Yes, Framebridge is worth it for anyone looking for high-quality, convenient custom framing without the high cost and hassle of a traditional frame shop. Their service strikes an excellent balance between craftsmanship and affordability, offering a polished, professional result that consistently outperforms its price point.
The company combines solid materials and U.S.-based manufacturing with a seamless online ordering process, making it one of the best value options on the market. While not true museum-grade, it's a significant step up from off-the-shelf frames. Here's what you need to know before you buy.
How Is Framebridge's Quality?
Framebridge's quality is consistently good, positioning them in the mid-to-high end of the consumer market. They focus on quality materials and detailed craftsmanship, resulting in frames that look and feel premium. Here’s a breakdown:
- Frame Materials: Their selection includes solid woods like alder, maple, and walnut, which are durable and resist warping. They also offer more budget-friendly options made from MDF (medium-density fiberboard) with durable veneers, as well as sleek metal frames.
- Construction & Craftsmanship: Frames feature precise miter joints that are reinforced for strength, creating clean, seamless corners. Frames are handcrafted in U.S. facilities (Virginia and North Carolina), which allows for reliable quality control.
- Protective Glazing & Matting: All frames come with your choice of standard acrylic or UV-protective acrylic, which is crucial for preventing photo and art fading over time. They use acid-free mats to ensure your artwork is preserved and not discolored by damaging materials.
- Common Complaints: While overwhelmingly positive, a small percentage of reviews mention minor issues like scuffs on painted finishes upon arrival or the potential for MDF frames to warp in very high-humidity environments like bathrooms. However, breakage and hardware failure are rare.
Is Framebridge Good Value for the Price?
Framebridge offers excellent value for what you get, delivering a custom, professionally finished product at a price that is often 30-50% less than a traditional brick-and-mortar framing shop.
Price Positioning
Framebridge occupies a sweet spot between cheap, mass-produced frames and expensive professional framers. You can expect to pay between $40-$100 for small pieces (8x10), $100-$200 for medium art (16x20), and $200-$400+ for large prints (24x36). For comparison, a similar large custom frame at a local shop could easily cost $500-$600 or more.
What You're Paying For
The price reflects not just the frame but the entire service. This includes the custom sizing, professional design consultation (if needed), acid-free matting, UV-protective glazing, secure mounting of your art, and all necessary hanging hardware. You're paying for a convenient, all-in-one solution that takes the guesswork out of framing.
Where You Get Good Value
- Standard Photos & Art Prints: This is their bread and butter. Turning a digital photo or an art print into a beautifully framed piece offers incredible value.
- Gallery Walls: Ordering multiple frames in consistent styles and sizes is much easier and more affordable than trying to source them individually from a local shop.
- Large-Format Pieces: Framing anything over 16x20 traditionally gets very expensive. Framebridge makes large-scale custom framing accessible and cost-effective.
Where You Don't Get Good Value
- Basic Snapshots or Posters: If you just need a simple frame for a small photo and aren't concerned with archival quality, a ready-made frame from IKEA or Target will be much cheaper.
- Priceless Heirlooms: For extremely valuable or delicate artwork that requires specialized museum-grade archival techniques, it's still best to consult an in-person conservation framing specialist.
- Humid Spaces: Using one of their MDF-based frames in a bathroom without proper ventilation may lead to warping over time, diminishing the long-term value.
Framebridge Quality by Category
Quality and durability can vary slightly based on the frame material you select. Here's how their main categories stack up:
Solid Wood Frames
This is where Framebridge shines. Frames made from hardwoods like maple, ash, or walnut offer the best durability, a premium feel, and timeless style. They resist warping and feel substantial. For important personal photos or fine art prints, these frames are a worthwhile investment. Verdict: The best option for quality and longevity.
Metal Frames
Framebridge offers a great selection of clean-lined aluminum frames in various finishes like gold, silver, and black. These are highly durable, won't warp, and provide a sleek, modern aesthetic that is perfect for contemporary art and photography. Verdict: Excellent choice for durability and a minimalist look.
