📐 Page Layout Grid Calculator

Enter your page size and how many columns and rows you want to divide it into, to see the size of each grid cell for planning photo and embellishment placement.

A straight division of the page

cell width  = page width / columns
cell height = page height / rows

A 12 x 12 page in 3 columns and 2 rows gives 4.00 x 6.00 in cells - the footprint of a 4 x 6 print, which is why that grid is common. It assumes nothing between the cells and nothing around them: six blocks butt edge to edge, the outer ones running off the page.

Adding the margin and gutters back

Real layouts need air. Take the margins and the gaps out first:

usable cell = (page - 2 x margin - (n - 1) x gutter) / n

On the same page with a 0.5 in margin and 0.25 in gutters, the columns come out at (12 - 1 - 0.5) / 3 = 3.50 in and the rows at (12 - 1 - 0.25) / 2 = 5.375 in. A 4 x 6 print no longer fits: trim to 3.5 x 5, drop to 3 x 5 prints, or run the calculator on 11 x 11 as your live area.

The page size you type is the trimmed size. Printing your own background, design it 1/8 in larger on every edge and cut back to 12 x 12 - the grid stays on the trimmed dimensions, and the bleed only exists to stop a white sliver at the edge.

Frequently asked questions

What size are the cells in a 3 x 3 grid on a 12 x 12 page?

4 x 4 in each. Nine square cells suit instant-camera prints or 3 x 3 photos with a half-inch mat, and they stay square only because the page is - a 3 x 3 grid on 8.5 x 11 gives 2.83 x 3.67 cells.

How do I leave gaps between the photos?

Subtract them first. Two 0.25 in gutters across three columns take 0.5 in off the width and a 0.5 in margin takes another inch, so enter 10.5 as the page width to get true 3.5 in cells.

Can I use uneven columns for one large photo?

Yes - work in grid units rather than cells. On a 4-column 12 in page each unit is 3 in, so a hero photo spanning three units is 9 in wide and the last column takes the title.