girl holding texas a&m diploma frame

Showcasing your diploma is a great way to put your school pride on display. It reminds customers and clients that you have the credentials to back up your expertise. A diploma holder can safely preserve what will certainly become a treasured family heirloom.

You finally received your long-awaited university diploma. Don’t keep this achievement in a drawer or in its original tube. The tube or folder that you may use for storage is likely not acid-free. An acidic holder will contribute to damage over time.

Your diploma is one of the most expensive and valuable credentials you will ever earn. And, it’s never too soon to put this “personal marketing tool” to work in your home or office.

When framing a diploma, only one of the three primary choices is recommended. The ideal way to preserve your document is custom framing it in the very best diploma frame. We know the thought of framing a diploma can be daunting.

However, the framing experts at Church Hill Classics make it easy. Read on for some of our favorite diploma framing ideas and tips for how to frame a diploma like a professional.

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1.) Custom University Frames

This option is highly recommended, because quality custom framing is completely reversible. That means that you can remove the high school or college document at a later date without damaging it. This approach affords some unique advantages:

Advantages of Custom Framing

  • Easy to change the style or colors, should the need arise. Art printing and framing styles change over time. If you redecorate or relocate, your original mat colors may not mesh with your new decor. In that case, you can easily switch them out with new standard, linen, or suede mats in new colors.
  • Safe removal of your diploma to be reproduced, if necessary. Should you need to take a photocopy of your diploma, you can easily remove the degree from its frame. Once you’ve made a copy, putting your diploma back inside and hanging your diploma is easy.
  • Document is safely “isolated” away from the glass to greatly reduce the risk of humidity damage. Housed behind quality matting in a custom frame, your diploma will not come in direct contact with the glass. Make sure, however, that you select UV protection to prevent your diploma from yellowing and cracking over time.

Framing your degree in a custom frame will protect and showcase your priceless document.


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2.) Using a Plaque for Your Diploma

The least expensive option (which is not recommended) is to affix a degree onto a plaque instead of choosing a frame. With the plaque, the diploma is showcased on a wooden board with an acrylic sheet over the document for protection. Some styles do allow you to easily slip in the document behind the acrylic. However, others use four brads that may require poking holes in the document.

Obviously, the latter is not acceptable for a diploma. The “slip-in” plaque style is not ideal because the document is in direct contact with the acrylic. If moisture builds up or if exposed to high humidity, the document can stick to the acrylic and tear upon removal. In some cases, this lack of “breathing room” for the document can contribute to staining or even mold and mildew growth.

Should you frame your degree with this method? It may be a good temporary solution as you wait for your custom frame to arrive. But it’s not recommended for long-term storage for the above mentioned reasons. Graduating from college is a major milestone, and the piece of paper is priceless.

museum-quality frames next to cheap frame with yellow diploma

3.) Permanent Lamination

You may want to laminate your diploma to a cherry or mahogany wood board, but you can never remove it. Because your diploma is permanently encased, you can never change or update its look. Over time, the low-quality plastic and glue involved in the lamination process will break down. The lamination will turn cloudy and eat away at your document.

If your diploma has a gold seal or Cum Laude honors sticker, it will be destroyed. Lamination completely flattens the embossed wording on the seal so that you can no longer read the honors inscription. Why would you take a chance with one of the most valuable documents you’ll ever own?

This is not how to frame a diploma correctly. It may seem easy and aesthetically pleasing at first, but will yellow and destroy your precious degree in the long run.

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Tips for Selecting the Best Diploma Frame

When it comes time to choose a diploma frame and actually framing your degree, these tips can help:

  • Your diploma should never be dry mounted, spray mounted, or otherwise permanently adhered to a board for framing.
  • It should be hung within a mat opening. Use archival tape at top of mat or hinged to a backing board using archival mounting corners. The document must have room to expand and contract with changing temperatures. Even a slight “wobble” in the document is preferable to permanently pressing it flat and causing damage.
  • Your diploma should be custom-framed using a high-quality mat. The mat both showcases the document and keeps it away from the glass.
  • Matting and backing materials should be acid-free and designed for document preservation. This will be indicated in the documentation for the frame or on the mat board samples and specification sheets. Depending on the size of your document, the at for certificate frames should typically be 2.25″ to 3″ wide.
  • You’ll want to choose an attractive frame that coordinates with your home or office environment. For a custom frame, check out the many modern diploma styles and options that Church Hill Classics has to offer. Plus, with an amazing 120-day return policy, you can shop with confidence.
  • Select a custom frame with UV protective glass. Then choose a location for your diploma that is out of direct sunlight.

If you’re a soon-to-be college graduate, now’s the time to start thinking about preserving your diploma. You want to maximize its career-building value. It’s never too late to give your diploma the respect it deserves.

For parents, a custom frame for your degree is the ideal graduation gift. What better tribute to your child’s many years of hard work and dedication? Many wonder, should I frame my degree certificates in custom frames, and the answer is clear. Custom framing is the best and only option.

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Our Custom Diploma Frames

We don’t sell pre-assembled products at Church Hill Classics. Each frame is designed and built according to our customers’ specifications by a team of skilled artisans and framing experts.

Our frame is the safest and best option for showcasing your diploma. Especially when it comes to protecting, preserving, and displaying this truly priceless document you worked so hard to earn. Here’s why:

  • Our diploma frames are handcrafted and custom-made in the USA
  • Use matting, backing, and mounting materials that meet Library of Congress’ rigid standards for archival document preservation
  • Are available in a variety of frame styles and frame mouldings
  • Feature the officially licensed school names, seals, logos, and wordmarks of thousands of universities and colleges

We can help you display diploma, award, and picture frames. We have all of the user-friendly, online tools to design and coordinate frames to suit your personal style and decor. This way you can visualize every possible combination before you buy! If you need help, our customer service specialists can answer any framing, shipping, or ordering questions you may have.

With 30+ years in business, we know how to frame a diploma. Our custom frames come with everything you need for easy and secure installation. Frame your diploma in no time with precision. Never let the thought of how to frame a degree intimidate you again.

Lucie Voves

Lucie Voves

Lucie Voves is the Founder and CEO of Church Hill Classics/diplomaframe.com, a certified woman-owned business and 12-time Inc. 5000 Award Honoree.

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