MDF & Engineered Wood Frames
Many of their painted or C-style frames are made from MDF with high-quality veneers. While less robust than solid wood, they are structurally sound for typical indoor environments and allow for a wide range of colors and finishes. Keep them out of high-humidity areas like bathrooms. Verdict: A great budget-friendly choice for decor in stable environments.
Mail-In Service vs. Digital Uploads
Both service options deliver excellent results. With the mail-in service, your art is handled professionally and mounted with care. For digital uploads, they use archival-quality printing processes that produce crisp, vibrant results. Verdict: Both are reliable and produce a high-quality finished product.
Our Verdict: Is Framebridge Worth It?
Framebridge is absolutely worth it for the vast majority of consumer framing needs. It successfully bridges the gap between low-quality, generic frames and expensive brick-and-mortar services, making professional-looking custom framing accessible to everyone. The convenience, combined with solid quality and transparent pricing, makes it a top choice.
Quality Grade: B+
Framebridge earns a B+ for its strong focus on craftsmanship and quality materials like solid wood and UV-protective acrylic. The U.S.-based assembly ensures reliable quality control. The grade isn't an A because their dependence on MDF for some styles means not every frame has the same heirloom-quality durability, and minor finish inconsistencies can occasionally be an issue.
Value Grade: A-
The company receives an A- for value. The ability to get a custom frame with acid-free matting and UV glazing for under $200 is a game-changer compared to traditional shops that charge double or triple that amount. The simplicity of their online process saves customers time and money, making it a stellar investment for protecting and displaying meaningful art.
More Quality Brands Like Framebridge
If you appreciate Framebridge's direct-to-consumer model and focus on quality, here are some other excellent framing services to consider:
Simply Framed
Simply Framed operates on a very similar model, offering mail-in and print-and-frame services with a focus on museum-quality materials and craftsmanship. They are often considered a direct competitor, with a slightly more premium price point and a curated selection of high-end wood and acrylic frames.
Shop now at simplyframed.com
Level Frames
Level Frames pride themselves on custom framing absolutely anything, from standard prints to jerseys and vinyl records. They use archival, USA-made materials and an intuitive online interface to help you visualize your project, making them a great choice for non-standard items.
Shop now at levelframes.com
Artifact Uprising
While known primarily for photo books, Artifact Uprising offers a range of high-quality printing and framing services. Their aesthetic is minimalist and modern, focusing on solid wood frames and gallery-style presentations, making them perfect for creating cohesive photo displays with a designer touch.
Shop now at artifactuprising.com
Minted
Minted is a marketplace for independent artists, but they also offer high-quality framing for the prints they sell. With a huge variety of art and frame styles to choose from, they are an excellent all-in-one destination if you are buying new art and want it to arrive framed and ready to hang.
Shop now at minted.com/art
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Framebridge take?
Turnaround times are typically quite fast. Once they receive your art (or you approve your digital proof), the custom framing process usually takes 2-5 business days. Factoring in shipping, you can generally expect to receive your finished piece within 1-2 weeks.
Are Framebridge frames real wood?
Framebridge offers a wide variety of both solid wood and MDF (engineered wood) frames. Their premium options feature real hardwoods like maple, ash, walnut, and cherry. Their more colorful and decorative styles are often made from MDF with durable finishes, so it's best to check the material description for the specific frame you're interested in.
Can you frame your own art with Framebridge?
Yes, that is Framebridge's specialty. You can either upload a digital photo for them to print and frame, or you can mail them your physical art or photo using their prepaid, secure packaging. They will professionally mount and frame your piece and ship it back to you ready to hang.
Is Framebridge cheaper than a local framer like Michael's?
For custom framing, Framebridge is almost always cheaper than large craft stores like Michael's or independent local framers. While a store like Michael's might have better introductory "50% off" sales, their base prices for custom work are often significantly higher, so Framebridge's transparent, all-in pricing usually provides better overall value.
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