This page covers:
  • TIPS on how to hand paintings, drawings, fine art prints and photographs
  • How to hang art in a frame on a wall - including tips for using specific frame hanging fixture kits
  • Specific hanging tackle: D rings, picture wire and picture cord
  • How to hang a heavy picture on a wall
  • How to hang and align pictures

TIPS: How to hang paintings, drawings, fine art prints and photographs.
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There's a world of difference to how artwork looks when hung by an expert - compared to when it's hung by somebody who lacks knowledge, skills and all the kit relevant to hanging pictures.

Below are some basic tips for hang your pictures - whether they are paintings, drawings, prints or an object d'art.

Structure of the wall
  • always know what's behind the wall you're going to be hanging on. If you do't get yourself an appropriate tool from the hardware store to check for
    • pipes - get a 'pipe locator'
    • wires - live wire detector
    • studs (for hanging) - get a 'stud finder'
    • they often come in one tool (see below)
  • Work out what the composition of the wall is, Is it load-bearing or a dry wall? Is it made of concrete blocks, brick or timber and wallboard?  Different types of wall dictate different kits for fixing and drilling.
Arrangement
  • try arranging the group of pictures on the table or floor so you find a pleasing arrangement BEFORE you start to hang
  • think about the bigger picture created by the individual pictures look and apply the same rules of composition and design that you might you use when making a painting
  • decide whether you are going to group around a (1) centre line (horizontal or vertical depending on the nature of the space for hanging) or are building up from (2) a bottom line (for horizontal hangs) or a vertical (eg x" from the vertical of a door frame).
  • don't hang pictures so people have to strain to see them
Getting everything level!
  • use ​a spirit level to make sure the horizontals and verticals are correct  (I keep a spirit level app on my iPhone)
Safety first
  • assess the weight of your artwork including frame BEFORE choosing hanging fixtures for the picture and the wall. You need to be very sure it isn't going to fall off the wall!
  • a two point hang for larger pictures is much safer and more stable. 
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REFERENCE
Hanging Hardware - various plates and hooks in different sizes
Hanging Hardware - various plates and hooks in different sizes - stocked by Green & Stone, Fulham Road

Different ways to hang a picture with a frame
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BASIC KIT for hanging a picture
  • ​Hanging hardware for the picture (D rings OR mirror plates)
  • picture wire or picture cord
  • Hanging hardware for the wall (e.g. Brass Hooks with steel pins OR heavy duty plates )
  • picture rails (optional)
  • spirit level
  • pencil
  • measuring tape
  • a small hammer
  • a Phillips screwdriver
  • an electric drill (for solid walls) plus appropriate drill bit for the type of wall (e.g. masonry)
  • appropriate screws and associated rawlplugs ​
Picture
The reverse of a framed artwork I purchased.

Hanging Tackle
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Hanging tackle includes:
  • the fixtures on the back of the frame - typically a hanging fixture on either side
  • the screws needed for the hanging fixture - which must be suitable for the frame
  • the wire or picture cord
  • the device used to hang on the wall and the right screws for the wall fixture and the wall. You may well need rawl plugs as well for heavier pictures - and you will need something solid to screw into.
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D rings

D rings come in different sizes, different metals and can carry different weights. 

Be sure to check what sort of weight or type of picture they are suitable for before buying/screwing them into your picture.

​If you're hanging a heavy picture you really need to move on to a different type of hanging hardware.

READ: 
D ring screwed into a wooden picture frame with picture cord correctly tied and whipped
D ring screwed into a wooden picture frame with picture cord correctly tied and whipped

Mirror Plates

Mirror plates are typically used for hanging mirrors or framed artwork absolutely flat against the wall.

​The item is securely fixed to the wall and cannot re removed without unscrewing the screws.

The reason why art society exhibitions and art competitions insist on frames which are not too narrow is that they often use mirror plates to fix artwork to walls.

If the wood is too narrow and/or too soft, screwing a mirror plate in can split the wood (see right)

READ: 
Picture
A mirror plate splits the wood. This is likely to happen if the frame is too narrow.
MORE TIPS for using specific frame hanging fixture kits​

Hanging wire

The UK and USA vary in their preferences for heavy duty picture hanging wire - the UK likes brass and the USA likes steel. 
  • Braided wire is strands of wire which have been threaded together. Lots of single strands makes it easier to cut through.
  • Stainless steel wire is the sort of wire used for hanging heavier pictures.
  • laminated wire - which is a lot easier to handle
To tie it off it needs to be whipped - which involves using a pair of pliers once the wire has been fixed to the artwork.
It's really important to check the load it will carry.
Plus choose a wire appropriate to the load.  The size of the wire is numbered and you should receive some guidance as to the weight it will hold.

Below
  • the brass wire on the left will carry 50lb and
  • the vinyl coated steel wire on the right will carry 43lb (20kg).
​Plus don't forget that lbs are not the same as kg!
REFERENCE:
Below is a video which provides instructions on How to Properly Knot Picture Frame Wire. The same technique applies to picture cord except you need to fix it so it will hold.

Picture Cord

Quality picture hanging cord should be made of material which does not stretch.

In the UK heavy duty picture cord is used a lot
  • it comes in different widths with different breaking strengths - for different wights of pictures. Just like wire you need to know the maximum weight it can carry without breaking.
  • it's a lot easier to tie off than wire.  
  • Unfortunately not all is good quality e.g. nylon cord stretches a lot more than polyester.

