How High to Hang Pictures
Hang pictures so that the centre of the art sits 145 to 150 cm from the floor, which is roughly average eye level. It is the same idea as the 57 inch rule galleries use. Above furniture, the furniture sets the height instead: leave 15 to 25 cm between the top of the sofa, bed or sideboard and the bottom of the frame.
Below: how to measure it, heights above each type of furniture, what changes with tall ceilings and stairs, and how to hang two or three pictures evenly.
Prints for this look
The eye-level rule, and how to measure it
Most art is hung too high. Hanging every piece with its centre at 145 to 150 cm puts the art where people actually look, and it means the pictures throughout your home line up with each other, which makes rooms feel calmer.
- Mark the centre height on the wall at 145 to 150 cm.
- Find the centre of the frame by halving its height.
- Measure the hanger drop: the distance from the top of the frame to the wire or hanger when it is pulled tight.
- Work out the hook position. Add half the frame height to your centre mark, then subtract the hanger drop. That is where the hook goes.
For a group of prints, treat the whole group as one picture and put the centre of the group at 145 to 150 cm.
How high to hang pictures above furniture
- Above a sofa: leave 15 to 25 cm between the sofa back and the bottom of the frame.
- Above a bed: 15 to 25 cm above the top of the headboard.
- Above a sideboard or console: 15 to 25 cm above the top, and keep the art narrower than the furniture.
- Above a mantel: 15 to 25 cm above the shelf, even if that puts the centre above eye level.
- Above a dining table: people look at it sitting down, so stay towards the lower end of the range. Our guide to artwork above a dining table covers it in detail.
In every case, the art and the furniture should read as one group. If the gap is so big that they feel separate, the art is too high.
Tall ceilings, stairs and other special cases
High ceilings. With 9 foot ceilings or higher, keep the centre at eye level and go bigger rather than higher. A1 or A0 prints, or two prints stacked, fill the extra wall without floating away from the room.
Stairs. Keep each print's centre at 145 to 150 cm above the step below it, so the group climbs with the staircase.
Hallways and children's rooms. Hallways follow the usual rule. In a child's room, hang some art lower so it is at their eye level, with light frames and secure fixings.
Hanging two or three pictures evenly
For three in a row, centre the middle print on your 145 to 150 cm line, then hang the outer prints so their centres sit on the same line, with equal gaps of 5 to 8 cm. For three stacked vertically, put the centre of the middle print at 145 to 150 cm and keep the gaps above and below the same.
The common mistakes are hanging too high, measuring to the top of the frame instead of the centre, and forgetting the hanger drop. Try your layout first with the gallery wall planner, or browse all our prints once you know the size you need.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Centimetres | Inches | Works for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 | 8.3 x 11.7 | Shelves, desks, small gaps, sets of 3 |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Hallways, side walls, pairs |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Above a sideboard or small sofa, the anchor of a gallery wall |
| A1 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Above a standard sofa or bed |
| A0 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Large walls, open-plan rooms, statement pieces |
All our A sizes fit standard off-the-shelf frames, and every print is made to order on museum-grade matte paper.
