Picture Frame Backing
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Foam Board

Cardboard

Mat Board 

• Standard foam board is available in department stores, art stores and on-line.
• Buy full 32 x 40 sheets and cut to size to save money.
• Sold in standard picture frames sizes also, but more expensive.
• Comes in several colors and varying thickness. Most common is 3/16"
• Gives a clean, neat look to the back of the picture frame.
• Acid free version is not always available in department stores or art stores.
• Acid free version is more expensive, but will protect valuable items for decades.
• Easy to cut. All you need is a straight edge and a blade.
• Great for picture frame backing.

• Available almost anywhere for free by cutting down boxes you already have. Or by saving the sheets that are often used in packaging of items you buy or have delivered. 
• Sold on-line fairly cheap in standard sizes or as sheets - these will look cleaner and more professional. Often referred to as kraft board.
• Not much of a color selection, thickness varies, but 1/8" is typical for most boxes
• Not recommended for framing valuable items - cardboard is not acid free. You can however, place a piece of standard mat board between the cardboard and the framed item to protect it. 
• As easy to cut as foam board. A straight edge and a blade will do the trick.

• Hard board is sold in home improvement stores in sheets, art stores in smaller sizes and on-line in all sorts of sizes. It's fairly cheap - under $15 for a 4' x 8' sheet. It does cost more to get it pre-cut in standard sizes.
• One side is nice and smooth which gives it a professional look when used as picture frame backing.
• For the most part it is not sold as acid free. There are some acid free versions available on-line and through some art stores. The acid free version is more expensive. You can use mat board though as a buffer between the hardboard and the the item being framed.
• Cannot be cut with a blade. You'll need a saw of some sort - table saw, jigsaw, or circular saw to cut it cleanly. It is 1/8" thick and very sturdy.
• Only comes in brown.

• Chip Board is a cross between cardboard and hard board. It's gaining popularity as a picture frame backing option because it's cheap and is also available in acid free.
• It's not corrugated, simply recycled paper pressed together. It varies in thickness, is not as sturdy as the other options above, but can fill the role as a picture frame backing board quite nicely. 
• Can be found in some art stores and easily on-line. sold in different sized sheets and in standard picture frame sizes.
• Can be cut with a blade, but requires several passes, depending on the thickness used.

Adhesive easel backs are like this one, are cheap and easy to install.

Some are sturdier than others (see cost), but they're not as durable or professional looking.

Great for small frames given as gifts or if you just want to keep it low cost.

Non-adhesive easel backs like this one are much sturdier.

They come with hinged legs that allow you to use vertically or horizontally and even have hangers attached so you can hang on the wall.

You'll need to use turn buttons or flexi-points to attach them.

Turn buttons like these are cheap and allow you to   affix any type of backing to a picture frame with the simplicity of a screwdriver.

Not as professional looking, but get the job done.

Point drivers like this one make the job must faster and easier to install and remove the backing quickly.

While more expensive, it will save time and hey, time is money - so it's actually cheaper in the end.