How to Hang a Picture Straight (at the Right Height)

Pictures hung too high are one of the most common decorating mistakes. Here's the simple rule galleries use, and a quick bit of math that puts your nail in exactly the right spot, the first time.

1. The 57 Inch Rule

Galleries hang art so the center of the picture is about fifty seven inches off the floor. That's roughly eye level for most adults. Make a light pencil mark at fifty seven inches, right where you want it centered.

2. Step 1: Measure The Frame

Now measure your frame. Ours is twenty four inches tall, so half of that is twelve. Then pull the hanging wire up tight, like the nail will, and measure from the wire to the top of the frame. Ours is four inches.

3. Step 2: Find The Nail Spot

Here's the math. Start at fifty seven. Add half the frame height. Then subtract the wire distance. Fifty seven, plus twelve, minus four, is sixty five. Your nail goes sixty five inches up from the floor.

4. Step 3: Pick The Right Hardware

For a light frame, a picture hook nail works great. For something heavier, hit a stud, or use a wall anchor rated for more than the weight of your frame. The package tells you how much it holds.

5. Step 4: Hang It And Level It

Hang the picture, and set a small level on top of the frame. Nudge it until the bubble sits in the center. For big frames, two hooks side by side keep it from tilting.

6. Above A Couch Or Table?

Hanging over a couch or a table? Skip the fifty seven inch rule, and leave about six to ten inches between the furniture and the bottom of the frame, so they feel connected.