When it comes to custom framing, Hobby Lobby and Michaels are two of the most well-known craft stores that offer this service. But which one is better for your framing needs and budget?
This comprehensive guide will compare the key factors like pricing, quality, turnaround time, and overall customer experience to help you decide where to get your photos, artwork, memorabilia, and more framed.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Comparison Factor | Hobby Lobby | Michaels |
| Pricing | Lower prices on average | Higher prices on average |
| Quality and Craftsmanship | Very good | Excellent |
| Selection of Frame/Mat Options | Very good selection | Excellent selection |
| Turnaround Time | 1-2 weeks standard | 1-3 weeks standard |
| Customer Service | Good | Very good |
| Satisfaction Guarantee | Limited guarantee | Excellent guarantee |
Keep reading for an in-depth look at how Hobby Lobby and Michaels for custom framing measure up in these key areas.
Pricing and Affordability Comparison of Hobby Lobby And Michaels Framing
One of the most important factors for most customers when choosing a custom framing service is the price and overall value.
Both Hobby Lobby and Michaels run frequent sales and have coupons available to help lower the cost of framing.
However, Michaels generally has higher regular prices across the board.
For basic custom framing of common sizes, you can expect to pay 40-60% more at Michaels compared to Hobby Lobby before any discounts or coupons are applied. For example, a 16”x20” simple black wood frame with acrylic glazing may cost around $100 at Hobby Lobby but $140 at Michaels.
The gap in regular pricing widens further as the size increases or you select upgrades like specialty mats, ornate molded frames, or museum glass.
However, Michaels often runs deeper percent-off discounts and dollar amount coupons than Hobby Lobby. When you factor in the coupons, the final price difference narrows but Michaels still remains the more expensive option overall in most cases.
The pricing advantage tends to favor Hobby Lobby even more for very large and custom cut framing jobs.
Both retailers have loyalty programs that provide discounts and rewards to frequent customers. Signing up for the mailing list at each store is also a good idea to receive notifications about the latest coupons and promotions. Be sure to compare the pre-discount prices first, then factor in any percent-off coupons, dollar amount coupons, and loyalty rewards when determining the true cost.
Quality of Materials and Craftsmanship Comparison
The quality of the framing materials and workmanship is crucial to getting a professional finished product that will last.
This includes aspects like precisely cut mats, perfectly joined frame corners, quality backing materials, neat finishing like glazing, and expert assembly.
Hobby Lobby and Michaels both offer very good quality framing overall using name brand moldings, archival mats and mounting boards, and premium glass and acrylic glazing options.
However, Michaels edges out Hobby Lobby when it comes to the fine details and perfection of the finished product.
Some key differences in quality:
- Precision of cuts: Michaels has an edge over Hobby Lobby when it comes to the laser-precision of mat cuts, including the openings for photos and artwork. Their cuts are extremely sharp, accurate, and perfectly aligned. Hobby Lobby’s mat cutting is very good but may have occasional slight deviations.
- Frame joinery: Frame corners pieced together flawlessly with tight seamless joins are a mark of expert craftsmanship. Michaels excels in this area over Hobby Lobby where corner joins, while neat, may have minor imperfections.
- Finishing details: From flawless glazing with no dust or bubbles to neat back sealing and hanging materials, Michaels offers more refinement in the small details that make a framing job look professionally done.
While Michaels offers excellent quality, Hobby Lobby’s custom framing craftsmanship is still very good. For more basic framing needs at a lower investment, you’ll get a satisfactory finished product and value at Hobby Lobby. Michaels is the better choice for museum-grade perfection.
Comparison of Selection of Frames, Mats, and More
Both stores have an extensive selection of frame and mat options to satisfy a wide range of styles and budgets. However, Michaels has the edge in terms of the sheer variety of inventory available.
Michaels offers over 1,000 molding styles along with 400 mat colors and styles that can be combined in endless ways. Hobby Lobby has a framing selection of around 700 moldings and over 100 mat options, which is excellent but not quite as vast as Michaels.
In addition to basic wood and metal frames in all colors, both retailers offer premium ornate options like carved frames, silver leaf finishes, distressed wood looks, and gilded gold looks. However, the selection skews more upscale overall at Michaels.
Hobby Lobby leans towards more budget-friendly traditional styles in its offerings, though still with nice choices at premium price points too.
For mats, Michaels excels in its vast array of specialty materials like silk, suede, distressed, metallic, and handmade paper. Both stores have an ample color palette for coordinating mats with any décor.
But Michaels pulls ahead with a wider spectrum of hues and textures to elevate your framing.
Michaels also offers a few more choices when it comes to glazing like acrylic, glass, and specialty options like museum glass.
Both retailers provide adequate selection to protect and showcase your framed piece.
But Michaels gives an edge for demanding customers who want the ultimate presentation.
No matter your taste or budget, both Hobby Lobby and Michaels will satisfy most framing needs. However, Michaels pulls ahead as the winner if you desire the utmost variety and unique high-end choices for a distinctive framed piece.
