How to Hang a Picture

By Nina Bricko

Updated: Jul. 13, 2023

Following these steps will make hanging a picture on your wall a breeze.

Time

10 - 20 minutes

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

Less than $10

Introduction

Pictures and art add a touch of personality to any room. Here's how to hang a picture on your wall.

Tools Required

Hammer
Level
Tape measure

Materials Required

Picture hooks

The art of hanging a picture

Pictures and art can heighten your space from blah to fab and showcase your personality. However, there are a few things to consider as you dive into the glorious art of picture hanging.

Types of picture hangers

Pictures often come with hangers. The most common types are saw-toothed, wire and D-rings.

The saw-toothed hanger is the most typical. Usually attached to the upper middle portion of the picture frame, it hangs on screw heads, nails, or hooks.

saw tooth hanger Family Handyman

The wire hanger is better for heavier frames, art pieces and mirrors. It’s a thin wire attached to the middle and back sides of the frame. It can be hung onto a single nail or screw head, but two hooks are commonly used for added safety and balance.

wire hanger Family Handyman

D-rings add a level of complexity. You’ll need to measure the distance between the two rings, then position your screws so the rings can attach and remain level.

d rings on frame Family Handyman

The wall

Before you hang anything on your walls, determine whether they’re made of plaster or drywall. Plaster tends to crack or crumble when bothered. Drywall, made from gypsum, is more common in most modern homes. However, gypsum isn’t stable enough for a nail to hold more than a few pounds on its own.

To overcome the stability issue with heavier pictures and artwork, find the studs or use anchors.

Studs

Wall studs are the vertical wooden frames in the structure of the wall. Hammering into a stud provides a sturdier and longer-term hold for the nail, allowing it to support heavier frames or art.

To find a stud, purchase a magnetic or electronic stud finder. A magnetic finder looks for nails or screws that identify the studs. It’s also good for plaster walls since it’s easier to differentiate between a stud and lathe.

However, if you’re like me, you’ll want to hang your picture wherever it looks good and not worry about finding a stud. In this case, consider the type of wall you have, and figure out what type of tool you’ll need depending on the weight of the picture.

Project step-by-step (6)

Step 1

How to Hang a Wire Picture Frame on Drywall

Determine the weight of the picture

Unless it’s lighter than a few pounds, picture hooks work best for hanging artwork with wire hangers. Different wall hooks are rated to hold different weights. To figure out which works best, weigh your picture.

Do this by pulling out your bathroom scale. Stand on the scale and take note of your weight. Step off, grab the picture and get back on. Take the new total and subtract your weight. The outcome is the weight of the picture. Easy as pie.

feet on a scale Family Handyman

Step 2

Pick the picture hanging hook

If a picture is less than a few pounds, a simple nail might work, but anything more will need more oomph!

This is where picture hooks are useful. With a weight capacity of 20-lbs, these hooks are perfect for lighter pictures and wire hangers.

Note: Some hooks are rated higher, but make sure to review the packaging since these are usually rated with a wall stud.

picture frame hook in the wall Family Handyman

Step 3

Mark the spot

Once you’ve purchased the proper hook, it’s time to mark the spot.

Position the picture about 57- to- 62-inches from the floor, or at around eye level.

measuring and marking the wall Family Handyman

Have a partner hold the picture where you want it while you stand back to get a feel for the positioning. Adjust it to your liking, then place the corner of a sticky note on the top center of the frame.

Hook the wire with a finger to see how it holds with tension. Then determine the distance from the top of the frame to the engaged wire with your tape measure. Transfer that measurement to the wall by using the centered sticky note as the top of the frame. This is where you’ll insert the hook.

tape measure lifting up the wire o note back of a frame Family Handyman

Step 4

Two picture hanging hooks

If the frame is fairly wide, you might need two picture hooks to level and support the frame.

Once you know where the wire sits when engaged, figure out how to space the hooks. They need to be far enough apart so the wire is taunt but not overly stretched, generally about one-third of the width of the picture.

Take a level, add tape to it and mark the distance between the two hooks. Then take the level to the center point on the wall. Center the level with an equal distance between the two markings for the hooks, then lightly mark the wall for each hook.

Step 5

Install the picture hanging hooks

For picture hooks, drive nails at an angle to distribute the weight of the picture. If the frame looks like it’s angled away from the wall and you don’t like it, add bumpers to the bottom back corners of the frame to level the piece.

installing picture frame hooks on the back of the frame Family Handyman

Step 6

Hang the picture

Lastly, the frame should be leveled. Once you’ve hung the picture on the hooks, place a bubble level on top of the frame and adjust as necessary.

hanging the picture on the wall Family Handyman
Fantastic! Now your gorgeous art has its forever home!

Originally Published: July 12, 2023

Author

Nina Bricko

Nina is a Do-It-Yourselfer who enjoys coming up with unique builds that are full of color. Her background is environmental and outdoor education, and has experience with urban farms, gardens, and wildlife management. Growing up, her parents were always finishing a basement, painting cabinets, and adding a bit of creativity wherever they lived. This...