Society6 Wall Art Buying Guide 2026: Print, Canvas, Metal or Frame?
You've finally found it: the print. Maybe it's a blue botanical cut-out, a misty green hillside or an owl with yellow eyes, and it's exactly right for the wall above the bed. Then Society6 asks the follow-up question. Art print, framed art print, canvas, framed canvas, metal, poster or wood? And in which of nine sizes? The same design can cost $30 or $520 depending on how you answer.
Olivia Reviews compared Society6's wall art formats in October 2026 using the product descriptions, the Q&A on product pages and the prices listed across hundreds of designs. Prices were remarkably consistent from one artist to the next, which means you can decide the format first and fall in love with the art second.
Quick take: Choose a framed art print if you want glass-free, ready-to-hang art with a white gallery border. It starts at $65 for 8" × 10" in a Modern or Classic frame. Choose canvas for a frameless, gallery-wrapped look at a similar price. Choose metal for high-gloss color that floats off the wall. And go unframed or poster only if you already own frames or like the taped-up look. Before you check out, see today's Society6 deals.
The Formats at a Glance
Every piece is printed to order in the USA. Here is what each format is, according to Society6's own descriptions:
- Art Print (unframed): heavyweight, acid-free matte paper with gallery-quality ink and a white border for framing. The product Q&A describes the paper as 100% cotton, archival and much thicker than a standard poster.
- Framed Art Print: the same paper, hand-framed to order behind a lightweight, shatterproof acrylic cover, with hanging hardware in place.
- Canvas Print: matte cotton-poly canvas, hand-stretched over a 1.5-inch wood stretcher, with the image wrapping around the edges.
- Framed Canvas: stretched canvas set into a wood frame, with hanging hardware included.
- Metal Print: printed directly onto lightweight aluminum with a high-gloss finish and a wood backing that floats it about three-quarters of an inch off the wall.
- Poster: smooth 100lb gloss paper, rolled into a tube, ready to pin, tape or frame.
Framed Art Prints: Four Frame Styles
Framed prints come in four styles, and the choice changes the price more than the size does at the small end:
- Modern and Classic wood frames are priced the same, from $65 for 8" × 10". Frame colors are black, white, maple and walnut.
- Metal frames are brushed anodized aluminum that Society6 says resists chips and peeling, in gold or silver, from $80.
- Recessed frames are a shadowbox design in hardwood (black, white, maple or walnut) that the brand says adds museum-like depth, from $95.
All framed prints include the acrylic cover and hanging hardware, so they're ready for the wall when they arrive. That's the main reason to pay the framing premium over an unframed print: no trip to a frame shop and no hunt for an odd-size frame.
Canvas and Framed Canvas: The No-Glass Look
A canvas print arrives ready to hang straight from the box, with no frame and no cover to catch reflections. That makes it a good fit for bright rooms and for large sizes, where glazing would add weight. Prices start at $70 for 8" × 10" and reach $195 for a 36" × 36" square.
Framed canvas adds a wood frame, in black, walnut, maple or white, for a cleaner edge. It costs roughly $55–$200 more than plain canvas at the same size, from $125 for 8" × 10". One detail to note: for canvas, the listed size is the overall canvas, while for framed canvas the listed size is the canvas inside the frame, so the framed version takes up more wall.
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Metal Prints: Gloss and Depth
Metal is the format for saturated color and a modern, frameless edge. Society6 says the high-gloss finish makes color and detail stand out and resists fading over time. Prices start at $100 for 8" × 10" and top out around $225 for 18" × 24". Read the specs, though. The listing notes a wire or sawtooth hanger depending on size, but says hanging hardware isn't included, so have your own nail or hook ready.
Unframed Prints, Posters and Minis
If you already own frames, the unframed Art Print is the most flexible option, from $30 for 8" × 10" up to $125 for 30" × 40". The Poster is cheaper still, at $15 for 9" × 12" to $45 for 30" × 40", but it's gloss paper rather than archival matte, and its sizes (9" × 12", 12" × 16", 18" × 24", 30" × 40") don't all match the art print sizes. At the small end, Mini Art Prints are 3" × 4" or 4" × 4" for $10 unframed, $15 with a poplar wood stand or $20 framed.
