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Tool

Hanging Height Calculator

Enter the frame height and the hanger drop. We show where the nail goes, for a wall on its own or above a sofa or sideboard.

Nail height from the floor

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Most pictures in homes hang too high. Galleries solve the problem with one simple rule: the centre of every work sits on the same line, commonly around 145 to 152 cm (57 to 60 inches) above the floor. The calculator turns that line into the one measurement you need, the height of the nail.

The formula

Nail height equals the centre line, plus half the frame height, minus the hanger drop. The hanger drop is the distance from the top edge of the frame down to the point that rests on the hook. Pull a wire tight before you measure it, because that is how it will hang.

Above furniture

Above a sofa or a sideboard, the picture should relate to the furniture, not float far above it. A gap of about 15 to 25 cm is a common choice. Switch on the option and the calculator raises the centre line if the gap would otherwise be too small.

Two hooks

Larger frames hang straighter on two D-rings and two hooks. Enter the inset of the rings from the sides and the calculator gives the spacing between the two nails. For heavy works, use suitable wall plugs or a French cleat, and read our full guide to hanging art first.

Questions

Why 145 cm and not eye level?

Eye level varies from person to person, so many galleries and museums settle on a centre line of roughly 145 to 152 cm (57 to 60 inches) above the floor. It suits most adults standing and keeps every picture in a room on one shared line, which looks calm. You can set any other value in the calculator.

What is the hanger drop?

It is the distance from the top edge of the frame down to the point that will rest on the hook: the top of a pulled tight wire or the eye of a D-ring. Measure it with the wire pulled up as it will hang. The nail goes that far below the top edge of the frame.

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Behind the tool