Floater Frames for Panel Art
Floater Frames for Panel Paintings & Wood Panel Art
A floater frame for a panel painting gives a wood panel, gessoed board, or rigid art panel a clean reveal around all four edges, so the panel appears to float inside the frame rather than sit behind a lip. We cut floater frames to your panel's exact dimensions and depth, in finishes like black, white, natural wood, walnut, and gold. The panel mounts directly to the frame with included hardware, and no glazing is used, which keeps the painted surface fully visible. Standard orders ship in 3-5 business days.
Design Your Panel Floater Frame
Built to your panel size
Width, height, and depth
Reveal width set in designer
Narrow modern or wider dramatic
Multiple finishes
Black, white, walnut, natural, gold
No glazing
Painted surface fully visible
Design Your Panel Painting Floater Frame
Enter your panel's width, height, and thickness. The designer shows the reveal around the edges so you can preview the look before you order.
Floater Frame Built for a Panel, Not a Canvas
Floater frames work the same way for both panels and stretched canvases. The mounting is what changes. Panels screw to the back of the frame through pre-drilled holes; canvases get pulled tight against the inside of the floater with mounting clips. The frame depth is also different. Wood panels are thinner than a stretched canvas (typically 3/4 to 1.5 inches versus 1.5 to 2 inches for a deep canvas), so the floater is cut to match. If you have a stretched canvas, see the canvas floater frames page.
What Panels We Frame
Any rigid panel works in a panel floater frame. Common substrates:
- Wood panels and birch plywood panels
- Gessoed boards, primed for oil or acrylic
- MDF and hardboard panels
- Cradled panels with built-up wood sides
- Encaustic panels for wax-medium work
- Oil-on-panel and acrylic-on-panel work
- Mixed-media panels with collage or texture
Reveal Width and Finish Options
The reveal is the visible gap between the panel edge and the inner edge of the frame. A narrow reveal (1/8 to 1/4 inch) reads clean and modern, keeping the eye on the painting. A wider reveal (3/8 to 1/2 inch) gives the panel more presence and adds a quiet shadow line around the artwork. Finishes include black, white, natural wood, walnut, and gold. Black is the most common for contemporary work; natural and walnut suit warmer palettes.
Mounting a Panel in a Floater Frame
The panel mounts to the back of the floater frame with screws through holes pre-drilled in the inside lip. We include the appropriate hardware sized to your panel thickness. No glue is required, and the panel can be removed and re-mounted later if you ever want to switch frames.
Cradled Panels and Deeper Profiles
Cradled panels have wood sides built up underneath the painted face, typically adding 3/4 to 1.5 inches of depth. The floater frame depth must accommodate the full cradle thickness so the cradle does not stick out the back. Measure the total depth of the cradled panel and enter that value in the designer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a floater frame for a canvas and one for a panel?
The frame style is the same, but the mounting hardware and depth are different. Canvases use clips that grip the stretcher bars from the inside; panels mount with screws through the back of the floater into the panel. Panels are also thinner than stretched canvases, so the floater is cut to a shallower depth.
How do I measure my panel for a floater frame?
Measure the panel's width, height, and total thickness (including any cradle on the back). Enter those three values in the designer. The reveal width you choose adds to the overall frame footprint, which is shown in the designer preview.
Can you frame a cradled panel?
Yes. Measure the total depth of the panel including the cradle and enter that value in the designer. The floater frame is cut to accommodate the full cradle thickness so nothing protrudes from the back.
What reveal width should I choose?
A narrow reveal (1/8 to 1/4 inch) reads modern and keeps the focus on the painting. A wider reveal (3/8 to 1/2 inch) gives the panel more presence and shows a quiet shadow line. Contemporary work usually suits narrow; more traditional pieces often look better with the wider reveal.
Do I need glazing on a panel painting?
No. Floater frames for paintings do not use glazing. The painted surface is fully visible, which is the point of the floater style. If you want glazing for a panel work on paper, that requires a different frame style with a mat and a backing.
How long does panel framing take?
Standard orders ship in 3-5 business days.
Open the canvas designer to enter your panel dimensions and order your floater frame.
Design Your Panel Floater Frame