Our rather fascinating world of movie posters has comprises of numerous poster sizes and various different styles over the years. They have ranged from a small postcard measuring roughly 7″ x 5″ all the way up to huge 24 Sheet billboard poster measuring 234″ x 106″. This article with covers what you need to know about the different sizes including dimensions, paper stock and use of movie posters from around the world.
- UK Movie Posters
- US Movie Posters
Image courtesy of Original Film Art
UK Quad40″ x 30″. Landscape format. The quad (or to give its full name Quadruple Crown) has been the standard size British cinema poster for many years. Printed on heavier stock paper than the U.S. one-sheet and in far fewer quantities. Prior to 1985 they were almost always machine folded prior to issue. Printers include Berry & Co., Lonsdale & Bartholomew and Stafford and Co. Stone lithography (or offset printing that produced an effect very similar to stone litho) can be encountered in posters produced up to the early 1960s (nice late examples include those printed by the Modern (Electric) Printing Co in the 1950s and early 1960s). Noted British poster artists include Tom William Chantrell, Eric Pulford and Brian Bysouth. From the 1990s onwards, quads are frequently printed on both sides to enhance the visual effect when placed into a light box.
UK One Sheet41″ x 27″ / 40″ x 27″. Portrait format. Slightly shorter than the U.S. equivalent. This format was occasionally produced instead of, or as well as a quad. These were sometimes intended for foreign release of British films but were also used for display in British cinemas. Many posters for Ealing comedies, Hammer horror and Carry On films were also produced in this format. Quite scarce prior to 2000 but a format that has become more common since that date.
UK Double Crown30″ x 20″. EXTREMELY RARE COMPARED TO A QUAD. Portrait format but very occasionally printed in the landscape style. Half the size of a quad. Printed on heavy paper stock. Distributed for advertising out-of-house and frequently displayed on buses, community notice boards and similar venues. Quite scarce.
UK 3 Sheet81″ x 41″. At various times these have been produced in slightly different sizes. The earlier posters, particularly those from the silent era, tend to be printed in the longer format. Originally started at 90″ x 40″ and over the years reduced to the standard U.S. size 81″ x 41″. They are produced in 2 or 3 sections (although there are some late examples that comprise a single sheet) and were intended for pasting onto small bill-boards. Consequently those that have survived tend to be only those that were never used and which have escaped war-time paper-drives, etc. They are rare.
UK 6 Sheet81″ x 81″. Usually in 4 sections intended for pasting to small bill-boards and for an eye-catching display outside the cinema. Few have survived.
UK Front of House FOH (Lobby Cards)10″ x 8″. Printed on card stock. These were generally produced in sets of 8. They can be printed either in colour or in black & white and show scenes from the film above a panel containing the films title or credits. Cinemas commonly had a purpose built, wall-mounted display in the foyer into which the cards were inserted. Most cinemas seemed to prefer this format to the larger lobby cards (11 x 14), which were also produced both here and in America. Many front-of-house cards that were used in British cinemas bear NSS numbers and were printed in the United States.
UK One Sheet41″ x 27″ / 40″ x 27″. Portrait format. Slightly shorter than the U.S. equivalent. This format was occasionally produced instead of, or as well as a quad. These were sometimes intended for foreign release of British films but were also used for display in British cinemas. Many posters for Ealing comedies, Hammer horror and Carry On films were also produced in this format. Quite scarce prior to 2000 but a format that has become more common since that date.
UK Double Crown30″ x 20″. EXTREMELY RARE COMPARED TO A QUAD. Portrait format but very occasionally printed in the landscape style. Half the size of a quad. Printed on heavy paper stock. Distributed for advertising out-of-house and frequently displayed on buses, community notice boards and similar venues. Quite scarce.
UK 3 Sheet81″ x 41″. At various times these have been produced in slightly different sizes. The earlier posters, particularly those from the silent era, tend to be printed in the longer format. Originally started at 90″ x 40″ and over the years reduced to the standard U.S. size 81″ x 41″. They are produced in 2 or 3 sections (although there are some late examples that comprise a single sheet) and were intended for pasting onto small bill-boards. Consequently those that have survived tend to be only those that were never used and which have escaped war-time paper-drives, etc. They are rare.
UK 6 Sheet81″ x 81″. Usually in 4 sections intended for pasting to small bill-boards and for an eye-catching display outside the cinema. Few have survived.
UK Front of House FOH (Lobby Cards)10″ x 8″. Printed on card stock. These were generally produced in sets of 8. They can be printed either in colour or in black & white and show scenes from the film above a panel containing the films title or credits. Cinemas commonly had a purpose built, wall-mounted display in the foyer into which the cards were inserted. Most cinemas seemed to prefer this format to the larger lobby cards (11 x 14), which were also produced both here and in America. Many front-of-house cards that were used in British cinemas bear NSS numbers and were printed in the United States.
