Photo book sizes explained (and which to choose)

Size is the first decision a photo book asks of you, and the option lists never explain the trade-offs. Here is what each size is actually good for.

A4 portrait — the default for a reason

21 × 29.7 cm. Big enough for detail and multi-photo spreads, small enough for a bookshelf. If the book is your family's yearly record, choose A4 and stop thinking about it. Typical UK price: £30–45 hardcover.

A5 — the gift size

14.8 × 21 cm. Cheaper (£15–25), postable through a letterbox, perfect for a grandparent gift copy of the family book. Too small as the primary family record — group photos lose faces.

Square — the design choice

Usually 21 × 21 cm. Suits phone photos (near-square crops waste less), looks modern, works beautifully for single-photo-per-page books. Weaker for landscapes and group shots.

Landscape A4 — for scenery

Best format for holiday and adventure books full of wide shots — beaches, mountains, horizons. Pairs especially well with layflat binding, where a panorama can run across the full spread.

Layflat — a binding, not a size

Layflat pages are mounted so the book opens completely flat with no gutter. Any photo can cross the spine, which transforms landscape books. Adds £15–25; worth it for the year's best book, overkill for casual ones. Compare real costs in our photo book cost calculator.

Quick chooser

• Annual family book → A4 portrait hardcover
• Grandparent gift → A5 softcover
• Holiday/adventure book → A4 landscape layflat
• Instagram-style photo diary → square