What height should I hang pictures?

The standard gallery convention is to position the centre of the artwork at 1500 mm (150 cm) from the floor, which is roughly average eye level. In homes with high ceilings you may raise this slightly. For groups of pictures, align the centres rather than the tops.

How do I hang heavy pictures on plasterboard?

For frames over 5 kg on plasterboard, use toggle bolts or spring toggles that spread the load behind the board. For very heavy items (over 15 kg), locate a wooden stud with a stud finder and screw directly into it. Two fixing points are safer than one for heavy frames.

How much wire sag should I allow?

The wire should sag about one-third of the frame height when supporting the frame weight. Too little sag puts excessive strain on the D-rings and wire. Too much sag means the hook position becomes critical and the frame can tilt easily.

ArtCalcs

Picture Hanging Calculator — Hook Position & Wire Length

Calculate hook positions, wire length, and wall anchor type based on frame weight and dimensions.

Frame Width

Overall width of the frame

Frame Height

Overall height of the frame

Frame Weight

Total weight including glass and artwork

Wall TypeDetermines anchor type recommendation

Hanging MethodWire allows easier levelling

How We Calculate This

How Picture Hanging Calculation Works

Hook height = Frame top position - Wire drop

The calculator places the frame centre at eye level (default 1500 mm), then calculates the hook position accounting for wire sag or D-ring offset. Wire length is computed using the D-ring spacing, drop distance and extra length for tying knots.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.