16 x 20 Star Map — Personalized Night Sky Print (16 x 20 inches)
The most popular star map size.
Versatile enough for a bedroom focal point, generous enough for a gallery wall, gift-able enough for a wedding or anniversary present. Same 8,921 real stars, sized for the most-loved gallery-print dimension in American homes.
What is a 16 x 20 star map?
A 16 x 20 star map is a personalized print of the exact night sky as it appeared above a chosen date and location. At 16 by 20 inches (40.6 by 50.8 centimeters), it sits comfortably on a bedroom wall, in a gallery cluster, or above a console table — big enough to anchor a room without dominating it. Each map is generated from 8,921 real stars in the HYG v4.2 catalog using IAU sidereal time algorithms, rendered with stereographic projection from the precise GPS coordinates of your chosen location. Available as an instant PDF download from ~￥2,212, or as a premium FSC-certified print shipped rolled in a rigid mailing tube across the United States in 5 to 8 business days. Choose your date, location, and one of eight visual styles in our live configurator.
When the 16 x 20 size makes sense
Bedroom focal point
Hangs above a headboard, a dresser, or a reading chair. Big enough to be a real piece of art, intimate enough to read from bed without straining.
Gallery wall mixing
16 x 20 is one of the four gallery-standard US sizes (8 x 10, 11 x 14, 16 x 20, 18 x 24). Slots into existing photo clusters without breaking the visual rhythm.
Wedding and anniversary gift
The format that strikes the right balance — substantial enough to feel like a real gift, not so large it forces a relocation discussion. The most common wedding-registry size we ship.
Dining room or above-console art
Works as the single piece above a sideboard, dining hutch, or console table in a hallway. Catches the eye without owning the wall.
Nursery or kid's room
The sky over the hospital the night a child was born, sized to grow with the room from crib to school years. Doesn't look babyish, ages well.
Office and creative studios
Substantial enough to ground a home office, small enough to fit between bookshelves. Pairs with framed certificates, vintage posters, or photography prints.
How a personalized 16 x 20 star map is made
Choose the date and city
Enter the moment that matters — a wedding date, a birth, an engagement — and the city. We resolve GPS coordinates automatically and compute local sidereal time using the IAU algorithm.
Pick the 16 x 20 size
Select the 16 x 20 size in the configurator, pick a shape (circle, rectangle, or arched), a color theme, and add an inscription. The live preview updates as you change anything.
Download or order print
Get the 300 DPI PDF (4800 x 6000 pixels) by email instantly, or order the FSC-certified print rolled in a rigid mailing tube to any US address in 5 to 8 business days.
Why 16 x 20 is the most-ordered size
Roughly four out of every ten printed star maps we ship are ordered in the 16 x 20 size. The reason is geometric: at this scale, the constellation labels and inscription text are readable from across a normal living room or bedroom, but the print still fits inside the dimensions of a typical accent wall without feeling forced.
It is also the size most US frame retailers default to. Mat cutters at Framebridge, Aaron Brothers, and Michaels build their pre-cut matte inventory around 16 x 20 first. Going slightly bigger or smaller usually means custom matting, which triples the framing cost.
For gifting, 16 x 20 reads as a generous, considered present without forcing the recipient to rearrange their wall. It fits in a standard mailing tube, ships affordably anywhere in the lower 48, and arrives ready to flatten and frame the same week.
“I ordered the 16 x 20 for our first anniversary — the sky over the venue, the night we got married. It now hangs above our dresser, next to two smaller framed photos. The proportion is perfect, it looks like it was always meant for that wall.”
— Daniel R., Austin, TX
Frequently asked questions about the 16 x 20 star map
What's the actual size of a 16 x 20 star map in cm?+
Exactly 40.6 cm by 50.8 cm. This is one of the standardized US gallery-print sizes (alongside 8 x 10, 11 x 14, and 18 x 24), so it pairs naturally with other prints sold in the same dimension. The 16 x 20 print is roughly the same scale as a single panel of a triptych, or about three sheets of US Letter paper laid end to end. At normal viewing distance (1.5 to 2 meters across a bedroom or dining room), constellations are clearly readable without leaning in.
Will it fit a standard 16 x 20 frame?+
Yes. 16 x 20 is one of the most stocked photo-frame sizes in the US — every Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Aaron Brothers, and Target carries it, and online specialty shops like Framebridge and Level Frames build matted 16 x 20 frames as a default option. A solid wood 16 x 20 frame runs $25 to $45 at a big-box store; a curated matted gallery frame from Framebridge or Pottery Barn sits between $90 and $170. The print ships rolled in a sturdy mailing tube and uncurls flat within an hour of being laid on a table.
How is the 16 x 20 different from the 8.5 x 11 and 18 x 24 sizes?+
The 16 x 20 is the gallery favorite — bigger than the 8.5 x 11 desk size, more flexible than the 18 x 24 statement piece. It works as a stand-alone focal point above a bed or sofa, and it pairs beautifully in gallery clusters mixing other gallery-standard sizes (8 x 10, 11 x 14, 16 x 20). The 8.5 x 11 is for desks and shelves; the 18 x 24 is for large living-room walls where the print is the room's main piece. If you don't know which size to pick, 16 x 20 is the safest answer for most rooms.
What paper and inks are used for the printed version?+
We print on 200 gsm FSC-certified premium matte paper, archival-grade pigment inks rated for 100+ years of indoor display without visible fading. The matte finish kills glare under overhead lighting and ceiling lamps, which matters at this size because a glossy 16 x 20 reflects half the room. The print is shipped rolled in a rigid mailing tube with end caps, plus tissue paper to prevent abrasion. Unrolling and flattening takes about 60 minutes on a flat surface before framing.
Can I get the 16 x 20 size as a digital PDF only?+
Yes. The digital PDF is delivered at 300 DPI in the 16 x 20 aspect ratio (4800 x 6000 pixels), which is enough resolution to print at home on a wide-format printer, send to a local print shop, or upload to a service like Mpix, Shutterfly, or Framebridge for custom printing and framing. Many customers buy the digital PDF and have a local frame shop print and mount it on canvas or rigid foam board for an even cleaner gallery look. The PDF arrives by email seconds after checkout.
The most-loved gallery print size
Create your personalized 16 x 20 star map in under 5 minutes. Digital PDF from ~￥2,212. Premium prints ship across the US in 5 to 8 business days.
Create my 16 x 20 star map