This picture hanger calculator works out exactly where to put the hook (or hooks) so a frame hangs centred at the height you want, allowing for the drop of the hanging wire or D-rings. It takes the guesswork — and the row of trial nail holes — out of hanging art.
Centre height and wire drop
Galleries typically hang work so its centre sits at a standard eye-level height, around 1450–1500 mm (about 57–60 in) from the floor. The trick is that the hook does not go at the centre height — it goes higher, because a taut wire or the D-rings sit below the top of the frame and the frame hangs down from the hook. The calculator takes the frame height, the desired centre height, and how far the wire pulls up below the frame top, then tells you the precise hook position to mark on the wall.
For frames with two fixings, it spaces the hooks symmetrically about the centre line so the frame hangs level and is less likely to tilt, and gives both marks measured from the same reference.
A consistent wall of art
When hanging several pieces, keeping every frame's centre on the same horizontal line gives a calm, professional look even when the frames are different sizes. The calculator makes that easy by always working back to the centre height, so mixed frames still align.
A 600 mm tall frame to hang with its centre at 1450 mm; the taut wire pulls up to 90 mm below the frame top.
- Frame top sits at centre + half height = 1450 + 300 = 1750 mm.
- Hook sits below the frame top by the wire drop: 1750 − 90 = 1660 mm.
Place the hook at 1660 mm from the floor so the frame centres on 1450 mm.
