The Best Large Canvas for Stunning Oversized Masterpieces

Buying Guide: Large Canvas

As you discover our list of the best large canvases in 2025, you may want to do a little of your own research to find the perfect product for your needs. Continue reading to see our top tips on how to find the best product for you.

Size and Weight of the Canvas

As you may have noticed, we have recommended a variety of different-sized canvases. This is because the term large is subjective. One person’s large may be another person’s medium. Consider what size you want and work out the measurements in terms of centimeters or meters.

You should also consider the weight of the canvas. If you plan on hanging a canvas on your wall, consider how much weight the wall can take. The canvas may become quite heavy if you layer it up with a lot of acrylics and other materials.

Cotton or Linen Canvases?

Professional painters tend to use linen canvases (flax) and often make the canvas themselves to save money. Linen is smoother than cotton and requires less gesso. It has some stretch but is less likely to warp over time. Cotton is more affordable than linen and is more readily available.

Thicker Canvases Are Always Preferable

The thickness of the canvas is important, as a thin wet canvas can easily tear and wear away. Thin canvases also let some light in from behind, which can affect your finished piece’s visuals, depending on where you hang it. Canvas thickness is measured in GSM. The higher the GSM number, the thicker the canvas.

Consider What Grain Is Best for Your Style

There are several types of grains in canvas material. The grain tells you how smooth the canvas is. Fine grain is imperative for detailed work as it is the smoothest. Medium grain is slightly coarser, followed by coarse, then untreated. If you purchase an untreated canvas roll, you will need to treat it with gesso. Some people choose coarse-grained canvas to incorporate texture into their work.

Gesso-Treated Products Create More Vibrancy

Look for a product that is acid-free and has triple-applied gesso. The acid will make the canvas deteriorate even with a protective layer of gesso. Your paint will sink into the canvas material without the gesso and won’t look as vibrant once dried.

Types of Canvases

There are several types of canvas styles you can choose from. The most common type is a stretched canvas. This is a canvas material stretched over a frame. Canvas panels are also very popular. This also involves stretching a canvas material over a thin board. This type of canvas is nearly impossible to hang without using a frame.

Canvas pads are an excellent choice for anyone short on space. The pages can be cut out and framed, or you can simply use this to practice. A hardback cover will prevent the pages from curling at the edges. These come in different sizes and can be used for sketching, oil, acrylic, and watercolor. You can carry this type of canvas with you and make notes when inspiration hits.

Finally, you can purchase canvas rolls. Canvas rolls come in linen or cotton and can be cut to different sizes and glued to a board or frames. A high-quality canvas roll is cheaper in the long run in comparison to a premade high-quality canvas board. However, you may want to pay the extra for the sake of convenience as well as to save storage space.

Choose a Durable Frame

Mortise and tenon connection is a strong and durable option to look for. This has an extended piece of wood that rests inside a gap in another piece of wood, much like a key and keyhole. Pine is common, cheap, and aesthetically pleasing. It is also lightweight. However, there are some stronger lightweight materials out there that are less prone to warping over time. Some of these include:

• MDF board
• Basswood
• Popular

Interesting Alternatives to Canvas

Technically, you can paint on anything that is properly treated. For example, if you want to paint straight onto wood, paint it with a protective weather-proofing gloss first. You can then apply gesso over the top and use acrylic paints. Similarly, plasterboard, cork, and slate can be used.

Useful Painting Tips

Some useful pointers to get you started:

Color

You can choose from a range of affordable pre-mixed colors. However, you should always have primary colors, white and black, in your arsenal. The primary colors include red, yellow, and blue. Mix yellow and red to create orange, mix blue and yellow to create green, and mix red and blue to create purple.

You can then add a little white or black to darken the color. When using black, less is more. However, white should be used generously when using it to lighten a color. If you mix too many colors, you will inevitably create brown.

Paintbrushes

Wash your brushes gently in slightly soapy water; you can use washing-up liquid. Leave to dry sat upright in a jar or other upright container. When using a paintbrush, use strokes in one direction.

When dipping your brush in water, you can use something like a rag or an old sock to get rid of excess water. We recommend doing this before you dip it in acrylic paint. However, watercolors need more water.

When painting a whole canvas with a single color (using acrylic paint), save yourself some time and create a smoother texture by using a sponge instead of a brush. Ensure the sponge is moist and not wet; wet the sponge and squeeze the excess water out. You can also apply the paint straight to the canvas when using this technique. This will save you a little time and won’t waste a single drop of paint.