Diamond Painting Size Guide

How to choose your size

Two things decide the right size: how much detail your image has, and how much time you want to spend. More detail needs more canvas — faces, fur and busy scenes all render sharper on a larger piece.

• First kit? Go small. A 20×20 to 30×30 cm canvas is a relaxing weekend, not a marathon.
• Buying a gift? Medium is the safe, popular choice — impressive but achievable.
• Portrait or custom photo? Size up. Faces need room to stay crisp — see our custom order tips.
• Want a wall centrepiece? Large, with square drills for that gallery-sharp finish.

Round or square drills?

Round drills are faster and more forgiving — great for large pieces and beginners. Square drills tile edge-to-edge for a crisp, gap-free look that holds fine detail best. Both are full-drill on every kit. More on this in how it works.

A note on time

The hours above are a guide, not a race — most makers work across several relaxing sessions. The bigger and more colourful the design, the longer it takes, and that’s part of the fun.

What size makes the best gift?

If you’re buying for someone else, a medium canvas is the safest, most popular choice: it’s impressive enough to feel special but achievable enough that they’ll actually finish it. For a child or a first-timer, lean smaller so they get a quick, confidence-building win. For a serious hobbyist, a large statement piece signals you know they love the craft. When in doubt, medium wins — and pairing it with a grid storage box makes it feel like a complete gift.

Sizing for portraits and custom photos

Faces and fine detail need room to render clearly. A single pet or one face works well from a medium canvas, but two or more people, a full body, or a busy background should always be sized up — otherwise detail gets lost when the image is broken into drills. As a rule, the more subjects or detail in your photo, the larger the canvas should be. Our custom order tips walk you through photo quality and sizing, and every custom kit comes with a free proof so you can check the detail before printing.

How to measure your space

Before you commit, think about where the finished piece will hang. Measure the wall or shelf, and remember that framing will add a few centimetres on each side. A large canvas that looks manageable on screen can dominate a small wall, while a tiny piece can get lost above a big sofa. Matching the canvas size to the space it’s destined for is the easiest way to end up with something that looks intentional and well-placed rather than accidental.

Does a bigger canvas mean more colours?

Usually, yes. A larger canvas can hold more detail, which often means more colour shades and therefore more drill bags to sort and place. That’s part of what makes big pieces so rewarding to finish — but it’s also why they take longer. If you love rich, subtle colour and don’t mind a longer project, size up. If you’d rather keep things simple and quick, a smaller canvas with fewer colours is the easier ride. Every kit, whatever its size, arrives with the drills sorted and numbered to keep it manageable.

Still not sure which size to choose?

When in doubt, go one size up from your instinct. The most common regret we hear isn’t “I wish I’d bought smaller” — it’s “I wish I’d gone bigger so the detail really popped.” A medium-to-large canvas gives your design room to shine and makes a far bigger impact on the wall. And remember every standard kit is covered by our 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so you can order with confidence. If you’d like a personal recommendation for your space or your photo, just get in touch and we’ll happily help.