Formats and measurements
Italian Movie Poster Sizes: Every Format in cm and Inches
Italian movie poster sizes follow the sheet, or foglio, of about 70 × 100 cm: the 1-foglio is one sheet, the 2-fogli (100 × 140 cm) is two and the 4-fogli (140 × 200 cm) is four. The small vertical locandina (33 × 70 cm) and the landscape fotobusta lobby card complete the set. This page lists each format with its size in centimetres and inches and explains how to identify yours with a tape measure.
On this page
Italian poster size chart
| Format | Centimetres | Inches | Orientation | Usual state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Locandina | 33 × 70 | 13 × 28 | Portrait | Folded once, or flat |
| Fotobusta (after c. 1960) | ≈ 47 × 68 | ≈ 19 × 27 | Landscape (some portrait) | Flat |
| Fotobusta (before c. 1960) | ≈ 35 × 50 | ≈ 14 × 20 | Landscape | Flat |
| 1 foglio (soggettone) | 70 × 100 | 27.5 × 39 | Portrait | Folded |
| 2 fogli | 100 × 140 | 39 × 55 | Portrait (some landscape) | Folded |
| 4 fogli | 140 × 200 | 55 × 79 | Portrait | Two pieces, folded |
Period printers' records confirm these sizes. Posters by Luigi Martinati, for example, are catalogued at 35 × 70 cm for a locandina, 70 × 100 cm for a one-sheet, 100 × 140 cm for a 2-fogli and 140 × 200 cm for a 4-fogli, printed by firms such as A.P.E. and I.G.A.P. in Rome.
Why Italian sizes are counted in sheets
Italian billposting was sold by the sheet. A 2-fogli covered the area of two 70 × 100 cm sheets and a 4-fogli the area of four, so cinemas and billposting firms could plan their hoardings in whole units. The name describes the area, not how the poster was printed: most 2-fogli posters came off the press as a single piece, while 4-fogli posters were usually printed in two halves that overlap by a few centimetres when pasted up.
The same sheet logic explains landscape 2-fogli posters (140 × 100 cm). Some distributors turned the sheet sideways for wide compositions, and dealers list them as "2 fogli orizzontale".
What each format was used for
Locandina (33 × 70 cm)
The small poster for cinema windows, lobbies and shops. It is the most collected Italian format because it is affordable, fits an ordinary frame and usually carries the same painted artwork as the large poster. Read the full guide to the locandina.
Fotobusta (lobby card)
A card with one or more scenes from the film, displayed in sets in the lobby. Early fotobuste are smaller; from about 1960 most are around 47 × 68 cm. See the fotobusta guide.
1 foglio (70 × 100 cm)
The one-sheet, often with the main artwork and the full credit block. Some dealers call it a soggettone; others reserve that word for one-sheets that show the artwork without stills, so check the measurements rather than the label.
2 fogli (100 × 140 cm)
The classic Italian movie poster and the format most associated with the great painters. It was pasted on street hoardings and inside cinemas, which is why few survive without folds or pin holes.
4 fogli (140 × 200 cm)
The billboard poster for major releases. Because of its size it is usually sold linen-backed, with the two halves joined by a conservator. Fewer were printed and fewer survive, so for important films it is the most valuable format.
How to measure an Italian poster
- Lay the poster flat on a clean table. Do not force folds open; weigh corners gently with clean books.
- Measure the paper, edge to edge, including any white margin. Measure both sides and both ends: hand-trimmed sheets are rarely square.
- Write the width first and the height second, in centimetres. That is how Italian dealers list posters.
- Compare with the chart above. A difference of 1–3 cm is normal; 5 cm or more on one side usually means trimming.
- Note how the poster is folded. Folds into eighths or sixteenths are typical of large posters sent out by distributors.
Common size traps: 50 × 70 cm and A2/A3 sizes are standard frame and print sizes, not Italian cinema formats. A "locandina" on one of them is almost certainly a modern print.
Frame sizes for Italian posters
Off-the-shelf frames rarely fit Italian formats exactly, which is one more reason framers recommend a mount. Typical solutions:
| Poster | Frame with mount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Locandina 33 × 70 | ≈ 45 × 85 cm | A 6 cm mount on each side; tall formats look best with a slightly deeper bottom margin |
| Fotobusta 47 × 68 | ≈ 60 × 80 cm | Landscape; a single card or a pair in one long frame |
| 1 foglio 70 × 100 | 70 × 100 cm frame, no mount, or ≈ 85 × 115 cm with mount | Standard European frame size |
| 2 fogli 100 × 140 | Custom frame | Usually linen-backed first; heavy, so use a sturdy frame and wall fixings |
| 4 fogli 140 × 200 | Custom frame or hung linen-backed | Too large for most glass; acrylic glazing is lighter |
For materials and conservation, read linen-backing, storage and framing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard size of an Italian locandina?
About 33 × 70 cm (13 × 28 in). Individual posters vary by a centimetre or two because they were trimmed by hand.
How big is a 2 fogli poster?
About 100 × 140 cm (39 × 55 in), usually printed as one piece and folded.
How big is a 4 fogli poster?
About 140 × 200 cm (55 × 79 in). It was normally printed in two pieces that overlap when mounted.
Is a 50 × 70 cm Italian movie poster original?
50 × 70 cm is not a standard Italian cinema format, so a film poster of that size is most likely a later print or a reproduction. Check the paper, printing and printer's credit.
What does 'foglio' mean on an Italian poster listing?
Foglio means sheet. 1 foglio is about 70 × 100 cm; 2 fogli and 4 fogli cover two and four times that area.
Keep reading
- What Is a Locandina? The Small Italian Film Poster ExplainedA locandina is the small 33 × 70 cm Italian film poster. Learn what the word means, how locandine were used, how to date one and what collectors look for.
- Fotobusta: A Guide to Italian Lobby CardsFotobusta (plural fotobuste): Italian lobby cards showing scenes from a film. Sizes before and after 1960, how sets work, hand-colouring and collector value.
- Is My Italian Movie Poster Original? How to Spot a ReproductionIs your Italian movie poster original or a reproduction? An 8-point checklist: size, paper, printing, folds, printer's credit, distributor and edition.
- Italian Movie Poster Glossary: 57 Terms in EnglishItalian movie poster glossary: locandina, fotobusta, foglio, riedizione, telato, bozzetto and 51 more Italian collecting terms explained in plain English.
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