Foam core board comes in a variety of sizes and thicknesses. In this article, we’re not only going to cover standard foam board sizes. We’ll also answer some critical questions you might have about foam core board. As well as some common uses for foam board projects.
There are many uses for different foam board sizes, and you probably want to know how big a foam board is? Well, that depends what you’re looking for. They can just about any size.
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There is an assortment of sheet sizes for many common projects with the standard US measurements. Standard sizes for foam board prints are 8” x 10",16” x 20", 18” x 24", 24” x 36"
Please note that when you're getting advertising or fine art printed you'll first need to have the proper dpi or resolution in your file.
At Printmoz we not only offer the standard foam core sizes. It’s also available in larger sizes as well. There are specialty 50” x 100” for larger standard foam board. There are also foam board sizes up to 60” x 100” that are gatorboard only. Gatorboard is also a foam board but is more durable than standard foam board. You can read more about the differences between 8” x 10” foam core and 8” x 10” gatorboard here (or any size for that matter!).
We can cut gatorboard or classic foam board to specific custom sizes. So, you’re not limited by 8x10 or 24x36. If you want a 5” x 50” foam board for some reason, we’ve got you covered. If you have a super wild advertising idea, you can get foam board cut to any size and shape with your custom full-color design.
Things are done a little different in Australia the UK and other countries they use the metric system. These sizes are also available in the US as well with some simple conversions. Adobe Photoshop, when starting a new project in print mode, gives you these options:
Here’s a breakdown of standard metric foam board sizes (or any other kind of printing) we can cut to size. If you have a size that’s not standard you can use this handy unit conversion tool we found for you.
| Paper Format | Width x Height (mm) | Width x Height (inch) | Width x Height (cm) | Width x Height (Meter) |
| A0 | 841 x 1189 mm | 33.1 x 46.8 in | 84.1 x 118.9 cm | .841 x 1.189 m |
| A1 | 594 x 841 mm | 23.4 x 33.1 in | 59.4 x 84.1 cm | .594 x .841 m |
| A2 | 420 x 594 mm | 16.5 x 23.4 in | 42 x 59.4 cm | .420 x .594 m |
| A3 | 297 x 420 mm | 11.7 x 16.5 in | 29.7 x 42 cm | .297 x .42 m |
| A4 | 210 x 297 mm | 8.3 x 11.7 in | 21. x 29.7 cm | .210 x .297 m |
| A5 | 148 mm | 5.8 x 8.3 in | 14.8 x 21 cm | .148 x .210 m |
| A6 | 105 x 148 mm | 4.1 x 5.8 in | 10.5 x 14.8 cm | .105 x .148 m |
| A7 | 74 x 105 mm | 2.9 x 4.1 in | 7.4 x 10.5 cm | .074 x .105 m |
| A8 | 52 x 74 mm | 2 x 2.9 | 5.2 x 7.4 cm | .052 x .074 m |
So if you’re from the US and are unsure of how to convert and 8x10 foam board or foam board 24 x 36 to mm, you can use this handy chart. The work is already done for you! If you’re a visual person, you might want a different kind of graphic to help you visualize what we’re talking about when it comes to formatting in metrics. Also, make sure you set up your bleed marks properly in Photoshop.
If you want a list of US standard foam board measurements here are some usual sizes for printing jobs listed in inches:
Secondly, if you just want the metric measurements for standard foam board sizes here’s another quick bulleted list in mm:
This is another handy thing we’ve created to help you on your printing journey. This handy dandy graphic shows you the foam board sizes in metric units (mm).
Now that we’ve covered the standard foam board sizes now you’re probably curious about the foam core thickness that is available for you. Thicker generally equals more durable. 1/8", 3/16", and 1/2" thick or 3mm, 5mm, and 13mm foamcore thickness. If you don’t know what foamcore thickness is right for you, contact our customer support.
Now I want to give you a visual so you can determine which foam board thickness is right for you. This graphic is set up like a 1” ruler go it will give you an idea of the size you need.
8 x 10 foam board is commonly used to print photos and foam board thickness 3/16”. Think about your middle school pictures. This is the most significant size usually offered at a school. You can get your middle school photos printed on an 8 x 10 foam board if you like your hairstyle back then.
16 x 20 foam board is the standard medium poster size. This is often used for sales signs in stores. It’s an affordable way to get lots of signs printed for your different kinds of sales.
18 x 24 foam board is another size that is commonly used. This is a medium sized poster you’ll often see in stores and for different kinds of advertising.
24 x 36 foam board is the standard large poster size. This is the size you’ll usually see in shopping malls on metal stands, posters sold for college dorms, and classic movie posters. You can get your large size poster printed on 24 x 36 to really catch some eyeballs.
Now that we’ve covered a lot about standard foam board sizes and foamcore thickness. Let’s move onto some commonly asked questions about foamcore whether it’s foam core board 24 x 36 or 8 x 10 foam board. Size doesn’t matter, except for the foam core thickness part.
They are the same. Foam board and foam core are used interchangeably. People can say foam core or foam board.
The simplest way is to let your printing company cut it for you. But if you’re a do-it-yourself person here are a couple of ideas. You can use heavy duty scissors.
Or you can get a box cutter. Make sure you lay this on a surface that you don’t mind getting scratched. A cardboard box will usually do the trick. If you want a straight line, use a ruler. If you want a funky shape, first draw your shape then cut.
Not really. Any foamcore sizes are best used indoors. They will not hold up in the elements since the outer layer is made of paper. It’s somewhat durable when indoors and can last a long time when you take good care of it.
You can use double sided tape, but please note tape can rip the back when you take it off. You can also get grommets added, use an easel or hang from a wire. Even foam board 24 x 36 that is pretty large can be hung easily with these other helpful poster hanging tips.
