Picture frame bingo pattern

The picture frame pattern needs 16 called squares. A single card completes it after about 71.5 of the 75 calls on average; with 30 cards in play the first winner usually comes around call 61.

Picture Frame Bingo
B	I	N	G	O
5	30	38	46	74
11	25	43	58	66
6	19	FREE	49	75
2	18	36	60	67
3	21	40	53	72

Card 1 of 30

Shaded squares: the picture frame pattern.

Play for picture frame: 16 called squares.

Card title

Cards

Grid

Free: up to 30 different cards per set. Pro: up to 1,000.

Free center space (odd grids)

Paper (PDF and print)

Updated October 23, 2026

Picture frame pattern: 16 of 25 squares shaded, 16 to call

What the picture frame pattern looks like

Every square on the outside edge of the card: the top and bottom rows and the B and O columns. That is 16 squares, and the free space plays no part.

Column by column, picture frame needs 5 B, 2 I, 2 N, 2 G and 5 O squares, so B and O calls (1-15 and 61-75) help most.

Also called "outside edges", "border", "big frame" or "outer square".

Squares to cover for picture frame

Squares are named by column letter and row (B1 is the top-left corner, O5 the bottom-right).

B1, I1, N1, G1, O1, B2, O2, B3, O3, B4, O4, B5, I5, N5, G5, O5

Picture frame in numbers

Squares in the pattern	16 of 25
Numbers that must be called	16 (the free space does not help)
Ways to make it on one card	1
Called squares per column	B 5 · I 2 · N 2 · G 2 · O 5
Expected calls, one card	71.5 of 75
Chance one card has it by call 40	under 0.1%
Rank by speed	57 of 70 patterns (1 = fastest)

Chance of picture frame by each call

Exact probability that one 75-ball card has completed picture frame after a given number of calls (hypergeometric).

By call	One card	Formula
20	under 0.1%	(20/75) × … × (5/60)
30	under 0.1%	(30/75) × … × (15/60)
40	under 0.1%	(40/75) × … × (25/60)
50	under 0.1%	(50/75) × … × (35/60)
60	2%	(60/75) × … × (45/60)

How many calls until someone wins picture frame

300 simulated games per row on 75-ball cards with a free center, the winner being the first card to complete picture frame.

Cards in play	Median calls	8 games in 10 end between	Share of the 75 numbers
10 cards	66	calls 59 and 69	88%
30 cards	61	calls 54 and 66	81%
100 cards	58	calls 52 and 62	77%

Picture frame compared with similar patterns

Patterns just faster and just slower than picture frame, by expected calls for one card.

Pattern	Called squares	Expected calls (1 card)	First winner, 30 cards
Layer cake	14	70.9	59
Heart	15	71.2	60
Picture frame (this page)	16	71.5	61
Tic-tac-toe	16	71.5	61
Hourglass	16	71.5	61

How to call a picture frame game

Show the pattern

Hold up or project the picture frame diagram before the first call and say how many squares count: 16.
Call at a steady pace

With 30 cards expect the first winner near call 61 (8 games in 10 between 54 and 66); with 100 cards near call 58.
Check the winning card

Read back each of the 16 numbers in the pattern from the caller sheet.
Tip for this pattern

A long game on a small grid; a fast caller keeps the pace up because only edge squares matter.

Frequently asked questions

How many numbers do you need for picture frame bingo?

16 called numbers; the free space is not part of it. The pattern covers 16 of the 25 squares.

How long does a picture frame game take?

About 71.5 calls for one card on average. In 300 simulated games the first winner came at a median of call 66 with 10 cards, 61 with 30 cards and 58 with 100 cards.

Is picture frame faster than window pane?

Yes. Picture frame needs about 71.5 calls on one card and window pane about 72.4, so picture frame finishes 0.9 calls sooner on average.

What else is the picture frame pattern called?

It is also known as "outside edges", "border", "big frame" and "outer square". The squares are the same: 16 called numbers.

Cards for this pattern

More bingo patterns

Number 1 7 calls needed · about 66.5 calls on one card
Christmas tree 12 calls needed · about 70.2 calls on one card