Measuring Your Tank & Choosing a Background Size
How to Measure Your Aquarium for a Perfect Background Fit
Aquariums come in a wide variety of shapes, styles, and dimensions, which means tank sizes are not always standardized. Even aquariums with the same water capacity can have different measurements depending on the manufacturer and design.
To ensure your aquarium background fits perfectly without the need for trimming, we strongly recommend measuring the back glass panel of your tank before placing an order.
What to Measure:
- Length: The horizontal measurement across the back of the aquarium.
- Height: The vertical measurement from the top edge of the glass to the bottom edge of the glass.
The width (depth) of the aquarium is not required unless you plan to apply the background to one or both side panels in addition to the back.
Please note that the dimensions printed on the aquarium packaging or product label may not accurately reflect the visible glass area. For the best fit, measure the exposed glass surface only and exclude any plastic frames or rims around the tank.
You may provide measurements in either inches or centimeters. If using an imperial tape measure, each small mark typically represents 1/16 inch, the longer center mark represents 1/2 inch, and every fourth mark represents 1/4 inch.
Taking a few minutes to measure carefully will ensure a clean, professional-looking installation and the perfect fit for your aquarium background.
Measure the length of the glass with a tape measure. (Note: the tank in the photo is a “5.5 gallon”)
This “5.5 gallon” tank dimensions are listed on the label as 16”L x 10”H, but as you can see, the length is actually closer to 15 15/16”. You can also see that there’s another 1/16” of wiggle room, so getting the measurements within 1/8” is accurate enough!
Measure the height of the glass with a tape measure.
This 5.5 gallon tank dimensions are listed on the label as 16”L x 10”H, but as you can see, the height of the glass (without the rim) is actually closer to 8 13/16”.
You don’t need to worry about measuring with absolute precision. Aquarium backgrounds typically allow for a small tolerance of approximately 1/8" to 1/4" (depending on tank size) due to the way glass or acrylic panels overlap at the corners and are sealed together with silicone.
To make installation even easier, we print every background with an additional 1 cm (0.4") margin beyond your specified dimensions. This extra material provides more flexibility during application and helps ensure full coverage of the glass, allowing you to achieve a clean, professional-looking result with minimal effort.
Don't see your size listed?
We can create a custom background in virtually any size to fit your aquarium perfectly. Simply provide your exact measurements, and we'll print your selected design to your specifications.
For custom orders, please contact us at novastudio.support@gmail.com . Our team will be happy to assist you and ensure you get the perfect fit for your tank.
