If you have ever held a rolled canvas — whether it arrived in a shipping tube from an online purchase, came back from a trip abroad, or just came off the printer at your studio — you already know the feeling: the art is beautiful, but it is not finished until it is stretched and framed. The question most people ask next is a simple one: how much is this going to cost?

At Modern Memory Design, we believe pricing should be as clear as the artwork itself. This guide breaks down the complete cost to stretch and frame a canvas from start to finish, explains the two-step process in plain language, walks you through the difference between floater frames and traditional frames, and gives you the tools to get an instant quote before you ever pick up the phone. Whether you are a local artist in Bergen County, a photographer shipping work from California, or an international exhibitor preparing for a gallery showcase, this guide is written for you.

The Two-Step Process: Stretching First, Then Framing

Before diving into pricing, it is important to understand that stretching and framing are two distinct steps — and both are necessary to take a canvas from a flat roll to a finished, gallery-ready piece on the wall.

Step 1: Canvas Stretching — Building the Foundation

Canvas stretching is the process of mounting your loose or rolled canvas onto a rigid wooden frame called a stretcher bar frame. This is the structural foundation of the finished piece. Our master framers use kiln-dried pine stretcher bars — wood that has been dried to a stable 6–8% moisture content to prevent warping — and pull the canvas with professional canvas pliers to achieve a drum-tight, perfectly even tension across the entire surface.

The depth of the stretcher bars is the first decision you make. We offer two standard options:

Step 2: Decorative Framing — The Finishing Touch

Once your canvas is stretched and mounted on its wooden bars, it is ready for the second step: adding a decorative frame. This is where the personality of the finished piece comes to life. The frame you select — whether a sleek black floater, a warm gold traditional moulding, a natural wood shadow box, or a bold modern profile — transforms a stretched canvas into a complete, presentation-ready work of art.

Here is the key insight that makes our pricing model transparent and easy to understand: the cost of your decorative frame is the same as the cost of your canvas stretching. The two steps are priced equally, so your total investment for a fully stretched and framed canvas is simply double the stretching quote. There are no hidden markups, no complicated frame-by-frame pricing tables — just a clean, consistent formula.

Total Cost Formula
Stretching Price + Framing Price = 2 × Your Stretching Quote
Frame style selection does not change the price — choose the look you love.

Canvas Stretching & Framing Pricing: Transparent and Instant

Our stretching price is calculated using a straightforward formula based on united inches — the sum of your canvas length and width.

Standard Size (both dimensions under 40"):   Price = (L + W) × 2.8
Oversized Canvas (either dimension 40" or more):   Price = (L + W) × 3.8
1.5" Gallery Wrap depth:   Base Price + $40
Decorative Frame:   Same price as stretching
Total (Stretch + Frame):   2 × Stretching Quote

There is no limit to the size we can stretch — from intimate 8×10 pieces to monumental 60×80 installations and beyond.

Sample Pricing at a Glance

★ Oversized rate (L or W ≥ 40") applies. All prices are starting estimates.

Floater Frame vs. Traditional Frame: Which Is Right for Your Canvas?

Choosing between a floater frame and a traditional frame is one of the most important aesthetic decisions in the framing process. Both options are beautiful — but they serve very different visual purposes and suit different types of artwork and display environments.

The Traditional Frame: Classic Elegance Over the Canvas

A traditional picture frame is designed to sit over the edges of the stretched canvas. The frame's rabbet — the inner lip — overlaps the canvas by approximately half an inch on all sides, holding the canvas securely in place while creating a clean, finished border around the artwork. Traditional frames work best with the 0.75-inch stretcher bar depth, as the slim profile fits neatly within the frame's rabbet.

Traditional frames are available in an enormous range of profiles, finishes, and materials — from ornate gold leaf mouldings that evoke classical European painting traditions to simple, clean wood profiles that complement contemporary photography. They are the go-to choice for formal settings, portrait photography, diploma and certificate framing, and any artwork where a structured, bordered presentation is desired.

The Floater Frame: Modern Drama Around the Canvas

A floater frame is an entirely different concept. Rather than sitting over the canvas, a floater frame surrounds the canvas with a visible gap between the artwork and the frame itself — typically a quarter to half an inch of open space. The canvas appears to "float" inside the frame, suspended in mid-air. This creates a striking, three-dimensional effect that draws the eye directly to the artwork without any visual interruption at the edges.