Same Size, Different Formats: The Price Ladder
Here's what the typical design cost in each format at three common sizes when we checked:
| Format | 8" × 10" | 16" × 20" | 30" × 40" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Print (unframed) | $30 | $55 | $125 |
| Canvas Print | $70 | $125 | $175 |
| Framed Art Print, Modern or Classic | $65 | $110 | $470 |
| Framed Art Print, Metal frame | $80 | $140 | $520 |
| Framed Art Print, Recessed | $95 | $180 | Not offered |
| Metal Print | $100 | $195 | Not offered |
| Framed Canvas | $125 | $215 | $375 |
Two patterns stand out. Up to medium sizes, a framed print costs about the same as a canvas. At 30" × 40", canvas is far cheaper than a framed print, $175 against $470, which makes it the budget route to a really big piece. Sizes vary by design, so always check the options on the specific listing.
Choosing the Right Size
Society6's own guidance on product pages: small sizes like 8" × 10" and 10" × 10" suit shelves, desks or small wall accents; medium and large sizes work in gallery walls; and extra-large prints become focal points above sofas and beds or in entryways. Many designs also come in square sizes, such as 10" × 10", 20" × 20" and 36" × 36", which helps if you're building a grid.
Beyond Paper: Wood, Tapestries and Hangings
- Wood Wall Art ($170–$330): made by hand at Society6's Denver facility and shipped as nine half-inch wood panels with keyholes on the back, in 3', 4' or 5' squares. The brand notes that the natural grain shows through, so no two pieces are alike.
- Wall Tapestry ($35–$145): lightweight polyester with hand-sewn edges, from 34" × 40" to 88" × 104". It's the renter's way to cover a lot of wall.
- Wall Hanging ($35–$90): woven polyester yarn with a frayed edge, shipped with a wooden dowel and cotton cord.
Care and Hanging Tips
The brand's advice is short: hang wall art level, away from direct heat sources and prolonged sunlight, to preserve color and prevent damage. Product pages also add a note that the artwork shown, including any textures or materials in the design, is a printed reproduction, so a "brushstroke" or "linen" look is part of the image, not the surface.
What to Know Before You Order
- Made to order: items typically ship within 3–4 business days, and orders generally can't be cancelled or changed once placed.
- No custom edits: artists' designs can't be altered.
- Returns: product pages advertise 30-day returns, requested within 30 days of delivery through the Returns Center.
The Trade-Offs
What we like
- Consistent format pricing across artists, which makes budgeting easy.
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang, with shatterproof acrylic.
- Square and extra-large sizes for grids and statement walls.
What to watch
- Large framed prints climb steeply, to $470 and up.
- Metal prints need your own hanging hardware.
- No cancellations, so measure the wall before you pay.
Who Should Pick What
Renters should look at tapestries or a light canvas. Frame owners should buy the unframed art print. Gallery-wall builders should mix framed prints in one frame color and add minis on a shelf. Big-wall decorators on a budget should go canvas at 30" × 40". Color lovers should try metal.
Ways to Spend Less
- Go unframed if you have frames: a 16" × 20" print is $55 versus $110 framed.
- Skip Recessed unless you want the shadowbox depth. Modern or Classic saves $30–$125 depending on size.
- Size up in canvas, not frames, for the largest pieces.
- Look for offers: see current Society6 coupon offers before you buy.
Society6 Wall Art FAQ
Do Society6 framed prints have glass?
No. They use a lightweight, shatterproof acrylic cover, and include hanging hardware.
What's the difference between Modern and Classic frames?
Both are wood frames in black, white, maple or walnut, at the same prices. Society6 doesn't spell out the difference in words, so compare the preview images on each listing.
Are canvas sizes the same as framed canvas sizes?
Not quite. Canvas sizes are the overall canvas, while framed canvas sizes measure the canvas inside the frame.
Which format costs least for a large wall?
Among the 30" × 40" options, the poster ($45) and unframed print ($125) cost least. Canvas ($175) is the least expensive ready-to-hang choice.
Final Verdict
Society6 is easier to shop once you see that format, not artist, sets the price. Framed prints are the polished, ready-to-hang default; canvas is the value play at large sizes; metal is for bold color; and unframed prints or posters suit anyone with frames to fill. Measure your wall, pick the format, then find the art, and check Society6 deals before you check out.
→ Check the latest Society6 coupon codes and deals
Olivia Reviews researched Society6 using its official website, product listings and published policies in October 2026. We haven't personally tested these products. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.