Easy DIY Picture Frame

No complicated cuts here! These attractive DIY picture frames are easy for anyone to make with inexpensive wood, some basic tools, and only 8 straight cuts.

DIY Picture Frames

Store-bought frames can be expensive. Save money and make your own DIY picture frames with these plans. Forget about those complicated cuts. These frames are an easy afternoon project, made with basic woodworking tools and only eight straight cuts.

Originally published June 12, 2015, republished September 3, 2019

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These DIY Picture Frames are Easy to Make

Have you ever seen the price of store-bought picture frames? They’re so expensive! Today, I’m sharing an easy way to make your own DIY picture frames.

And don’t worry. You don’t need to make any complicated angle cuts. These wood picture frames are made with only eight straight cuts!

These frames can be assembled quickly so they’re an easy afternoon project, making them perfect for when you need to update your home decor in a hurry. They also make a great gift.

Here’s how the frames are made. There are two main parts. The front piece or face frame is where you see your picture or artwork.

The second part is the glass frame, which attaches to the face frame, housing the glass, photo, or artwork and providing a place to hang the frame.

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What Tools Do You Need to Make DIY Picture Frames?

These frames can be made with basic woodworking tools that you may already have in your workshop. The eight straight cuts can be made with an inexpensive miter box and hand saw or a power miter saw.

Related: 7 Miter Saw Tricks Every DIYer Should Know

The face frame and glass frame are assembled with a Kreg Jig. A Kreg Jig or pocket hole jig is an easy way for DIYers to join pieces of wood together.

A Kreg Jig uses a guide block with preset holes to drill angled pocket holes into a workpiece. A pocket screw, specifically designed to be used with pocket holes draws the two workpieces together to form a strong joint.

You can use any pocket hole jig, but this would be the perfect project for the Kreg Jig Mini or Kreg Jig R3. They’re both easy to use and affordable.

Related: How to Use a Kreg Jig Mini and How to Use a Kreg Jig R3

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Make These DIY Photo Frames Any Size You Need

Here’s the best part about these wood picture frames. You can customize them for any size you need. The plan I’m sharing today makes an 8×10 frame, but you can increase or decrease the measurements to make standard size frames or custom size frames. This means you can frame almost any piece of artwork, photo or poster.

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How to Measure for Custom Size Artwork

The plan I’m sharing makes an 8×10 frame, but you can use the simple guidelines below to build custom frames in any size you need. You’ll start by taking measurements.

Related: How to Use a Tape Measure Correctly (Tips for Success)

In this example, we have a piece of artwork that measures 8 inches x 10 inches.

Face Frame

You’ll want to ensure your artwork’s edges aren’t visible when mounted in the frame. So, the frame’s opening should be slightly smaller than your artwork to achieve this.

In this case, subtracting ½ inch from each dimension (7-½” x 9-½”) will provide the appropriate interior dimensions for the frame.

The wood used in this plan is 1×2 lumber, which measures ¾” thick by 1-½” wide. Your frame’s top and bottom horizontal pieces or rails will be cut to 7-½”.

Related: Beginner’s Guide to Wood Sizes

You’ll need to add 3” to your vertical measurement of 9-½” for a total of 12-½”, making the ends of the vertical pieces or stiles meet the outside edges of the rails.

Glass Frame for Standard Sized Artwork

Next, you’ll determine the dimensions for the glass frame, which attaches to the face frame. It houses the glass and the photo and features a large lip that serves as a convenient hanger for the frame.

Again, you’ll use your artwork’s dimensions (8” × 10”) to determine your glass frame’s size.

IMPORTANT: If you’re using store-bought picture frame glass be sure to measure the glass before building the glass frame. Adjust the measurements of the glass frame if necessary. The glass needs to easily fit in the glass frame opening.

To ensure the glass fits smoothly into the frame without the risk of breaking, allow for ⅛-inch clearance in each direction. 

The store-bought glass I used for my frames measured 7-⅞ inches by 9-⅞ inches, so I adjusted the opening to 8 inches by 10 inches. 

TIP: Since store-bought picture frame glass can be costly, I bought inexpensive picture frames from a dollar store and removed the glass for my project.

Glass Frame for Custom Sized Artwork

Here’s what I would do if I was building a custom frame. I would build the glass frame so the opening measured 8” × 10” (the size of our artwork). Then, I would have a piece of glass cut to fit the opening. Remember, we need to allow for an 1/8” clearance for the glass. This means I would have a piece of glass cut to 7-7/8” × 9-7/8”.

TIP: Most big box home improvement stores and local hardware stores have a glass cutting department. You can also use plexiglass instead.

Building the Glass Frame

The wood we’ll be using to make the frames are 1×2s. A 1×2 measures 3/4” thick by 1-1/2” wide. The rails or horizontal pieces will be cut to 8”.

The glass frame is slightly different than the face frame. The wood for the glass frame stands on end. In this case, we’ll need to add 1-1/2” to our vertical dimension of 10” for a total of 11-1/2”. Adding 1-1/2” will make the ends of the stiles or vertical pieces meet the outside edges of the rails.

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Step 1. Measure the Photo or Artwork

See How to Measure for Custom Size Artwork for more details.

Step 2. Make the Face Frame

Cut two pieces of wood to length for the stiles. Cut two pieces of wood to length for the rails and drill one pocket hole in each end.

Related: How to Use a Pocket Hole Jig

Apply wood glue to the ends of the rails, position on the stiles and clamp. Attach with pocket screws.

Step 3. Make the Glass Frame

Cut two pieces of wood to length for the stiles. Cut two pieces of wood to length for the rails and drill one pocket hole on each end.

NOTE: Be sure the glass will fit the opening in the glass frame. See How to Measure for Custom Frames for more details.

Apply wood glue to the ends of the rails, position on the stiles and clamp. Attach with pocket screws.

Step 4. Join the Face Frame and Glass Frame

Center the glass frame on the face frame’s opening. Use the diagram to mark the locations for countersink holes. Then, use an awl to make a starting point for the drill bit.

Related: What is an Awl? (and How to Use It)

Drill countersink holes on the back of the glass frame.

Related: How to Use a Countersink Bit

Attach to the face frame using glue and wood screws.

Step 5. Finish the Custom Frame

Sand the frame smooth. Finish with paint, wood stain or leave natural. Cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside the glass frame opening. An Amazon box works great for this. Insert the glass, mat, photo, and cardboard into the glass frame opening.

Then, use push pins to hold everything to the back of the frame. Now your wood frame is ready to hang on the wall or give as a gift.

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Final Thoughts

Store-bought picture frames can be expensive. Save money and make your own custom wood picture frames with these plans. These frames are easy to make with a few basic woodworking tools and inexpensive pine boards.

Get the PDF plan (including the detailed instructions and measurements) now!

Thank you for stopping by. If you found this information helpful, would you please pin it to Pinterest? Other DIYers would appreciate it and I would too! Thank you – Scott

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