How to Hang Pictures Straight, Level and at the Right Height

Hanging pictures produces more unnecessary holes than any other household task, mostly because people measure to the hook rather than to the picture.

The standard height

Hang so the centre of the picture sits at about 145cm from the floor. This is roughly average eye level and is what galleries use. It looks right in almost every room.

The common mistake is hanging too high. If you have to lift your chin to look at it comfortably, it is too high.

Two exceptions:

• Above furniture: leave 15 to 25cm between the top of the sofa or sideboard and the bottom of the frame, so the two read as a group.
• Very high ceilings: you can go slightly higher, but less than instinct suggests. 150 to 155cm is usually the limit.

The maths, done once

You need to know how far below the top of the frame the hanging point sits, because that is never zero.

1. Measure the height of the frame. Call it H.
2. Pull the cord or wire taut upward as if hanging, and measure from the top of the frame down to the taut point. Call it D.
3. Your hook goes at: 145 + (H ÷ 2) − D centimetres from the floor.

For a 40cm frame with the wire pulling to 8cm below the top: 145 + 20 − 8 = 157cm.

The paper template method

For anything awkward, skip the maths.

1. Lay the frame on a sheet of paper or newspaper and draw round it.
2. Cut out the outline.
3. Poke a pin through the paper exactly where the hook needs to go, measured as above.
4. Tape the paper to the wall and step back. Move it until it looks right — this is the real advantage, because you are judging the actual size and position rather than a pencil mark.
5. Drill or nail through the pin hole, then tear the paper away.

Hanging a group

Treat the group as a single rectangle. The centre of the whole arrangement sits at 145cm, not the centre of each frame.

• Lay the whole arrangement out on the floor first and photograph it. It is far easier to move frames on carpet than on a wall.
• Keep the gaps consistent — 5 to 8cm between frames usually works.
• For a grid, align the outer edges. For a salon-style cluster, align one horizontal line through the middle and let the rest vary.

Fixings, briefly

• Plasterboard, light frames: a hardened picture hook with two angled pins holds surprisingly well and leaves tiny holes.
• Plasterboard, heavy frames: find a stud, or use a proper cavity fixing. Not a plastic plug.
• Masonry: a 5mm hole, a plug and a screw. Use the hammer setting.
• Very light frames on any wall: adhesive strips work, but only on smooth, sound, fully cured paint, and they will pull paint off matt emulsion when removed.

Keeping them level

A small blob of adhesive putty under each bottom corner grips the wall and stops the frame moving. It costs almost nothing and eliminates the constant straightening.