Photo border guide
How to add a white border to a photo without cropping
Use an outside border when every source pixel must remain visible. Use a target canvas when the finished file also needs a specific shape, such as square or 4:5.
Last updated: July 13, 2026
Three ways to make a border
| Method | What happens to the photo | Output size | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside border | The photo stays untouched | Gets larger | A true frame with no crop |
| Inside border | The border covers edge pixels | Stays the same | A thin stroke when dimensions cannot change |
| Target canvas | The photo sits on a larger canvas | Matches the chosen width and height | Square, 4:5, or uneven whitespace |
Start with the final use, not the slider
A border can be decorative, but it can also solve a layout problem. A landscape photo on a square canvas needs more space above and below than at the sides. An equal 40 px frame will look balanced, but it will not make the file square.
That is the point of Target Canvas. Choose the finished dimensions or ratio, then place the photo in the center—or move it toward an edge if the empty space has a job, such as holding a caption later. Pixlery adds space; it does not stretch the source to fill it.
If you only want a narrow keyline and must preserve the current dimensions, use Inside. Check faces, logos, and text near the edge first, because those pixels will be painted over.
Open the full-resolution photo
Avoid starting from a screenshot or a copy that has already been saved several times. Add it to the border tool and check the displayed dimensions.
Add Border to ImageChoose Outside or Target Canvas
Outside is the safest default for a visible frame. Target Canvas is better when the finished ratio matters as much as the border.
Set the thickness deliberately
Pixels give repeatable dimensions. Percentage is useful across a mixed batch; base it on the short edge when you want portrait and landscape borders to feel similar.
Inspect the new output size
The preview reports the finished dimensions. Check them before export, especially when a website or social platform has an upload limit.
Export one clean copy
Keep the original. Download the bordered result in a format that suits the image: JPEG or WebP for most photos, PNG when transparency is required.
Small choices that change the result
White is not always neutral
A warm off-white can sit more naturally beside film scans; pure #ffffff is easier to match with white web layouts.
Uneven space can be intentional
A larger bottom edge can resemble a print margin or leave room for a caption. Use custom edges or a bottom anchor instead of faking it with a crop.
Transparent borders need PNG or WebP
JPEG cannot store transparency. If JPEG is selected, use a solid background color rather than expecting a clear canvas.
Before downloading
- No important edge detail is covered by an inside border
- The finished width, height, and ratio match the destination
- All files in a batch use the intended pixel or percentage rule
- The chosen format supports the background you selected
- The original photo remains unchanged
How do I add a white border without cropping?
Choose Outside Border. The canvas grows by the amount added to each edge, while the original photo remains fully visible.
How do I make a portrait photo square without cutting it?
Choose Target Canvas and select 1:1. The tool adds the missing space around the photo instead of filling the square by cropping.
Does a border reduce image quality?
The border operation does not need to resize the source, but exporting creates a newly encoded file. Keep the original and avoid repeatedly editing the exported JPEG.
Can I add the same border to several photos?
Yes. Use pixels for identical edge widths or percentage for a border that scales with each image. Review portrait and landscape results before downloading the batch.
Use Pixlery tools
Add image borders
Add outside padding, an inside stroke, or a target canvas to JPG, PNG, and WebP images without cropping the original.
Open tool17Export social images
Prepare one image for multiple social platforms with independent framing, source-checked presets, and ZIP export.
Open tool02Resize images
Resize images by pixels or percentage while preserving aspect ratio and transparency.
Open tool