Picture Frames Price Comparison
Compare 654 picture frames from Walther Design, Frame Company, Hama and more — find the best price from multiple UK retailers in one place.
Picture Frames price comparison UK
Picture frames occupy a curious middle ground in home décor: they're functional objects that quietly shape how we experience a room. Whether you're mounting a gallery wall in a Victorian terrace or slipping a single A4 print into a clip frame for a home office, the choice of frame matters more than most people realise. Our catalogue of 654 products spans everything from sub-14 £ basics to statement pieces pushing well beyond 37 £.
The market here splits fairly cleanly between two worlds. On one side, you have workhorse brands like Frame Company and Hama — solid, no-nonsense frames at accessible prices, well-suited to everyday photos and standard paper sizes. On the other, Walther Design dominates the catalogue with 229 products and a noticeably higher average price, reflecting a broader range that includes multi-image displays and more considered finishes. Umbra sits at the premium end with a design-led approach — their frames are conversation pieces as much as they are display solutions.
One thing worth noting: a significant portion of the top-selling products are Nobo clip frames and A-frames, which are really commercial display tools — poster holders for retail environments and offices — rather than domestic picture frames. They're excellent at what they do, but if you're decorating a living room, they're not what you're after. It's a distinction the category data makes easy to miss. For home use, the sweet spot sits comfortably between 14 £ and 16 £, where you'll find well-constructed frames with proper glazing and hanging hardware included.
Glazing type is the most underrated decision in this purchase. Standard glass is fine for most uses, but if your frames will sit near a south-facing window, acrylic with UV filtering is worth the modest price premium — photographs fade faster than you'd expect under direct sunlight. For anyone building a decorative display or pairing frames with other wall accents, it's also worth considering how the frame finish interacts with the rest of the room. Black and natural wood remain the most versatile choices across different interior styles.
If you're putting together a larger decorative scheme, our categories for vases and candle holders are worth browsing alongside — the same aesthetic logic applies across all three when it comes to matching finishes and materials.
How to Choose the Right Picture Frame
Most people underestimate how much a frame affects the final result. The wrong glazing fades your photos; the wrong mounting system means you're back on a ladder every time you want to swap an image. Here's what actually matters — and where the money is well spent.
Size and format compatibility
Start here, because everything else is secondary if the frame doesn't fit. Standard UK sizes — A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 — are the safest bet for prints and documents. Photo sizes (6×4", 7×5", 10×8") follow a different convention, and mixing the two up is the most common buying mistake. Always check the aperture size (the visible opening), not just the outer frame dimensions. A frame sold as "A4" may have a mat board that reduces the visible area to something smaller — useful for a polished look, but potentially frustrating if you want edge-to-edge display.
Glazing: glass vs. acrylic vs. no cover
Standard glass is cheap and clear, but heavy and breakable — fine for a fixed display on a solid wall, less ideal for a busy household with children. Acrylic glazing is lighter and shatter-resistant, making it the better choice for larger formats (A2 and above) and anywhere that takes the occasional knock. If the frame will be near a window, look specifically for UV-filtering acrylic or glass — it blocks the wavelengths that fade photographs and artwork over time. Anti-glare coatings are worth considering for rooms with strong overhead lighting, though they can slightly reduce image sharpness at close range.
Mounting system and ease of content change
Clip frames (spring-loaded clips holding artwork flat against glass) are the fastest to use and the cheapest to produce — ideal if you change prints regularly. Snap frames with hinged sides are the commercial standard for posters and notices. Traditional frames with a hinged or screw-fastened backing board feel more substantial but take longer to open. If you're building a gallery wall where the content rarely changes, this barely matters. If you're a photographer who rotates work seasonally, it matters a great deal. Check whether hanging hardware is included — many budget frames omit D-rings or wire entirely.
Material and finish
Wood frames (solid or MDF) feel warmer and suit traditional or Scandi interiors. Aluminium and metal frames are thinner-profiled and suit contemporary or minimalist spaces — they also tend to be more durable over time. Plastic frames at the budget end can look convincing in photos but often feel cheap in hand; the finish degrades faster, particularly in humid rooms like kitchens or bathrooms. Colour choice is worth thinking through: black is the most versatile and hides dust well; white shows every mark but suits bright, airy rooms; natural wood tones age gracefully. Metallic finishes (silver, gold, brushed chrome) are having a moment but can date more quickly.
Single frame vs. multi-image display
Multi-image frames — holding anywhere from 4 to 24+ photographs — are a practical solution for family photo displays, but the quality range is wide. At the lower end, the dividers between images can look flimsy and the overall proportions feel awkward. The Relaxdays 24-picture frame in this catalogue is a good example of a product that works well when the content is right (uniform print sizes, consistent colour palette) but looks cluttered when it isn't. For gallery walls, individual frames of varying sizes often produce a more considered result than a single multi-aperture frame, even if it takes more planning.
Budget and where the value actually sits
Below 14 £, you're in clip-frame and basic acrylic territory — perfectly functional, no frills. The 14 £ to 16 £ range is where most domestic buyers find the best balance: proper materials, included hardware, and a finish that holds up. Spending beyond 37 £ makes sense for large-format display (A1/A0), designer pieces from brands like Umbra, or archival-quality frames for valuable artwork. Paying a premium for a frame that will hold a £5 print is hard to justify; paying it for a limited-edition photograph or a piece of original art is entirely reasonable.
- Budget picks (From 11 £ to 14 £) : Clip frames, basic acrylic single frames, and simple plastic options from Exacompta, Durable, and Hama. Functional for offices and temporary displays. Don't expect included hanging hardware or UV protection — but for a home office print or a child's artwork, they do the job without fuss.
