batch before the order.
Stretcher bar sections: a practical reference
| Section | Typical use | What to confirm with the supplier |
|---|---|---|
| about 20 mm | light cotton canvas, standard frames | clears a standard frame rebate |
| about 25-30 mm | general canvas work, gallery wrap | depth under the moulding |
| about 35-40 mm | heavy canvas, large formats | canvas weight and corner strength |
| bar length | matched to the frame ordered | length tolerance and whether pre-notched |
| wedges / keys | tensioning the canvas | included or supplied separately |
Sections here are the trade reference values for the group; the recorded section and depth for a model are on its page. No container-loading figure is published as fact - carton arithmetic on this site is an estimate for planning only.
How it runs
- Take the canvas size the customer works to, and choose the inner size that matches it.
- Check the outer size against the shelf or the frame rebate the product has to fit into.
- Choose the bar width for the visual weight and the bar depth for the frame rebate and the canvas weight.
- Confirm the corner joint and whether wedges are included, because a tensioning frame without wedges is incomplete.
- Get the units per carton and the carton length before the order: long flat cartons are a freight decision on their own.
Inner size versus outer size
- Inner size is the canvas opening. It is the number a framer buys by and the number a customer's canvas has to match.
- Outer size is the inner size plus twice the bar width. It is the number that decides whether the frame fits a shelf, a display, or the customer's existing frame rebate.
- Quoting one without the other is the most common error in canvas frame listings, because a 50 x 70 cm inner size with a 4 cm bar has a very different outer size from the same opening with a 2 cm bar.
- Where a model page carries only one of the two, the second is confirmed per batch - it can be derived from the bar section, but only once the section is recorded.
What is not published as fact here
- No CBM or container-loading figure is published as a fact block. The carton arithmetic on the packing page is a planning estimate, labelled as one.
- No claim is made about the drying or grading of a bar unless the supplier records it. An unstable bar twists after tensioning, and a claimed process that is not recorded cannot be supported.
- No custom framing or printing service is offered. The frames and bars are standard trade items; stretching, printing and custom cutting are the buyer's or the framer's side of the job.
- No certification claim is made for any canvas model. Report status is named per model before quotation where a report exists.
FAQ
How do I choose between a canvas frame and stretcher bars?
Buy the frame if you sell standard sizes and want a ready-made product the customer can take away; buy the bars if your customers bring in sizes, because a bar is assembled to whatever the order needs. A frame is bought by inner size and a bar by length, section and depth. Many framers stock both: the frames for the common retail sizes and a bar range for the bespoke work, with wedges for tensioning.
What bar depth do I need for a deep canvas?
The depth has to clear the frame rebate and carry the canvas weight. A shallow bar of about 20 mm suits light cotton in a standard frame; a deeper bar of about 35-40 mm suits heavier canvas and gallery wrap. The depth is the number that matters for the rebate, while the width is a visual and weight decision. Where a model page does not record the depth, treat it as confirmed per batch rather than assuming a section.
Stocking frames and bars?
Send the inner sizes, bar sections and carton quantities; we return the models and the packing data for a mixed pallet.