Custom Framing Turnaround Time Comparison
When using the in-store custom framing departments, the turnaround time can vary by season at both Hobby Lobby and Michaels. In general, you can expect a 1-2 week wait for basic custom framing orders at Hobby Lobby.
Michaels quotes a slightly longer timeline of 1-3 weeks on average.
Turnaround times tend to be a bit longer at both stores during the holidays when framing orders pile up.
Simple requests like a basic photo print framed in a ready-made molding tend to get finished quicker, in 4-5 days at both retailers.
Larger framing jobs or specialized items like shadowboxes take more time.
Rush orders for quicker turnaround are available at Michaels and Hobby Lobby for an upcharge, typically 25% over the normal custom framing price. Michaels promises completion within 2 days for rush service while Hobby Lobby rush orders take 5-7 days.
Michaels may have a slight advantage when it comes to fulfilling custom framing orders quicker thanks to its network of framing production facilities across the country. But overall, the turnaround time is comparable at both retailers for routine requests factoring in 1-2 weeks for basic jobs and a few days extra for large or specialty items.
Customer Service Experience
Getting your precious keepsakes custom framed requires trust in the retailer’s skills and care. The customer service you receive makes a big impact on the experience.
Both Hobby Lobby and Michaels have dedicated framing departments with knowledgeable staff trained to guide you through the process. However, Michaels pulls ahead in terms of the expertise and attention provided by its framing associates.
Staff receive extensive skills certification so they can educate customers, make recommendations, and deliver framing with precision.
Hobby Lobby’s framing team is capable but the assistance can be hit or miss depending on location. Associates divide their time between several crafting departments rather than specializing in framing full-time like at Michaels. The lack of expertise may necessitate you making more decisions on your own regarding technical framing specifications.
After ordering, Michaels also excels with proactive customer service follow-ups when framing orders run longer than estimated. They provide updates on the production status and new expected completion date. With Hobby Lobby, you need to call and check on delayed orders yourself.
For peace of mind that your cherished memorabilia will receive highly skilled handling from order to pickup, Michaels is the better choice. Their framing experts provide white glove service compared to the good but inconsistent customer assistance at Hobby Lobby.
Satisfaction Guarantee
For custom framing, a retailer’s guarantee policy provides important protection in case you’re unhappy with the end result.
This ensures you either get a redo at no cost or your money back.
Michaels has an excellent satisfaction guarantee for framing.
If any aspect of your custom order is unsatisfactory upon completion, they will remake it to your specifications for free. Hobby Lobby also provides a satisfaction guarantee but it is more limited in scope.
Their policy only covers redoing framing for defects in materials or craftsmanship. Aesthetic dislikes like wrong color or size errors on your part are not covered for free remakes, while Michaels will redo a frame even if you just changed your mind.
For true peace of mind, Michaels is the clear winner when it comes to their ironclad custom framing guarantee. Hobby Lobby’s protection is decent but less comprehensive for issues stemming from the design vs production flaws.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
No, Hobby Lobby offers very affordable pricing for custom framing compared to other retailers. Their regular prices are generally 40-60% less than Michaels for basic custom framing in common sizes. After frequent discounts and coupons are applied, Hobby Lobby becomes an even greater value making it a budget-friendly custom framing option.
Overall, Hobby Lobby is cheaper for custom framing services given its lower regular prices across the board compared to Michaels. Even after factoring in coupons and sales, Hobby Lobby’s final cost is lower in most cases for basic custom framing requests. The pricing advantage is even greater for oversized and specialty framing jobs.
The turnaround time for custom framing orders at Michaels is typically 1-3 weeks on average. Simpler requests like framing a standard photo in a ready-made molding may get done sooner in 4-5 days. Larger custom jobs tend to be on the longer end of the range. During holidays, turnaround times increase across the board at Michaels due to high demand.
Yes, professional custom framing is superior to buying a ready-made frame in terms of both quality and design. With custom framing, you can select specialized archival mats, premium frames, and glazing options tailored exactly to your item. This results in a high-quality framed piece made specifically for your needs, rather than settling for a generic mass-produced frame.
Wrapping Up
When you want to professionally frame special photos, memorabilia, artwork, and documents, both Hobby Lobby and Michaels are great retail options with in-store custom framing services. While Michaels offers superior quality, selection, and service, the costs are also higher.
For budget-friendly framing with very good quality, Hobby Lobby is an excellent value choice.
Evaluate your priorities in terms of budget, convenience, quality needs, and style preferences. For simpler projects with standard sizes where cost savings matter, Hobby Lobby is likely the best bet for satisfactory custom framing.
If intricately crafted perfection is crucial for your valuable keepsakes or unusual framing needs, Michaels higher level of quality and options makes the higher prices worthwhile.
Whichever retailer you choose for flawlessly framing your cherished items, the result will be a custom-crafted heirloom you can proudly display. With the information in this guide comparing Hobby Lobby and Michaels, you can determine the best store to fit your framing needs and budget.
