Collector's Guide
Poster Formats & Sizes
Movie poster collecting comes with its own language. One Sheet, Quad, B2, Daybill, Locandina, Photobusta — the names can sound confusing at first, especially as different countries developed their own poster standards over time. This guide explains the most common poster names, what sizes they usually refer to, and why format matters when you are collecting, comparing or framing posters from different countries.
The most useful rule is also the simplest: format names are a strong guide, but real-world measurements can still vary slightly, so always measure the actual poster before buying a frame.
At a glance
The basics in simple terms
Format name
Names such as One Sheet, Quad or B2 describe recognised poster formats used in particular countries or release traditions.
Standard size
Most format names are linked to a typical size and orientation, such as the U.S. One Sheet at 27 x 40 inches and the British Quad at 30 x 40 inches.
Always measure
Even recognised standards can vary across eras, so the safest approach is always to measure the poster itself before framing.
Quick comparison
Some of the key formats at a glance
U.S.
- One Sheet: 27 x 40 in
- Older One Sheet: 27 x 41 in
- Half Sheet: 22 x 28 in
- Insert: 14 x 36 in
- Subway / Bus Stop: 40 x 60 in
- Two Sheet: 41 x 54 in
U.K.
- Quad: 30 x 40 in
- Mini Quad: 12 x 16 in
- British One Sheet: 27 x 40 in
- British Half Sheet: 22 x 28 in
- Double Crown: 20 x 30 in
- Six Sheet: 80 x 120 in
International
- French Petite: 40 x 60 cm
- French Grande: 120 x 160 cm
- Italian Foglio: 28 x 39 in
- Italian Photobusta: 19 x 27 in
- Japanese B2: 20.3 x 28.7 in
- Australian Daybill: 13 x 30 in / 13 x 26 in
Poster formats
Why movie poster sizes can feel confusing
Movie posters were never governed by one single worldwide system. Different countries developed their own release practices, paper standards and naming conventions, which is why collectors encounter very different formats from the U.S., the U.K., France, Italy, Japan and Australia.
A One Sheet, a Quad and a Daybill are all legitimate cinema poster formats — they simply belong to different markets and traditions.
That matters because format is not just a technical detail. It shapes how artwork is composed, how a poster feels on the wall, and what sort of frame or display method is needed. A portrait U.S. One Sheet and a landscape British Quad can look radically different even when made for the same film.
Core formats
The formats most collectors encounter first
For many collectors, the first two formats to know are the U.S. One Sheet and the British Quad. The modern U.S. One Sheet is 27 x 40 inches, while older examples are often 27 x 41 inches, and both are portrait. The British Quad is 30 x 40 inches and, in the post-war period, is typically landscape.
Beyond those, collectors regularly come across formats such as the U.S. Half Sheet at 22 x 28 inches, the U.S. Insert at 14 x 36 inches, the British Double Crown at 20 x 30 inches, the Italian Locandina at 13 x 28 inches, the Japanese B2 at 20.3 x 28.7 inches, and the Australian Daybill, which existed in more than one standard size across different periods.
One Sheet & Quad
The U.S. One Sheet and the British Quad
If there are two formats that define a lot of collecting in the U.K., they are the One Sheet and the Quad. The One Sheet is portrait. The Quad is landscape. That one difference completely changes the way artwork is composed and the way the poster feels when displayed.
That difference is also part of the pleasure of collecting across countries. A One Sheet often delivers the familiar vertical layout most people associate with cinema posters, while a Quad gives the designer a broader, more panoramic field. Neither is inherently better. They are simply different design traditions.
The term "Quad" also has a specific British history. It derives from the Quad Crown paper size, measuring 30 x 40 inches, which became the dominant British cinema poster format after the war.
International formats
Some international formats worth knowing
Once you move beyond U.S. and U.K. posters, the variety becomes even more interesting. French posters include formats such as the Petite at 40 x 60 cm and the larger Grande at 120 x 160 cm. Italian formats include the Foglio at 28 x 39 inches, the Locandina at 13 x 28 inches and the Photobusta, which is typically 19 x 27 inches in the post-1960 period.
Japanese posters are especially popular with collectors drawn to alternative artwork and elegant proportions. Common Japanese formats include B2 at 20.3 x 28.7 inches, B3 at 14.3 x 20.3 inches, B5 or Chirashi at 7.2 x 10.1 inches, and the long STB or Tatekan at 20 x 58 inches.
Australian collecting brings in the Daybill, another distinctive national format with different standard sizes across different eras.
Framing & collecting
Why size matters when collecting and framing
Format affects more than terminology. It changes how a poster fits a room, what sort of frame it needs, and what a collector expects from a particular country of release. Someone looking for a British original may specifically want a Quad, while another collector may prefer the portrait impact of U.S. One Sheets.
From a practical point of view, framing is where size matters most. Even recognised standards can vary slightly in reality, and older posters may have been trimmed, folded, backed or produced with small manufacturing differences. The safest rule is to measure the actual poster rather than rely on the format name alone.
Practical close
A practical way to think about poster formats
For most collectors, it helps to think in three groups: core formats, country-specific formats and specialist or older formats. Core formats include names such as One Sheet and Quad. Country-specific formats include names such as Locandina, Photobusta, B2 and Daybill. Specialist or older formats include Half Sheet, Insert, Double Crown, Three Sheet and Six Sheet.
You do not need to memorise every size to collect well. What matters more is recognising the most common names, knowing which country they belong to, and checking the actual dimensions before you buy or frame. That is usually enough to move from confusion to confidence.
Art of the Movies
Buy and frame with confidence
At Art of the Movies, poster formats are clearly described and collectors are encouraged to confirm dimensions before framing.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a One Sheet always 27 x 40 inches?
Not always. Modern U.S. One Sheets are typically 27 x 40 inches, while older examples are often 27 x 41 inches.
What is the difference between a Quad and a One Sheet?
A Quad is a 30 x 40 inch British format and is usually landscape in the post-war era, while a One Sheet is a U.S. portrait format at 27 x 40 inches or, on older examples, 27 x 41 inches.
Why is a British poster called a Quad?
Because it derives from the Quad Crown paper format, measuring 30 x 40 inches, which became the dominant British cinema poster size after the war.
Do poster sizes always match the standard exactly?
No. Standards are helpful, but actual posters can vary, so it is always worth measuring the poster itself before ordering a frame.
What international formats are especially common?
Among the better-known international formats collectors encounter are French Petite and Grande, Italian Foglio, Photobusta and Locandina, Japanese B2 and Chirashi, and Australian Daybill.
Explore more
Explore posters across formats and countries
Browse original movie posters from the U.S., the U.K. and around the world, with formats and dimensions clearly described.