So you’ve got a photo worth blowing up, a wedding shot, a storefront banner, a piece of art for the office wall, and you need it printed bigger than any home printer or drugstore kiosk can manage. Searching for large format printing photos in Canada throws up dozens of options, and most sites bury their pricing until you’ve already handed over your file. That’s frustrating when you just want to know what a 24×36 enlargement costs and how long it takes to arrive.
This guide answers that directly. We’ve compared five Canadian providers on size ranges, turnaround times, paper and finish choices, and actual pricing, not vague "contact us for a quote" pages. Whether you need photo printing large format for a single framed piece or a batch of custom size posters for an event, you’ll see exactly who handles what best.
As a Canadian print shop ourselves, we know the questions that matter: colour accuracy, material durability, and whether a company will actually answer the phone if something goes wrong. Read on for straightforward comparisons that make large format photo printing decisions easier, wherever in Canada you’re ordering from.
1. Apex Workwear
Apex Workwear runs its large format printing out of a Canadian production facility, which means your poster, banner, or photo enlargement doesn’t cross a border before it reaches you. Being a print shop first and a workwear supplier second, the team handles colour-accurate reproduction on the same equipment used for storefront signage and trade show graphics, so a family portrait gets the same attention as a client’s banner.
What it offers
Orders go through a free quote within 24 hours, seven days a week, and every job gets a digital proof before printing starts. You can choose from photo paper, canvas, foam board, coroplast, or aluminum, depending on whether the print is going on a wall, an easel, or outdoors, and each of those large format printing materials behaves differently once it’s up. Basic layout adjustments and cropping come at no extra cost, which matters if your photo file isn’t quite set up for large format output at the size you want.
A print you can proof before it’s made beats a print you have to hope turned out right.
Sizes and pricing
| Size | Typical Use | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 18×24 | Framed prints, small posters | $25 |
| 24×36 | Wall art, event posters | $45 |
| 36×48 | Storefront displays, banners | $85 |
| Custom oversized | Trade shows, signage | Quote-based |
Bulk printing rates kick in for multiple copies, and there’s no minimum order on most sizes, so a single enlargement costs the same per-unit rate as it would in a batch.
Best for
Canadians who want fast turnaround (most jobs ship in 5-7 business days, rush available) without sacrificing print quality, and anyone comparing same-day printing options in Toronto who qualifies for free local shipping in the GTA. Visit the large format printing page to get a same-day quote on your photo file.
2. Posterjack
Posterjack has built its name specifically around photo printing large format work, focusing almost entirely on canvas prints, metal prints, and acrylic mounts rather than the broader signage catalogue you’d find at a general print shop.
What it offers
Their online tool lets you upload a photo, preview it on a mockup wall, and pick from canvas, metal, or acrylic finishes before checkout. Framing options and float mounts cost extra, and the upload tool walks you through cropping so nothing gets cut off awkwardly.
A preview tool only helps if it shows exactly what you’ll receive, not a rough approximation.
Sizes and pricing
| Size | Material | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 8×10 | Canvas | $30 |
| 16×20 | Canvas | $65 |
| 24×36 | Metal | $150 |
Prices climb quickly once you move to metal or acrylic, and there’s no bulk discount structure built for single consumers ordering just one piece.
Best for
Homeowners and gift buyers wanting a single polished piece, like a canvas print of a wedding photo, rather than businesses needing repeat signage runs or fast turnaround on multiple items.
3. Shutterfly Canada
Shutterfly Canada is best known for photo books and gifts, but its large format printing options extend to wall art and posters aimed squarely at home decorating rather than commercial signage. It’s a consumer-facing platform, so the whole ordering flow assumes you’re printing personal memories rather than sourcing a batch of trade show graphics.
What it offers
The site offers poster prints, canvas wraps, and wood wall art, all built through an easy upload-and-crop editor. You won’t find aluminum or coroplast here, and there’s no design team reviewing your file for print readiness, so what you upload is largely what you get.
A consumer photo site works well right up until you need something a home printer couldn’t already handle.
Sizes and pricing
| Size | Material | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 8×10 | Poster | $10 |
| 16×20 | Canvas | $50 |
| 20×30 | Poster | $25 |
Frequent site-wide sales change these prices often, so check the cart total before assuming the listed price holds.
Best for
Casual buyers wanting an affordable enlargement or gift print, not businesses needing durable outdoor materials or fast bulk turnaround.
4. Black’s Photo
Black’s Photo has been a fixture in Canadian shopping malls for decades, and that photo lab heritage still shapes how it handles large format printing photo orders today. Unlike the pure online uploaders, Black’s lets you order digitally and then pick up in-store, which suits anyone who wants to check colour on a real print before committing to a bigger size.
What it offers
Stores print posters, canvas prints, and framed enlargements, with staff on hand to review your file if the resolution looks borderline. Same-day pickup is available on standard poster sizes at many locations, though canvas and framing jobs take longer since they’re sent to a central lab.
In-store pickup only pays off if the location near you actually stocks the finish you want.
Sizes and pricing
| Size | Material | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 8×10 | Poster | $8 |
| 16×20 | Canvas | $55 |
| 24×36 | Poster | $35 |
Pricing varies by franchise location, so confirm the total before ordering online for pickup.
Best for
Buyers who want a physical store to visit for questions or returns, and who value same-day pickup over shipped delivery.
5. Staples Copy and Print
Staples runs print counters inside its office supply stores across Canada, which makes large format printing photos a convenient add-on if you’re already picking up ink or a desk chair. It’s not a photo specialist, so don’t expect the finish options or design guidance you’d get from a dedicated print shop, but the sheer number of locations makes it accessible almost anywhere.
What it offers
Counters print posters, foam board mounts, and vinyl banners, mostly aimed at office presentations and classroom projects rather than fine art reproduction. Staff can help with basic file checks, though colour matching isn’t guaranteed the way it is at a lab built specifically for photography.
Convenience wins when you need a poster by tomorrow, not necessarily the best colour match.
Sizes and pricing
| Size | Material | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 18×24 | Poster | $20 |
| 24×36 | Poster | $40 |
| 36×48 | Foam board | $70 |
Prices are consistent nationwide, though rush fees apply for same-day orders at busier locations.
Best for
Anyone needing a quick poster or presentation board near closing time, rather than a carefully colour-managed enlargement for framing or display.
Finding the right print partner for your photos
Each provider on this list solves a different problem. Shutterfly and Posterjack suit a single gift print, Black’s and Staples work when you need something fast and nearby, and none of them are wrong choices for those specific jobs. But if you want large format printing photos that hold up outdoors, need multiple copies at consistent quality, or just want a real person to check your file before it goes to press, that’s a different requirement altogether.
Apex Workwear covers that gap: proofed files, Canadian production, no minimum order, and material choices that stretch from canvas to aluminum. That flexibility matters once you’re printing for a business rather than a living room wall. If your next project needs that kind of reliability, browse the large format print products from Apex Workwear, get a free quote, and see your file proofed before it prints.
