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Whether you're shopping for picture frames for your home or looking to frame something special, the cost can sometimes come as a surprise. Especially when custom framing is involved, prices can quickly add up. But once you understand what goes into the process, the cost starts to make more sense.
This article explains the main reasons behind the price of framing, and offers practical alternatives to help you save, without compromising on presentation or protection.
What Makes Picture Framing So Expensive?
1. High-Grade Materials
Custom framing often uses ultra-premium materials designed to protect and preserve valuable artwork. These may include:
- Museum-quality mat boards made from 100% cotton rag or lignin-free wood pulp
- UV-filtered or anti-reflective glass to reduce fading and glare
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Solid timber mouldings or ornate profiles that require specialist finishing and sourcing
While these materials serve a purpose, especially for original artworks, they do come at a cost.
2. Labour and Craftsmanship
When you pay for custom framing, you’re also paying for skilled hands. Custom jobs often require careful measuring, mat cutting, frame joining, fitting, and finishing. More complex projects like shadow box framing or multi-window mats can take hours to assemble and may also require specialised techniques, equipment or skills.
3. Made-to-Measure Sizing
Custom-sized frames are designed to fit your artwork exactly. But because they’re made to order, they can’t be mass produced. That means higher setup costs, more wastage, and longer turnaround times. In contrast, ready-made frames are manufactured in bulk to common sizes like A4 or 8x10, making them more affordable and accessible.
4. Added Design Features
Extras like fabric-covered mats, fillets, gold-leaf mouldings, or deep-box framing add visual impact, but they also drive up the price. If you’ve ever asked for these options at a custom framer, you’ve probably noticed the price jumps quickly.
5. Consultation and Design Time
Another factor built into the cost of custom framing is the time spent on consultation and design. This includes one-on-one appointments to measure your artwork, recommend matting and frame options, and guide you through visual layouts. While personalised, this time adds to the labour component and is reflected in the final price.
You're not just paying for the materials, you're also paying for a professional’s expertise to bring it all together in a cohesive design.
So Is Custom Framing Worth It?
When Custom Framing Makes Sense
If you're framing something truly valuable or irreplaceable, like an original painting, signed memorabilia, or a family heirloom, custom framing offers long-term preservation and tailored presentation. It’s also ideal for items that don’t fit standard sizes or need special handling such as textiles or 3D objects.
When You Might Not Need It
For everyday items like posters, photos, or printed art, you can often achieve a professional result using a good quality ready-made frame. Especially when paired with a custom cut window mat, this combination can mimic the look of a bespoke frame without the bespoke price.
A helpful way to think about this is to compare custom framing to having a dress made by a seamstress. A made-to-measure garment will fit perfectly and reflect your exact style, but it will naturally cost a lot more than a standard-sized dress from a department store. There’s value in both options, depending on your needs and your budget.
How to Save Money (Without Sacrificing Style)
Use Standard Frame Sizes
Choosing artwork that fits into standard sizes like A3, A4, or 8x10 can save you a lot. These sizes are easier to manufacture and ship, making them more cost-effective.
Buy Ready-Made Frames Online
Online stores like ours offer a wide range of ready-made frames in common sizes. But unlike many competitors, our timber photo frames are handcrafted in Australia using sustainably sourced wood. That means you're supporting local manufacturing while getting custom-quality materials at a more affordable price.
Because our frames are made in standard sizes and produced in-house, we’re able to keep quality high and prices reasonable.
Add a Custom Mat Board
A simple way to personalise a standard frame is to add a cut-to-size mat board. This gives your artwork breathing space and can be tailored to suit your image, while keeping the outer frame a common, affordable size.
Not sure what a mat board does? Read our guide to mat boards to learn how they protect and enhance your art.
Watch Your Frame Size to Save on Shipping
Shipping and packaging costs can quietly drive up the overall price of a frame, especially larger ones. Carriers often charge extra for parcels over 100 cm in length, and bulky items may incur cubic weight charges.
To save on delivery costs, consider sticking to frames that fall within standard shipping thresholds. Popular sizes like A1, A2, or 24x36 inches are easier to ship affordably. Smaller photo frames also tend to be cheaper to post, especially when buying multiple items.
Are Cheaper Frames Always Better?
Cheap frames can seem appealing at first, especially when shopping in bulk or at large retailers. But they’re often made overseas using lower-grade materials like MDF, plastic, or polystyrene glazing. These frames may not offer the same protection or finish, and they can make your photos look less special over time.
Instead of settling for the cheapest option, consider choosing a well-made ready-made frame in a standard size. When paired with a custom mat board, it can offer a professional look without the high cost of custom framing.
Need an Alternative to Custom Framing?
If you want a professional, gallery-style finish without the cost of custom framing, ready-made timber frames are a smart choice. At Profile Australia, we manufacture our own range of solid timber photo frames in popular sizes. All frames are handcrafted in Sydney and backed by a lifetime guarantee.
To take things a step further, pair any standard size frame with a custom mat board for a tailored result at a fraction of the custom framing price.
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