How the gallery wall planner works
Tell the planner how wide and tall your wall is, whether the art will hang above a sofa, console or bed, and the outside size of each frame. It arranges your frames, centres the group, and gives you the exact position of every hook, measured from the left edge of the wall and up from the floor. You can print the plan and take it to the wall.
- Mixed sizes: list each frame size and how many of it you have. The planner packs them into tidy rows, with the biggest frames first.
- Even grid: for a set of identical frames, choose the number of columns and rows.
- Wire drop: this is how far below the top of the frame the hook sits when the wire is pulled tight, usually 1.5 to 3 in. The hook heights already take it into account.
The gallery wall rules the planner follows
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Eye level | On an open wall, hang the centre of the whole arrangement 57 to 60 in (145 to 152 cm) from the floor. Galleries use 57 in as the standard. |
| Above furniture | Leave 6 to 10 in (15 to 25 cm) between the top of the sofa, console or headboard and the bottom of the art. |
| Width | Make the art about two thirds to three quarters of the width of the furniture below it. |
| Spacing | Keep 2 to 3 in (5 to 8 cm) between frames. Equal gaps make a mixed set look intentional. |
| Wall edges | Leave at least 6 in (15 cm) of wall at each side of the group, so it does not look crowded. |
How to hang a gallery wall step by step
- Measure the outside size of each frame, including the frame itself, not just the picture.
- Enter the measurements and arrange the frames in the planner. Adjust the gap or the frame list until the layout looks balanced.
- Print the plan. Mark the hook positions on the wall in pencil, measuring from the left edge of the wall and from the floor.
- Start with the largest or middle frame, since the rest of the layout is spaced from it.
- Check each frame with a level before you move on to the next one.
- Use a wall anchor or stud for heavy frames and mirrors. A light picture hook is not safe for a heavy frame.
For an extra check, trace each frame on kraft paper, cut the shapes out and stick them to the wall with painter’s tape before you make any holes.
Worked examples
Above a sofa on a 10 ft wall
A wall 120 in wide with a 96 in ceiling, an 84 in sofa that is 34 in tall, and six frames: one 16 × 20 in, two 11 × 14 in and three 8 × 10 in. With a 2 in gap and the art 8 in above the sofa, the arrangement is 52 in wide and 32 in tall. It sits 42 in from the floor at the bottom and is centred at 58 in, right at eye level. That leaves 34 in of wall at each side, and the art is 62% of the width of the sofa. The 16 × 20 in frame’s hook goes 42 in from the left edge of the wall and 72 in from the floor.
A grid on an open wall
Six 11 × 14 in frames in three columns and two rows, with a 2 in gap, make a block 37 in wide and 30 in tall. Centred at 57 in from the floor on a 96 in wall, the hooks for the top row sit 70 in from the floor, 35, 48 and 61 in from the left edge of the wall.
Common gallery wall mistakes
- Hanging too high. The most common mistake. Art centred above eye level feels disconnected from the room.
- Too small above the furniture. A small group above a large sofa looks lost. Aim for two thirds of the sofa’s width.
- Uneven gaps. Even small differences show up in a tight arrangement. Measure every gap.
- Forgetting the wire. The hook goes lower than the top of the frame. Measure from the hook, not the frame edge.
- Making holes first. Plan on paper or with tape on the wall before you pick up the hammer.
Tips for a better gallery wall
- Pick a common thread, such as frame colour, a mat colour or a single subject, so mixed sizes look curated.
- Mix a few large frames with several small ones. A group of same-size frames in a grid is a more formal look.
- Put the heaviest or darkest piece slightly below the centre so the group feels grounded.
- Use removable strips for light frames in a rental, and keep a few spare hooks.
- Leave room to add one or two more frames later.
