Add a border to an image in seconds
This free tool lets you add a border to an image without opening a photo editor. Pick a solid, double, dashed or inner line, set its width in pixels or as a percentage, add an inner mat (passe-partout) in a second colour, or switch the border to a two-colour gradient. One-tap presets give you a simple dark frame, a Polaroid-style print with a deep bottom edge for a caption, a gallery mat, a double line, a dashed “coupon” edge and a thin inner line.
The preview updates as you type and sits on a checkerboard, so you can see exactly which areas are transparent. Add a single picture or a whole folder: every image gets the same frame in proportion to its own size, and the batch downloads as one ZIP file. Your photos are processed by your browser and are never uploaded.
How to add a border to a photo
- Drop one or more images onto the upload area, click it to choose files, or paste a screenshot with Ctrl+V.
- Tap a preset such as Polaroid or Gallery mat, or choose a border style yourself: Solid, Double, Dashed or Inner.
- Set the Border width and Padding (mat), choosing % (of the image’s shorter side) or px for each.
- Pick the border colour, or choose Gradient and set two colours and an angle. For Polaroid-style frames, add extra bottom space and an optional caption.
- Choose PNG, WebP or JPG and press Download. With several images the button saves them all as a ZIP.
Image Border features
Four border styles
Solid frames, double lines with a gap, dashed edges with dashes fitted neatly into every corner, and inner lines drawn on top of the photo without changing its size.
Mat and passe-partout
Add padding between the photo and the frame in its own colour — or make it transparent for PNG output — for a framed-print look.
Colour or gradient
Any solid colour, or a two-colour linear gradient at any angle from 0° to 360°.
Polaroid frame with caption
Extra bottom space and a handwritten-style caption turn any picture into an instant-print keepsake.
Proportional batch frames
Percent widths follow each image’s shorter side, so portrait and landscape photos in one batch get matching borders.
Transparent PNG, WebP or JPG
Keep transparent gaps and cut-outs as PNG or WebP, or flatten onto any background colour as JPG.
Border styles at a glance
| Style | What you get | Works well for |
|---|---|---|
| Solid | An even band of colour around the photo; padding adds a mat inside it | Instagram white borders, framed prints, product shots |
| Double | Two thin lines, each one third of the border width, with a gap between them | Certificates, vintage cards, invitations |
| Dashed | A dashed band; dash length adjusts so each corner starts with a dash | Coupons, stickers, “cut here” graphics |
| Inner | A line drawn inside the picture, inset from the edge; the size stays the same | Thumbnails and banners that must keep exact dimensions |
Pixels or percent — which should you use?
A percentage is measured against the image’s shorter side. A 4% border on a 4000 × 3000 photo is 120 px wide; on a 1080 × 1080 post it is about 43 px. Both look the same once the pictures are shown at the same size, which is why percent is the default and the best choice for batches.
Pixels are exact. Use them when a platform or print shop asks for a specific frame, or when every output must grow by the same amount. The canvas grows by twice the border plus twice the padding in each direction: a 1000 × 800 photo with a 20 px border and 10 px padding becomes 1060 × 860 px. The inner style never changes the size, which makes it handy when an image must stay exactly 1280 × 720.
Tips for frames that look right
- Square posts with white edges: crop to 1:1 first with Crop Image, then use a solid white 4–6% border so phone screens don’t swallow the edge of the photo.
- Bottom-weighted mats: picture framers often make the lower margin of a mat a little deeper than the top and sides. Use the Gallery mat preset and add 2–4% extra bottom space for the same effect.
- Match the frame to the photo: pick a colour from the picture itself with Color Picker from Image for a frame that feels intentional.
- Want softer corners or depth? Run the result through Rounded Corners or Image Shadow — the transparent PNG output keeps every effect clean.
Image Border FAQ
How do I add a border to an image for free?
Drop the image on this page, choose a style or preset, set the width and colour, and press Download. The image border tool is free, needs no account and adds no watermark.
How do I add a white border for Instagram?
Choose Solid, set the colour to white and use a width of about 4–6%. If the photo isn’t square yet, crop it to 1:1 or 4:5 first so the border is even on every side after posting.
Can I make a Polaroid-style frame?
Yes. Tap the Polaroid preset for an off-white frame with narrow sides and a deep bottom edge, then type a caption. A real Polaroid print measures about 88 × 107 mm around a 79 × 79 mm picture, so square photos look most authentic.
Will adding a border reduce the photo’s quality?
No. The photo is drawn at its original resolution and the border is added around it. Only JPG output applies normal JPG compression; choose PNG for a lossless file.
Can I add borders to many photos at once?
Yes. Add as many images as you like; each gets the same frame relative to its own size, and Download saves them together as a ZIP. Tap any file in the list to preview it.
Can the border be transparent?
The mat and the gaps in double and dashed borders can be transparent when you save as PNG or WebP. JPG has no transparency, so those areas are filled with the background colour you choose.
Are my images uploaded?
No. The border is drawn on a canvas inside your browser and the finished file is saved straight to your device.