Quality cord is usually polyester twine. I recommend you buy the sort of picture cord used by professional suppliers.

Finally, a cord is only as secure as the method used to secure the cord to the picture so it won't come undone.
  • Lots of people are puzzled as to the best method to use. 
  • The recommended approach when using picture cord is to make sure it is "whipped" at the ends to ensure they don't untie or unravel. (see picture below)​
NEVER EVER USE STRING
String is not designed for hanging and stretches and frays. It's also the fastest way to have a picture fall off a wall
This supplier demonstrates the different widths of picture hanging cord you can get - for different weights of pictures. 

Don't forget it you are hanging a lot of pictures you will get through a lot of cord.

I can highly recommend the "picture cord in a box with a hole" approach. The one I use comes like this and I NEVER have problems with knocking over the cord inadvertently - only to find it runs away unravelling as it goes!
Picture
A small artwork framed using professional picture cord and D rings as hanging hardware. Note how (1) the professional framer has used single strand of picture cord and then knotted and and whipped the ends (2) the back of the frame uses brown tape to seal the backboard to the frame.
REFERENCE:
Picture Framing Supplies blog provides a couple of good blog posts about picture cords
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How to hang a heavy picture on a wall
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The critical factors you need to know when hanging a heavy picture are:
  • what weight the picture is
  • what sort of wall you are hanging it on
  • what's behind the wall you propose to hang it on (eg any pipes or live wires or nothing whatsoever to fix onto?)
  • what sort of hanging hardware is best for the job - after taking into account both weight of the artwork and the type of wall.

How HEAVY is your picture?
Heavy pictures require tackle that can carry the weight and reinforcement.
  • Have you weighed your artwork? (If not do so - otherwise you risk a heavy artwork falling off the wall!)
  • Is your hanging tackle adequate for the weight of the picture? 
  • Should you use a chain rather than heavy duty picture wire? 

What TYPE OF WALL do you have?
Never assume you know what the wall is. You can be very surprised! I know I have...

​Walls can be very different - even in one room. The surface can also be different on one wall in older houses where the property has been refurbished. 

Essentially you need to know:
  • Is your wall a dry wall (constructed from a timber frame and plaster/wall board) or is a load bearing wall - built from brick or breeze blocks?
  • Will it provide the stability required for a heavy picture?  
  • What's behind the plasterboard - thin air or concrete blocks?
  • Can you find the studs on a plasterboard wall for a really secure hanging?
  • Does it need special kit for the wall?  For example a professional stud finder which can also locate wiring and plumbing?
  • Do you need special equipment to drill? Drilling into masonry or concrete requires very bit different drill bits compared to drilling through plaster/wall board.

What sort of hanging hardware do you need?
  • The bigger and heavier the picture, the bigger and heavier the hanging hardware!
  • Consider J hooks for smaller heavy pictures
  • For larger heavy pictures you will need two fixings on the wall or a cleat fixing which runs a large part of the width of the picture

How many people do you need to hang your picture?
  • If it's really big and heavy this is very definitely NOT a one person job! For very heavy pictures you may well need three people - including one with a good head for heights!
Picture
This is my stud finder - used for finding studs in wall which have plaster board attached to a wooden frame
My Stanley stud finder is some years old. However this is the #1 best selling stud finder on Amazon UK. 
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As well as detecting wooden studs inside the wall it also detects
  • magnetic/non-magnetic metal, such as rebar, metal studs or steel/copper pipe and
  • AC Live Wires.

​This is the sort of wall fixing I use for hanging heavier pictures on my solid brick walls. This one will hold up to 20kg.
  • The brass strap hangers with three holes are drilled into  the wood frame - on either side - and attached using the 16mm screws. This helps distribute the weight.
  • The nickel finish hangers are then attached to the wall using the 2 x 40mm steel screws and rawl / wall plugs. 
  • ​to complete the job you need hanging wire of the right strength to carry the weight
REFERENCE:
These articles provide more in-depth guidance on kits and processes and things you need to check before hanging any item on a wall.
This popular set provides a good general selection of hanging tackle you need. ​220pcs assorted picture hangers, including:
  • 99pcs nails,
  • 30pcs screws,
  • 10pcs loop screws,
  • 10pcs D ring,
  • 10pcs sawtooth backs,
  • 25pcs steel hooks which can stand 10lb weight,
  • 15pcs 20lb steel hooks,
  • 10pcs 30lb steel hooks,
  • 6pcs 40lb steel hooks,
  • 4pcs 75lb steel hooks,
  • 1pcs steel wire(3m/118inch).
This video demonstrates various bits of kit you can use with different wall boards (i.e. plaster wall boards attached to a wood frame)

How to hang and align artwork
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Below are links to general articles about how to hang a picture and get it correctly aligned - vertically and horizontally
How to hang art in your home
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  • Keep it simple: choose your frames and mounts with care and don’t clutter up the wall space
  • Hang pieces at eye level. Most galleries hang their art roughly in the middle of the wall, so this is where the middle of your piece of art should be, not the top
  • Use picture hooks, rather than nails or screws, so as not to ruin the wall
  • Double up on picture hooks rather than using a wire so you can properly position your piece of art. That way, it’s stationary on the wall and not swinging on a wire
  • Finally, get out a spirit level and, if you like, a ruler, to make sure that you have everything straight.

  • Why you shouldn't be scared to hang art in your home | The Telegraph