Of course, we can! However, a standard at home laser printer or inkjet printer probably won’t be sufficient. Most at home printers are made for this paper, photo paper, card stock, or canvas paper.
If you need something as thick as foam board, you’ll probably need a professional printer to get the job done. If you are wondering about home crafting options you probably have more questions.
If you don’t have time to get a 24 x 36 foam core board printed, and you’re feeling crafty, you can paint it as well. You can use spray paint, but you’ll need proper ventilation for this. Please do it outside and protect the surface underneath.
Spray paint is a good option if you have a stencil and spray light coats. Acrylic paint is another option to put a design on any foam core board sizes. Another tip if you’re painting your own 16 x 20 foam board or any other format is to do the cutting first.
When you cut foam board with a box cutter or scissors, you’ll be left with some rough edges. If this happens, you’ll want to sand it with sandpaper before you paint. So you’ll be left with a smooth surface.
Before we move on to durability, let’s check how foam boards can be used.
Typically, small businesses don't need as large sheets as industrial or commercial uses (as mentioned in the below section). 22 x 28 inches is very common to work with and is a great general size to use for storefronts. It IS on the smaller side, so another popular size on the "larger" end for small businesses is 24'x36' or 2"x3". There are sizes available in between, and we can do custom work for you based on your needs, whether it's various/different sizes or artwork.
The most common large, industrial sheets typically come in the following sizes:
The common large sheets come in four Imperial sizes of 8' x 4', 60" x 40", 48" x 36" and 40"x 32".
The metric equivalent of these is 2440 x 1220mm, 1524 x 1015mm, 1220 x 915mm and 1015 x 813mm
The thicknesses that foam core board is commonly available in Australia are 3mm, 5mm, 10mm, and 20mm.
The 3mm, 5mm, and 10mm board is available in either a black or white color and as either plain or adhesive coated.
Architectural students often use foam board for crafting and presenting their models. These models often include buildings and various structures that can, luckily, be made easily with the foam board.
However, as there are different types of foam boards, students often use the one that has a fine balance between rigidity and softness. As many models are made in a tiny size, it’s ideal that your foam board isn’t that thick.
On the other side, a thicker foam board often lets you make 3D models that pack a much bigger size and lots of details. And if you're really into foam board, you can even make a stand for a certain model in much bigger size
In most cases, a foam board is used for mounting. How many times have you seen a certain painting or artwork mounted on a piece of foam board? It’s not a coincidence – foam boards are great for this purpose.
In this case, you may want to buy a self-adhesive foam board that lets you stick your artwork without using additional adhesive agents. Thanks to its rigid and durable sheets of paper outside, a foam board can hold your paintings pretty firmly.
Since it can be cut easily, you can customize the size of the board according to your artwork size. This will result in a professional presentation of your artwork.
Presenting your work to the audience was never this easy with foam board. Foam board can be your best friend in presenting your products! Easy to cut and paint, they are easy to customize to exactly how you want.
No, not the street signs, but the signs you want. Our foam boards are customizable - get them any way you want and use them for anything you want. You can make signs such as "No Smoke" sign or simply a sign that implicates something that you want to be respected. Nonetheless, you'll have zero struggles when making a sign out of foam board.
How can a foam board be used for lighting? As it can’t be a definitive source of lighting, it can be a great tool for creating backdrops. You can tailor it the way you want- either create a lighter or a darker backdrop to adjust the lighting for your photography needs. With a foam board, you can make different lighting effects which is excellent for photography.
How durable are foam boards? The answer to this question is simple – very durable. Thanks to thick layers of papers on the outside and an even thicker layer of foam inside, the foam board is easy to handle, yet hard to damage. Having in mind that an additional layer of coating is applied to each foam board, it gains even more durability and sturdiness.
Still, this product has its downsides when it comes to durability. One weak point of a foam board is its inability to cope with the wet areas.
Water and other forms of liquids can damage the foam board as it’s made of paper. As we know, paper and water don’t go well with each other.
If you keep your foam board prints under glass with UV protectant, this will help. Indoors, different printed foam core sizes are quite durable. This substrate is usually used for temporary purposes.
If you want to advertise big time and stand out with your display, you can go really big on foam board! 40x60 inches is a standard size. But sometimes you don’t want to be common. You’ll want to make an enormous impression, and with giant foam board, it’s entirely possible! Classic foam board is from 48x96 inch and a variety of thicknesses. Or you could get a cheap vinyl banner from our site and go even bigger!
Gatorboard will dazzle people who see your printing products. Using foam board also saves you money. Because you don’t even have to buy a frame. But you can if you want to have it protected under glass or plexiglass.
This is even less common. But with full-color printing on foam board, you can get any size. It doesn't have to be plain black foam board or simple white craft store foam board. Why be plain when you can get your images printed to impress!
Whether you’re advertising or getting your kid's school project printed, this signboard is economical and can be created with your exact specifications in mind. If you have any questions about foam board or gator board contacts our customer service anytime!
For something longer lasting you may want to consider a canvas wrapped gallery print or photo print. You can also discover how to convert Pantone to CMYK for the best color printing you could ever imagine.
We hope you’ve got all your questions answered about common foam core board sizes for printing today. As a result, now you know the standard foam board sizes in the US, UK and in most parts of the world.
You’ve discovered just about everything you need to know about foam board thickness too. Now all you have to decide is what kind of foam core sizes and designs to you want in your world?
i am a beginer doing minetures , and dioramas, i am not good on computors, , i want to order , foam core for my prodjects, but find it imposible , trying to fill in what is asking, ime 88 and fu;;y enjoy what i am doing, i would be more than greatfull , if some one can help me, the sheets i believe are the best for me is, 3/16th thickness, with a backer to be femoved, thank you , hoping for a reply fred
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