- The sweet spot (From 14 £ to 16 £) : Where Frame Company and Versa deliver solid value: proper glass or acrylic glazing, hanging wire included, and a range of finishes. This is the right budget for most domestic use — living room photos, bedroom displays, standard A4/A3 prints. Hama's mid-range sits here too, with reliable build quality.
- For the considered buyer (From 16 £ to 37 £) : Walther Design's broader range, Relaxdays multi-image frames, and more substantial single frames with better materials and finishes. Worth it for prominent wall positions, larger formats (A2 and above), or when the frame needs to complement a more carefully designed interior.
- Premium and large-format (Over 37 £) : Umbra's design-led pieces, ZEP's higher-end options, large A0/A1 commercial clip frames from Nobo, and Walther Design's top tier. Justified for A0/A1 display, archival-quality glazing, or statement decorative frames. The Nobo A-frames in this range are commercial tools — excellent for retail and office use, but overkill for a home.
Top products
- Nobo Clip Frame A1 (Nobo) : The most-compared product in the category for good reason — a reliable, no-fuss A1 clip frame with consistent pricing across retailers. Best suited to office and commercial use rather than home décor; the borderless design looks clean but the utilitarian build won't suit a living room gallery wall.
- Durable 479601 picture frame Single picture frame Black (Durable) : An honest budget option that does exactly what it says. At this price point it's hard to fault for desk or office use, but the plastic construction and basic finish mean it won't age well in a prominent home display position. Buy it for function, not aesthetics.
- Relaxdays Photo frame for 24 pictures (Relaxdays) : A genuinely useful product for family photo walls — 24 apertures in a single frame is a bold proposition, and Relaxdays pulls it off better than most at this price. Works best with a consistent set of 6×4" prints; looks cluttered with mixed sizes or subjects. Not a subtle piece of décor, but effective.
- Exacompta Exacryl Single picture frame Silver (Exacompta) : The best value entry-level frame in the top 15 — acrylic construction keeps it lightweight and shatter-resistant, and the silver finish is more versatile than it looks in photos. Ideal for desk display or a home office. Don't expect UV protection or premium glazing clarity at this price.
- Hama 00063175 picture frame (Hama) : Hama's mid-range frames consistently offer better build quality than their price suggests — this model is a solid representative of that. A dependable choice for standard home display, with the brand's typically reliable glazing and included hanging hardware. Not exciting, but genuinely good value.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a clip frame and a snap frame?
A clip frame uses spring-loaded or mechanical clips at the corners to hold artwork pressed flat against a sheet of glass or acrylic — there's no surrounding frame border, giving a minimal, floating look. A snap frame has a full border with hinged sides that open outward, allowing you to swap content quickly without removing the frame from the wall. Snap frames are the standard in commercial settings (shops, offices, schools); clip frames suit home use where a clean, borderless aesthetic is preferred.
Will a standard A4 frame fit a 10×8 inch photo?
No — A4 (210×297mm) and 10×8 inch (254×203mm) are close but not interchangeable. A 10×8 photo is slightly wider than A4 and slightly shorter, so it won't sit correctly in a standard A4 frame without cropping or leaving gaps. Always check the exact aperture dimensions before buying, and if you're printing specifically to frame, print to the frame size rather than the other way round.
Is acrylic glazing better than glass for picture frames?
For most home uses, acrylic is the more practical choice — it's lighter, shatter-resistant, and available with UV filtering that glass often lacks at this price point. The trade-off is that acrylic scratches more easily during cleaning and can develop a slight static charge that attracts dust. Glass gives a crisper, more premium feel and is harder to scratch, but adds significant weight to larger frames and is a breakage risk. For A3 and above, acrylic is generally the safer option; for small frames in low-traffic areas, glass is perfectly fine.
How do I avoid damaging my walls when hanging picture frames?
The safest approach for plasterboard walls is to use adhesive hanging strips (such as Command strips) rated for the frame's weight — most frames under 2kg can be hung this way without drilling. For heavier frames or solid walls, use proper wall plugs and screws rather than relying on the picture hook that often comes in the box. Always check the frame's weight capacity against the actual weight of the frame plus glazing plus artwork — manufacturers sometimes quote the frame weight alone, which understates the total load on the wall.
Are the Nobo A-frames in this category suitable for home use?
Not really — the Nobo clip A-frames are freestanding commercial display stands designed for posters in retail, hospitality, and office environments. They're well-built and competitively priced for that purpose, but they're large, utilitarian, and not designed for wall mounting or domestic décor. If you've landed on them while searching for home picture frames, they're not what you're looking for. Stick to the Frame Company, Hama, or Walther Design options for domestic use.
What does 'archival quality' mean for picture frames, and do I need it?
Archival quality refers to materials and construction that meet conservation standards — acid-free mat boards, UV-filtering glazing, and backing boards that won't off-gas chemicals that degrade photographs over decades. For everyday family photos printed on standard paper, it's unnecessary. For original artwork, limited-edition prints, or photographs with sentimental or monetary value, it's worth seeking out. The key markers to look for are acid-free mat board and UV-protective glazing (blocking 70% or more of UV light).
What are the pitfalls to avoid when buying a multi-image picture frame?
The biggest trap is buying a multi-aperture frame without checking the individual photo sizes it accepts — many are designed for 6×4" prints specifically, and if you're printing at 5×5" or 7×5", nothing will fit properly. Also watch out for frames where the dividers between images are visibly thin or poorly finished; they look fine in product photos but cheap on the wall. Finally, consider the overall dimensions: a 24-photo frame can easily measure 80×60cm or more, which is a substantial commitment to a single wall space.