Box Frame vs Shadow Box: What's the Difference?

A box frame and a shadow box are the same thing: a deep, glazed frame that displays a three-dimensional object with space around it, so the item sits inside the frame rather than pressed flat against the glass. Shadow box is the more common term in the US, while box frame is standard here in the UK.

If you have been comparing the two while planning a framing project, the good news is that you are not choosing between two different products. You are choosing one type of frame, and the decisions that actually matter are depth, glazing, mounting and finish. This guide covers each of those, what they cost, and where the two names came from.

Two names, one frame

At our Bollington workshop we take enquiries using both terms every week, along with display frame, display case and deep frame. They all describe the same construction: a timber or metal frame built deeper than a standard picture frame, with the glazing held away from the object by spacers. Whether the brief is a single war medal or a full wedding dress, the frame that does the job is the same one, scaled and specified differently.

The split is largely geographic. American framers and craft retailers say shadow box, and the term has travelled over here through tutorials and Pinterest boards. British framers have always called it a box frame. Search for either and you will find the same things inside: sports shirts, medals, bouquets, christening gowns, vinyl records and keepsakes.

What people usually mean by a shadow box

In practice, someone searching for a shadow box usually has an object in front of them and a depth problem. As a rough guide from projects through our workshop:

• A folded football shirt needs around 35mm to 50mm of internal depth

• A war medal group sits comfortably in around 30mm

• Baby shoes need around 40mm to 50mm

• A dried bouquet can need anything from 25mm to 60mm or more, depending on how it is arranged

If you are still deciding how to display the object itself, our guide to shadow box frame ideas walks through the most common projects, from memorabilia and signed shirts to wedding keepsakes.

How a box frame is built

Every box frame we make starts as raw timber rather than a pre-made moulding. The profile is machined to suit the object, because even a 5mm difference in depth changes how a piece sits behind the glass. Corners are spline joined, with sections of wood set into grooves across the joint. It is stronger than glue alone, and the spline can be picked out in a contrasting timber as a detail.

Inside the frame, paper-wrapped spacers hold the glazing away from the object, and mounts are cut on a Swiss-made, computer-guided mount cutter for clean apertures. Mounting is fully reversible: Japanese museum tags, conservation stitching and custom support structures, with no glue, no staples and no nails touching the object. Most frames are solid Tulipwood, which takes sprayed finishes, stains and gilding well. For very large or heavy pieces we switch to welded aluminium, which stays rigid at size while keeping a slim front face.

Choosing the right depth

Box frames run from a shallow 30mm profile through to 150mm or more, and there is no fixed limit. The rule is simple: the internal depth must be greater than the height of the object, with allowance for the glazing, mount board and any sub-frame. Some clients also choose a deeper case than the object strictly needs, purely for effect. A small item floating in a deep frame reads as a gallery piece.

Glazing options

Glazing is glass or acrylic, in thicknesses from 2mm to 6mm, with thicker sheets recommended as frames get larger. There are three grades: standard, anti-reflective and museum grade, with UV protection ranging from around 50% up to 99.9% for irreplaceable pieces. For large box frames we usually recommend acrylic, which is a fraction of the weight of glass at the same size.

How much does a shadow box frame cost?

Bespoke box framing starts from around £350, whichever name you use for it. Size, depth, glazing grade and finish set the price from there. A single medal in a small case sits at the starting point, while a large acrylic case for a full collection is a bigger build. Most projects are completed in two to four weeks.

For a fuller breakdown of what drives framing prices, see our guide to how much custom framing costs.

Harten has been framing since 1974, and our shadow box frames are made to order in our Cheshire workshop with a 5 year guarantee. If you have an object in mind, send us a photo and its rough measurements and we will design the frame around it.