How to Hang a Picture
Framed artwork and photos make your house look unique and personal. And if you're going to hang pictures, you want them to be as level, true, and solid as possible. Doing so isn't all that hard with the right materials and a few basic measurements.
Before You Begin
Picture Hanging Materials
- Frame Hangers: Sawtooth hangers are small metal brackets that attach to the back of a picture frame with small screws. Five notches in the hanger allow for multiple positioning points. You can use just one frame hanger mounted at the center of the frame or two frame hangers at opposite corners of the frame.
- Wall Hangers: Use picture wall hangers instead of nails. Wall hangers regulate the angle and the depth of the nail. Wall hangers' flat backs, too, prevent them from sinking into the wall. These should always be used when hanging heavier items.
Picture Hanging Methods
One Hanger
The single sawtooth hanger method places the hanger at the top center of the back of the picture frame. This method is best for picture frames that weigh 20 pounds or less.
Easy leveling of the picture on the wall.
No complicated measurements are required.
Pictures may shift out of level over time.
Greater possibility of tear-out from the picture frame.
Two Hangers
The double sawtooth hanger method places two hangers at the top two corners of the back of the picture frame. While best for pictures that weigh between 20 and 40 pounds, it can be used for lighter pictures, too.
Greater stability and strength
Pictures never shift out of level
Hangers must be perfectly aligned
Wall hangers must be precisely placed on the wall
Safety Considerations
Wall hangers are weight-rated and range from 10 pounds to 100 pounds. Purchase the correct wall hanger for the weight of your picture. Sawtooth frame hangers have a 20-pound maximum rating. Do not hang heavy items like mirrors with sawtooth hangers.
Estimated Weight of Framed Picture With Glass | |
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Picture Size | Weight |
5-inch by 7-inch | 12 ounces |
8-inch by 8-inch | 1 pound |
11-inch by 14-inch | 2 pounds |
16-inch by 20-inch | 5 pounds |
18-inch by 24-inch | 6 pounds |
42-inch by 42-inch | 9 pounds |
40-inch by 60-inch | 15 pounds |
50-inch by 75-inch | 20 pounds |
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Tape measure
- Clean towel
- Bubble level
- Small hammer
Materials
- Sawtooth picture frame hangers
- Wall hangers
- Pencil
Instructions
How to Hang Frames With One Sawtooth Hanger
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Determine Center of Frame
Lay the picture frame face-down on a towel. With the ruler or tape measure, determine the width of the frame. Divide the resulting number in half. Then, with the ruler or tape measure still in place, measure to that halfway spot on the picture frame. Mark it with a light pencil mark.
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Attach Sawtooth Hanger to Frame
Use the two provided screws to attach the sawtooth hanger to the back of the picture frame with a Phillips head screwdriver. Center the sawtooth hanger horizontally at the pencil mark. Do not place the hanger too high on the frame. Instead, keep it vertically centered on the frame's top rail.
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Determine Placement on Wall
Find the spot on the wall where you want to hang the picture. Mark the spot with a light pencil mark.
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Attach Wall Hanger to Wall
Place the wall hanger. With a light hammer and using the provided nail, tap the wall hanger into place on the wall. Aim to have the bottom of the hanger hook over the pencil mark, not the nail itself.
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Hang Picture
Rest the picture's sawtooth hanger on the wall hanger. Lay the bubble level on top of the picture frame and tilt the picture left or right until the bubble centers between the two marks on the level.
How to Hang Frames With Two Sawtooth Hangers
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Measure Position of Sawtooth Hangers on Frame
Find the proper hanger placement for the frame. With the picture frame resting face-down on a clean towel, measure the thickness of the picture frame's top rail. Divide that number in half. On the left side, mark downward that distance. Repeat on the right side. Use a ruler to draw a light pencil line across the two marks.
For example: The picture frame's top rail is 1 1/2 inches thick. Half of that is 3/4 inches. So, you will measure downward 3/4 inches on the left side and again 3/4 inches on the right side. Then, draw a line from one mark to the next.
