How to add a border to a photo
- Choose a photo from your device.
- Pick an even border or a Polaroid-style frame, then set the thickness and color.
- For a Polaroid look, type a short caption to write in the bottom strip.
- Press Add border and download the result.
How thick should a photo border be?
| Thickness | Look | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2% | A thin keyline | Separating a photo from a white web page or document |
| 3–5% | A classic white edge | Instagram posts that show the whole uncropped photo, gallery-style sharing |
| 6–10% | A mat-like frame | Prints that will go in a frame without a mat, and wall art |
| 10%+ | A bold, graphic frame | Posters and colored borders that match a theme |
The percentage is measured against the photo’s shorter side, so the border looks the same on portrait and landscape pictures.
The Polaroid-style frame
Instant photos have narrow edges on three sides and a much deeper strip at the bottom, originally where the developing chemicals sat, now where people write the date or a name. This tool makes the bottom about three and a half times the side border. Add a caption and it is written in a handwriting-style font, centered in the strip.
Polaroid frames work well for scrapbook pages, party photo walls and photo album ideas with a retro feel.
Does adding a border lower the quality?
No. The photo is placed on the border at its original pixel size, so no detail is lost. The image gets bigger by the width of the border. If you save as JPG, the file is compressed once on export at high quality; choose PNG for a lossless copy.
Framing several photos at once? Combine them with spacing first, then add one border around the result. To check how big you can print it, use the print size calculator.