Custom Pet Canvas: Sizes, Prices, Frames and How to Choose

What is a custom pet canvas?

A canvas pet portrait is printed on a woven canvas surface, then hand-stretched over 1.25-inch pine stretcher bars. This is called a gallery wrap: the canvas folds around the sides and is fixed at the back, so there's no visible staple or border from the front. It arrives ready to hang.

On our canvases the edges are mirror-wrapped. The outer strip of the artwork is reflected onto the sides, so the image seems to continue around the edge while your pet's face and name stay fully on the front. Nothing important gets lost over the fold, which is a common worry with wrapped canvas.

The artwork itself comes from your photo. You choose a style, upload a picture, and see a free preview in seconds before you decide on canvas, print or digital. If you want the full picture on styles, names and backgrounds, our custom pet portraits guide covers that side; here we stick to the canvas.

Canvas vs print: which format should you choose?

Every format uses the same portrait, so this is a choice about look, budget and where it will hang. Here's how they compare in our shop:

Canvas or art print: a quick decision rule

Warm, traditional or cozy room: canvas. Minimal, modern room with lots of straight lines: framed print. Can't decide, or it's a gift for someone whose home you don't know well: a framed canvas suits almost anywhere.

What size custom pet canvas should you get?

The most common mistake with wall art is buying too small. A portrait that looked big on your phone ends up as a postage stamp floating over a sofa. Measure before you order.

How to measure: run a tape across the furniture or wall section the canvas will hang over, then multiply by two-thirds. A 72-inch sofa wants art around 48 inches wide in total. A single canvas won't reach that, so either go with the largest size or plan a pair or a small group. On a bare wall with no furniture, cut a piece of paper or painter's tape to the size you're considering and stick it up for a day. You'll know quickly whether it feels right.

Canvas pet portrait sizes for each spot in the home

As a general rule, hang art so its center is about 57–60 inches from the floor, roughly eye level. That rule applies to walls without furniture; over a sofa or bed, go by the gap above the furniture instead.

Framed pet canvas: is a floating frame worth it?

A floating frame is a wooden frame that surrounds the canvas without touching its front. The canvas sits inside with a narrow shadow gap all around, so it looks like it's hovering. It doesn't cover any of the artwork, and it arrives ready to hang.

We offer three colors. Black is sharp and modern and makes colors pop. Walnut is warm and traditional, lovely with royal and Renaissance portraits or a room with wood furniture. White is light and airy, good for Scandinavian and coastal rooms and soft watercolor portraits.

The frame adds $29.99 on an 8×10, $49.99 on a 12×16, $59.99 on a 16×20, $69.99 on an 18×24 and $89.99 on a 24×36. It's worth it for a gift, a formal room or a gallery wall where you want everything to match. Skip it if you like the clean, modern gallery-wrap look or want to keep the budget for a bigger size.

Which art styles look best on canvas?

Any of our portraits can go on canvas, but styles that fill the whole picture with color and scenery take best advantage of the texture and the wrapped edges.

• Character portraits: your pet as The King or The Queen, a Renaissance noble, an admiral or an astronaut. The painted backgrounds look like old-master oil paintings on canvas. See the Character Pet Portrait.
• Christmas portraits: Santa hat, Christmas sweater, reindeer antlers or a snowy scene, each with a full holiday background. Perfect as a canvas that comes out every December; see the Christmas Pet Portrait.
• Vintage 90s: smoke, lightning and a retro glow, bold enough for a large canvas in a den or game room.
• Modern watercolor: a softer look where your pet sits on a backdrop of white, cream, blush, sage, charcoal or a pastel rainbow, with the name on top. Cream, blush and sage look especially warm on canvas.

Custom dog canvas photo tips: resolution and framing

Because the portrait is painted from your photo rather than printed directly, a phone photo is fine even for a 24×36. What matters is that the face is clear: both eyes visible, in focus, in soft daylight, and the face filling a good part of the picture.

Use the original photo, not a screenshot or an image saved from social media, since those are compressed and lose detail in the fur and eyes. Avoid harsh flash and heavy filters. For a custom dog canvas of a black or very dark dog, shoot near a window so the features don't disappear into shadow. Our pet photo guide has more tips.

Two or more pets? Upload one photo of each; they don't need to be in the same picture. Each extra pet is $15.

How to hang and care for a canvas

Canvases arrive ready to hang. A single picture hook or screw rated for the weight is enough for most sizes; for a 24×36, two hooks spaced apart keep it level. A small strip of removable putty on the bottom back corners stops it from tilting.

Care is simple. Dust with a soft, dry cloth or a clean brush. Don't use water, glass cleaner or sprays. Keep it out of strong direct sunlight to protect the colors, and avoid steamy bathrooms or spots right above a radiator, where swings in humidity and heat can loosen the canvas over time.

A custom pet canvas as a gift (and Christmas timing)

A canvas is a favorite choice for a gift because it arrives finished and ready to hang, with nothing else to buy. To send it straight to the recipient, enter their address at checkout; packing slips never show prices.

For Christmas, order by December 10 for delivery before Christmas in the continental US. Production takes 2–4 business days and delivery about 3–5 more, so ordering in November gives you room to relax. Missed the date? A digital download is emailed within one business day, and you can wrap a printout with a note that the canvas is on its way. More ideas in our Christmas pet gifts collection.

Ordering more than one? Bundles save 15% on 2 items, 20% on 3 and 25% on 5 or more, which makes a canvas for each grandparent much easier on the budget. Shipping is a flat $6.99 in the US and free over $75.

How to order a custom pet canvas

Open the Modern Pet Portrait, or a character or Christmas portrait if you want a full painted scene. Choose the number of pets, upload your photo (crop it if needed) and see the free preview. Add your pet's name and an optional second line, then pick Canvas, the size and, if you want one, a floating frame color.

Check the preview carefully before paying: the face, the spelling of the name, and how it looks at the size you chose. Want the file too? Add the high-res digital file for $9.99 in the cart. Every order is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee, and 10% of every order goes to animal rescue.

Frequently asked questions