A backdrop ends up in every photo from your event. Too small and your guests spill off the edges, with the venue's fire exit sign in the shot. Too big and it swallows the room or won't fit through the door. Get the size right and every picture looks planned.
Here is how we help planners, brands and couples across London choose the right backdrop size and media wall size, before anything goes to print.
Key takeaways
- The most popular backdrop sizes are 2 x 2 m, 3 x 2 m and 3 x 3 m. We also print to any custom size.
- Allow roughly half a metre of width for each person you want in the photo at once.
- Keep the wall taller than your tallest guest, with a little extra above their heads.
- Measure the space, the ceiling and the way in, not just the wall you want to fill.
- Use a matt finish so camera flash doesn't bounce straight back.
What are the most popular backdrop and media wall sizes?
Three sizes cover most events we print for. Think of them as small, medium and statement.
| Size (width x height) | Best for | Why people choose it |
|---|---|---|
| 2 x 2 m | One or two people, a cake or dessert table, small parties | A photo spot in a smaller room or a home celebration |
| 3 x 2 m | Groups of four to six, red carpets, launches | The all rounder for step and repeats and press walls |
| 3 x 3 m | Bigger groups, stages, tall rooms | More height for a hero logo or a stage backdrop |
| Custom | Stages, exhibition stands, shaped photo ops | Sized to your stage, frame or venue, any shape on rigid board |
If you are not sure, start with 3 x 2 m. It is wide enough for a group, tall enough to clear heads, and it fits most function rooms and hotel ballrooms. For example, the beauty brand media wall below is a 3 x 2 m foam board wall we printed on our Fuji flatbed.
Real jobs: a 3 x 2 m beauty brand media wall in a London ballroom, and a navy step and repeat for the DAMAC launch at The Dorchester.
How many people can stand in front of a backdrop?
Picture your busiest photo. Is it a couple, a group of friends or a whole team on stage? That moment decides the width.
A simple rule of thumb: allow around half a metre of wall per person standing shoulder to shoulder, then add a little on each side so logos and edges still show around the group. So a 2 m wide backdrop suits a couple or a pair of friends, while a 3 m wide wall takes four to six people comfortably.
For height, most adults are well under 2 m tall, so a 2 m high wall clears heads in a standing photo. Choose 3 m when you want a big logo above the group, a stage backdrop, or a wall that still fills the frame when photographed from further back.
Pro tip Ask your photographer how far back they will stand. The further back they are, the more wall appears around your guests, and the more a bigger backdrop pays off.
How do you measure your venue for a backdrop?
Before you settle on a size, take five quick measurements. They save a lot of last minute stress on the day.
Measure the space
- The width of the wall or area the backdrop will stand in front of
- The ceiling height, including any chandeliers, beams or lighting rigs
- The floor space in front, so guests and the photographer have room
Measure the way in
- Doors, lifts and stairs, if you are choosing a rigid wall
- Your existing frame, if you are reusing one (send us the make and size)
- Any time limits for set up from the venue
Not sure of the numbers? Send us the venue name and a photo of the space and we will help you work it out. We print for weddings, launches and galas all over London, from hotel ballrooms on Park Lane to museums.
How big should logos be on a step and repeat?
A step and repeat backdrop repeats your logos in a pattern, so a logo appears in every photo whatever the crop. That is why the size of the repeat matters as much as the size of the wall.
- Keep logos big enough to read in a photo taken from the photographer's spot, not just when you stand close to the wall.
- Use a tight enough repeat that a head and shoulders crop still catches a logo or two.
- Leave the bottom clear if guests will stand in front, because that area is mostly hidden.
- Send vector logos so they stay sharp at full size. Our guide to vector files explains why.
Pro tip For a photo wall with one hero design, like names and a date, place the main artwork around head and shoulder height. That is the part that ends up in nearly every picture.
Which backdrop material should you choose?
The size you need often points to the material. Here is how the main options compare.
| Material | What it is like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Light, crease resistant and packs small | Touring and repeat events |
| Blackback canvas | Matt, glare free, rich blacks, up to 3.2 m wide in one piece | Media walls and red carpets |
| PVC banner | The budget option, fine outdoors | Outdoor events and one offs |
| Rigid board (foam board, Smart X) | Flat and solid, cut to any shape on our Zund | Fixed installs and custom shaped photo ops |
Most of our media walls in London are printed on UV Blackback Textile (Canvas) on our 3.2 m Liyu, in one piece, with a matt finish that looks clean under camera flash. For a rigid wall or a custom shape, we print on foam board or Smart X on our Fuji flatbed and cut it on our Zund. See more options on our backdrop printing page.
What are the most common backdrop size mistakes?
- Measuring only the wall. The backdrop also needs space in front for guests, lights and the photographer.
- Forgetting the ceiling. Low ceilings, chandeliers and lighting rigs can rule out a 3 m tall wall.
- Choosing glossy. Shiny materials can bounce camera flash straight back into the lens. Choose matt.
- Low resolution artwork. A file that looks fine on screen can blur at 3 m wide. Our AI artwork guide shows how many pixels a backdrop really needs.
- Leaving it late. Standard jobs take 7 to 10 working days, express 3 days, and super express 24 to 48 hours. Book early around busy wedding and party season.
Ready to size your backdrop?
Send us the venue, the number of people you want in the shot and your artwork or idea. We will recommend the right size and material, check your file for free and send a digital proof before we print.