US Movie Posters
Image courtesy of Original Film Art
US One Sheet41″ x 27″ / 40″ x 27″. (From the mid-1980s they were also produced in 27″ x 40″ inches size for international distribution). Printed on fairly light paper stock. Invariably machine folded prior to 1985. The steel offset printing process was used from a fairly early stage in U.S. poster production and so stone-litho examples tend to date from prior to 1940. Typical printers include Morgan Litho and Tooker Litho. From around the 1940s onwards most U.S. posters were distributed by National Screen Service (NSS). Posters distributed by NSS carry a code number printed in the bottom margin and usually stamped on the reverse. The first two numbers in the code give the date of release of the poster, followed by a numeric code for the film. Re-release posters are indicated by an R which proceeds the date. Different styles or designs were indicated by the additional letters A, B, or C, etc. NSS is now defunct and so recent posters no longer carry this information.
US 3 Sheet81″ x 41″. EXTREMELY RARE COMPARED TO A ONE SHEET. They were produced in 2 or, occasionally, 3 sections (although there are some late examples that comprise a single sheet). Intended for foyer display and for pasting onto small bill-boards. Consequently those that have survived tend to be only those that were never used. This format was only ever printed in relatively small quantities and was discontinued after 1983.
US 6 Sheet81″ x 81″. They were produced in 4 sections and were intended for pasting onto small bill-boards. Consequently those that have survived tend to be only those that were never used. This format was only ever printed in small quantities and was discontinued after 1983. They are rare.
US Half Sheet28″ x 22″. Landscape format. Printed on card stock. These were usually issued rolled but were commonly folded later for ease of storage. Discontinued after 1983.
US Insert36″ x 14″. Portrait format. Printed on card stock. Issued both rolled and folded but tended to be rolled from the late 1960s onwards. Discontinued after 1983.
US Window Card22″ x 14″. Printed on heavy card stock. Issued flat. These were generally produced as advance advertising for the film. They frequently have a simpler design than the one-sheet and may be printed in fewer colours. Used for display in shop windows and similar venues. They have a blank section at the top designed to be filled in with the name of the cinema and the showing times of the film. Examples are often found with this blank section cut off, this will reduce the value. Window cards were used extensively in the 1930s and 1940s but they declined in popularity and eventually their use was discontinued.
US 30″ x 40″ AND US 40″ x 60″EXTREMELY RARE COMPARED TO A ONE SHEET. Printed on card stock and issued rolled. Commonly used for the American Drive-In circuit. Prior to 1960 they usually carried very different artwork to the other posters issued for the film and are often attractively produced by the silk screen technique. The card on which they are printed is prone to creasing and cracking when rolled. This, together with the fact that they were intended for outside display, means that they are often encountered in fairly poor condition. Discontinued after 1983. Quite rare.
US Subway60″ x 45″. Printed on card stock. Produced for display on the American subway. This format has been in use from the 1960s but early examples are uncommon.
US Lobby Card14″ x 11″. Printed on card stock. These were generally produced in sets of 8 although sets of 6 or even 4 are not unknown. They usually comprise one title card with artwork similar to the poster designs and carrying the films credits and 7 scene cards showing the stars or scenes from the film.
US 3 Sheet81″ x 41″. EXTREMELY RARE COMPARED TO A ONE SHEET. They were produced in 2 or, occasionally, 3 sections (although there are some late examples that comprise a single sheet). Intended for foyer display and for pasting onto small bill-boards. Consequently those that have survived tend to be only those that were never used. This format was only ever printed in relatively small quantities and was discontinued after 1983.
US 6 Sheet81″ x 81″. They were produced in 4 sections and were intended for pasting onto small bill-boards. Consequently those that have survived tend to be only those that were never used. This format was only ever printed in small quantities and was discontinued after 1983. They are rare.
US Half Sheet28″ x 22″. Landscape format. Printed on card stock. These were usually issued rolled but were commonly folded later for ease of storage. Discontinued after 1983.
US Insert36″ x 14″. Portrait format. Printed on card stock. Issued both rolled and folded but tended to be rolled from the late 1960s onwards. Discontinued after 1983.
US Window Card22″ x 14″. Printed on heavy card stock. Issued flat. These were generally produced as advance advertising for the film. They frequently have a simpler design than the one-sheet and may be printed in fewer colours. Used for display in shop windows and similar venues. They have a blank section at the top designed to be filled in with the name of the cinema and the showing times of the film. Examples are often found with this blank section cut off, this will reduce the value. Window cards were used extensively in the 1930s and 1940s but they declined in popularity and eventually their use was discontinued.
US 30″ x 40″ AND US 40″ x 60″EXTREMELY RARE COMPARED TO A ONE SHEET. Printed on card stock and issued rolled. Commonly used for the American Drive-In circuit. Prior to 1960 they usually carried very different artwork to the other posters issued for the film and are often attractively produced by the silk screen technique. The card on which they are printed is prone to creasing and cracking when rolled. This, together with the fact that they were intended for outside display, means that they are often encountered in fairly poor condition. Discontinued after 1983. Quite rare.
US Subway60″ x 45″. Printed on card stock. Produced for display on the American subway. This format has been in use from the 1960s but early examples are uncommon.
US Lobby Card14″ x 11″. Printed on card stock. These were generally produced in sets of 8 although sets of 6 or even 4 are not unknown. They usually comprise one title card with artwork similar to the poster designs and carrying the films credits and 7 scene cards showing the stars or scenes from the film.