Floater frames are the signature look of modern galleries, contemporary art collections, and high-end hospitality installations. They are designed specifically for stretched canvases and work beautifully with the 1.5-inch gallery wrap depth, as the deeper bar gives the canvas a bold visual presence inside the frame opening.

The Shadow Box Floater: The Ultimate Modern Statement

The most dramatic option in our framing collection is the shadow box floater frame — a deep-profile frame that fully encloses the entire canvas within a cased, box-like structure. Unlike a standard floater frame that simply surrounds the canvas, a shadow box floater creates a deep well around the artwork, giving it a museum-quality, three-dimensional presentation that commands attention on any wall.

The shadow box floater is available in your choice of frame color — matte black, natural wood, white, gold, silver, and custom finishes — making it an exceptionally versatile option for both residential and commercial installations. It is the frame of choice for hospitality wall décor, corporate art collections, gallery showcase pieces, and any artwork where maximum visual impact is the goal.

Professional Tips for Framing Your Canvas

After stretching and framing thousands of canvases at our Hasbrouck Heights workshop, our master framers have developed a set of principles that consistently produce the best results. Here are the most important tips to guide your framing decisions.

• Match the frame depth to the bar depth. A 1.5-inch gallery wrap canvas requires a frame with a deep enough floater opening to accommodate the bar depth. Our framers always verify compatibility before cutting any moulding.
• Let the artwork dictate the frame style. A loose, expressive abstract painting almost always looks better in a clean floater frame that does not compete with the brushwork. A formal portrait benefits from the structure of a traditional moulding.
• Consider the wall color and room lighting. A matte black shadow box floater that looks stunning in a white-walled gallery may disappear against a dark accent wall. Think about the final installation environment when selecting your frame finish.
• Do not underframe large canvases. A 36×48 canvas in a thin, delicate frame profile looks visually unbalanced. As a general rule, larger canvases benefit from wider, deeper frame profiles that provide proportional visual weight.
• For gallery exhibitions and art shows, choose floaters. Gallery curators and exhibition designers almost universally prefer floater frames for canvas work. They create a consistent, professional look and allow the artwork to be the sole focus of the viewer's attention.
• Use UV-protective varnish for photography on canvas. If your canvas is a photographic print, a UV-resistant varnish coat protects the inks from fading under gallery or natural lighting over time.
• For travel art with short margins, consult before ordering. Paintings with no extra canvas beyond the image edge require special handling. Contact us with photos and we will recommend the best approach — thinner bars, canvas extension strips, or a floater frame solution.

Who We Stretch and Frame Canvases For: No Limit, No Boundaries

Canvas stretching and framing is not a niche service — it is a universal need that connects artists, businesses, travelers, and art lovers across the country and around the world. Here is the full spectrum of people and organizations we work with every day.

Our Services: Mail-In, Gallery Delivery, and Local Drop-Off

We have designed our service model to be as flexible and accessible as possible, because great canvas stretching and framing should not be limited by geography.

Mail-In Canvas Stretching & Framing — Nationwide

Our mail-in service is available to customers across all 50 states. Get your instant quote using our online calculator, roll your canvas loosely with the painted side facing inward, place it in a sturdy cardboard mailing tube, and ship it to our workshop. We confirm receipt by email, complete the stretching and framing to your specifications, and ship your finished piece back in protective packaging — ready to hang upon arrival.

Gallery Showcase and Exhibition Delivery

For artists and galleries preparing for shows, we offer direct delivery to exhibition venues anywhere in the United States. Contact us with your exhibition details — venue, opening date, and canvas specifications — and we will coordinate the entire process from receipt of your rolled canvas to installation-ready delivery at the venue. Whether your show is in New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, or anywhere in between, we handle the logistics.

Cross-Country Artist Delivery

We receive your rolled painting, stretch it to your specifications, and ship the finished piece directly to your collector, gallery, or client — anywhere in the country. Artists working across the United States use our workshop as a professional finishing partner, trusting us to deliver gallery-quality results on every piece.

In-Store Drop-Off — Hasbrouck Heights, NJ

Local customers in Bergen County, Passaic County, Hudson County, and the greater NYC metro area are welcome to drop off their canvas in person. Our master framers will walk you through every option — bar depth, frame style, finish, and mounting — and provide a hands-on consultation that ensures the finished piece exceeds your expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions