How to Frame a Diploma, Degree, or Certificate
Quick answer
To frame a diploma properly, use a shadow box 1.5 to 2 inches deep, non-glare acrylic glazing, and a custom mat sized to leave roughly a half-inch border around the diploma's printed edge. Choose double-mat colors that pair the school's primary color (outer mat) with a complementary accent (inner reveal). The tassel hangs in a recessed pocket alongside the diploma, the year tag pins to the bottom, and the school seal or honors cord sits opposite the tassel. Standard diploma sizes are 8.5x11, 11x14, and 11x17. The full layout walkthrough and sizing chart follow below.
How to Frame a Diploma: The Display That Honors the Achievement
A diploma is the document that earned years of work. Here is how to compose a diploma display that includes the parchment, the seal, the tassel, and the year, in a frame that holds for the long haul.
A diploma is a document you'll display for the rest of your life. Most diplomas hang in offices, study spaces, or hallways for 30+ years. The framing decisions you make now affect both how the diploma looks and how well it survives the long run.
This guide walks through the decisions for framing a diploma, including the right size, mat, glazing, and how to add a tassel or photograph if you want to.
Step-by-Step Guide to Framing a Diploma
Most US diplomas are 8.5x11 inches (letter-size) or 11x14 inches. Some specialty programs (some MBA programs, some master's degrees) issue 8.5x14 (legal-size) or 14x17 diplomas. Some honor-society certificates are smaller (5x7 or 6x9).
The diploma's actual dimensions are the starting point for the frame. Add 2 to 3 inches of mat width on each side. The total outer frame size for a typical 8.5x11 diploma is 14x17 to 16x20.
For a single 11x14 diploma with a 3-inch mat: 17x20 outer frame.
For multiple diplomas (a bachelor's, master's, and doctorate displayed as a series), order frames sized to be visually consistent. The small differences in diploma sizes (8.5x11 vs 8.5x14) get absorbed by varying the mat width slightly.
The mat, color and grade
Diplomas are paper documents that benefit from archival mounting. Use alpha cellulose mat board at minimum. Cotton rag mat is the upgrade for valuable diplomas (Ivy League, professional licenses, advanced degrees).
For mat color, three patterns work:
School color reveal. A dark mat with a thin reveal of a school-color under-mat (a 1/4 inch reveal of crimson under a black top mat for Harvard, navy under a white top for Penn, etc.). Reads as institutional pride.
Conservative neutral. Cream, ivory, or warm white. Works for any diploma, blends with most office decor, doesn't compete with the diploma's typography.
Black with white reveal. Black top mat with a 1/4 inch white under-mat reveal. Modern, sharp, formal. Works for diplomas with strong typography.
For most diplomas, the conservative neutral approach is the safe choice. The school-color reveal is the upgrade for buyers who want to express their alma mater.
The glazing
Diplomas use ink-jet or laser-printed text on certificate paper. We glaze diplomas with frame-shop-grade acrylic, which is lighter and far more shatter-resistant than glass, the right choice for a document you'll hang and move over decades.
Choose between clear acrylic and non-glare acrylic. Clear acrylic keeps the diploma's text crisp and reads almost invisible. Non-glare acrylic cuts reflections, which helps for diplomas hung opposite a window or under direct lighting where glare would otherwise wash out the typography.
For laminated diplomas (some programs laminate before issuing), the diploma still benefits from being framed in a sealed environment behind acrylic, protected from dust, handling, and humidity.
Mounting, never use adhesive on the diploma
The diploma should be held in the frame with photo corners or conservation hinges, not glued or taped. The reasons:
- Diplomas have monetary value (they may need to be re-issued or referenced for verification later)
- Adhesives stain paper over decades
- Removing the diploma from the frame is sometimes necessary (transfer, replacement, conservator review)
Photo corners are the standard mounting method. Four small acid-free photo corners, one at each corner of the diploma, hold it against the backing without touching the document's surface or applying any adhesive to the diploma itself.
For valuable or oversized diplomas, conservation hinges (small strips of acid-free linen tape applied to the back of the diploma at two top corners) provide a stronger mount that allows the diploma to hang slightly forward of the backing for ventilation.
Adding a tassel
A graduation tassel adds context but requires depth. A standard frame (1 inch deep) cannot accommodate a tassel without compressing it. A shadow box (1.5 to 2 inches deep) can hold the tassel comfortably.
Common tassel placements:
- Centered above the diploma, hanging down naturally
- In one upper corner (either side) of the frame
- Below the diploma along with the graduation date
The tassel is pinned to the backing fabric using a small T-pin through the cord at the top. The tassel hangs naturally with the strands extended.
For framing a diploma plus tassel, order a shadow box rather than a flat frame. The depth makes a difference.
Adding a photograph
A graduation photograph (the cap-and-gown studio photograph or a snapshot from the ceremony) pairs naturally with a diploma. Common layouts:
- Photograph above the diploma in a smaller mat opening (a 4x6 photo above an 8.5x11 diploma)
- Photograph to one side of the diploma (often the right side, with the diploma at left)
- Photograph below the diploma with the school name centered between
For a multi-element layout, design the mat with multiple openings cut to fit each element. The shadow box's outer dimensions grow accordingly (typically 16x20 to 20x24 for diploma plus photograph plus optional tassel).
Frame profile
Three profiles work for diplomas:
Wide gold or black moulding. Traditional, formal, the institutional standard. Pairs with most rooms and reads as a "diploma."
Narrow black or dark wood. Modern, minimal. Best for offices with clean contemporary design.
School-color custom finish. A frame painted or stained in the school's primary color. High-impact but specific.
For most diplomas, traditional wide moulding (gold-finished, dark mahogany, walnut) is the right choice. The diploma is a formal document and the frame should match.
Frequently asked questions
Should I frame the original diploma or a copy?
The original. Most universities will issue a replacement if the original is damaged, but the process is slow and may incur a fee. Frame the original behind acrylic in a sealed environment and it will outlast you.
What if my diploma is unusually shaped (oversized, foldable, on parchment)?
Specialty diplomas (Yale's foldable parchment, oversized professional certificates, illuminated medieval-style degrees) need custom-sized frames. We size to the actual document dimensions plus appropriate mat borders.
Can I include multiple diplomas in one frame?
Yes, with a multi-opening mat. A bachelor's and master's degree from the same school in one shadow box reads as a curated set. The frame is larger (typically 24x30 for two 11x14 diplomas) but the layout looks deliberate.
Should the frame match my office furniture?
Loosely. The frame should harmonize with the room without exactly matching any piece of furniture. A walnut frame in a room with walnut furniture reads as monotonous. A walnut frame in a room with mixed wood tones reads as anchoring.
How long does a properly framed diploma last?
With archival materials and a sealed frame behind acrylic, a diploma stays in good condition for 50+ years. The text remains legible, the paper does not yellow significantly, and the frame structure stays sound. The goal is for the diploma to look as crisp at your retirement as it did at your graduation. Done right, it will.