Picture hanging height calculator for perfect hook placement

This picture hanging height calculator uses either the eye-level rule or an above-furniture layout to set the artwork centerline. For eye level, the centerline defaults to 57 inches (about 145 cm), a common gallery target; you can change it to suit your space or height. For furniture, the centerline equals the top of the furniture plus a small visual gap and half the frame height so the artwork floats comfortably above the surface.

Hook height from the floor is then computed by taking the centerline and subtracting half the frame height, then adding the wire or hanger drop. The drop is the distance from the frame’s top edge to the point where it actually rests on the hook when the wire is taut or when D-rings or sawtooth hangers are used. If your frame has no wire and the hanger sits very near the top, set drop to zero.

For pairs or trios hung in a row, keep the same centerline for each piece. A horizontal spacing of two to three inches (five to eight centimeters) usually looks balanced on medium walls; larger pieces or long walls can take slightly more. Use painter’s tape to draft the widths and gaps on the wall before drilling. If you are hanging above a sofa or console, a comfortable visual rule is that the artwork cluster should be between one-half and two-thirds the furniture width.

Centerline is set by your mode. For eye level, centerline equals the eye-level input. For furniture, centerline equals furniture top height plus the chosen gap plus half of the frame height. Hook height equals centerline minus half the frame height plus the wire or hanger drop. All values are reported in your selected unit so you can mark the wall directly without converting.

If two hooks are used for stability, place both at the same height. For frames with keyholes or D-rings, measure the exact drop while the hardware is loaded to avoid surprises. Old plaster may need anchors rated for the frame’s weight; soft drywall benefits from two hooks spread apart.