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Attach Sawtooth Hangers to Frame
Position the holes of one of the sawtooth hangers over the pencil line. Place the far end of the hanger about 1/2 inch from the right side of the frame. Screw the hanger into place. Repeat for the left side.
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Determine Center Mark of Picture on Wall
Determine the placement of the picture on the wall. The midpoint of the picture should be at about eye level or about 57 to 62 inches above the floor. Lightly mark the wall.
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Mark Hanger Placement on Wall
Determine proper placement of the first hanger. On the picture frame, measure the distance from the center of the left sawtooth hanger to the center of the right sawtooth hanger. Divide that number in half. On the wall, use that resulting number to measure rightward from the pencil mark on the wall and mark it.
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Add Right Wall Hanger
Tap a wall hanger firmly into place on the right (not center) mark from the previous step.
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Place Left Wall Hanger
Mark leftward from the center mark using the same rightward distance as before. Place a light pencil mark on the wall. Have an assistant hold the bubble level on top of the righthand wall hanger. Lay the left side of the bubble level on top of the lefthand wall hanger. Move the left hanger up or down until the bubble level indicates level. Tap the left hanger into place.
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Hang Picture on Wall
Hang the picture on the two wall hangers. You may need to place your head against the wall to see behind the picture, in order to place the picture hangers on the wall hangers.
How to Hang Specialty Hooks
A standard way to hang a picture frame is with D-rings and picture wire, which distributes weight evenly and level while the hardware remains hidden. For most pictures, two D-rings are installed to the back of the frame, and wire—which is weight-rated for that item—is attached to the D-rings and hangs on the hardware secured in the wall.
The most secure way to ensure a picture frame won’t fall off the wall is to hang the frame on hardware screwed into wall studs. Studs are usually spaced every 16 inches, and sometimes every 24 inches, on-center (from center to center), which may not align with the best placement for unique frames or creative layouts like gallery walls.
If the framed piece is heavy, use studs, which can support picture frames up to 100 pounds. Using a stud finder, locate two adjacent studs located behind the drywall, and mark the positions where the hardware will go with a pencil. Hang the frame on metal anchors and screws, which should penetrate wood studs at least 1.5 inches.
Otherwise, it’s possible to hang picture frames on drywall without a stud using specialty hardware—like toggle or molly bolts, drywall anchors and screws, or 3M claws—weight-rated for that item. Some drywall mounting hardware can support up to 100 pounds without a stud.
Other Ways to Hang Picture Frames
If you have unframed posters or pictures, light picture frames, or need a damage-free option, you can hang frames with removable hooks or a variety of mounting adhesives. Options include:
- Removable mounting tape, poster glue dots, Scotch Magic Tape (not regular Scotch tape), or Scotch Poster Tape for frameless pictures.
- Removable picture hanging hooks or universal frame hangers—listed for “heavy duty” use on the label—for hookless frames.
- Picture hangers and nails for frames less than 20 pounds.
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What is the best way to hang a picture frame?
The best way to hang a picture frame is to choose the correct height placement on the wall and use a mounting solution appropriate for its weight. For placement, use the 57-inch rule: Place the picture frame so it’s eye level for most people, which is 57 inches from the center of the frame to the floor. Use the 57-inch rule as a guideline, the height can be adjusted slightly higher or lower based on what looks best. Choose picture-hanging hardware or a damage-free mounting solution weight-rated for your picture frame to hang it securely.
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How do you hang a picture frame that doesn't have a hook?
If a picture frame doesn’t have a hook, use removable picture hanging hooks or universal frame hangers, which adhere the hookless frame to the wall. This hanging solution is best suited for picture frames under 10 pounds. For heavier items, attach hooks weight-rated for your frame to hang it securely.
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Do picture frames need to be hung on studs?
Picture frames get the most support when hung on studs. But it’s not always practical to find studs exactly where you want to hang a picture. With the right hardware weight-rated for the picture frame, you can hang items up to 100 pounds on drywall.