arteetThe 57-inch rule (and when to break it)
57 inches — about 145 cm — from the floor to the centre of the artwork. It is the museum standard, and it is right more often than any other number.
Why 57 inches
It is roughly average eye level. Hang to the centre of the image, not the top of the frame, and the work sits where a standing person naturally looks. Measure from the floor, mark the centre point in pencil, then work backwards: half the frame height plus the hanging wire drop tells you where the hook goes.
When to break it
- Above furniture: centre the group over the sofa, then keep 15–25 cm of air between the furniture and the frame bottom. The group may sit lower than 145 cm and look better for it.
- In a stairwell or hallway: follow the line of the stairs, keeping the same distance from the nose of each tread.
- Very high ceilings: hanging at 145 cm can feel lost; in rooms over 3 m, raise the centre to 155–160 cm.
- Kids' rooms: lower is better — 120 cm keeps art in the sightline of the person who lives there.
Two hooks, not one
A single hook lets a frame tilt. Two hooks 10–15 cm apart, with the wire forming a shallow V, keep the work level and spread the load. For anything over 5 kg use a wall anchor rated for twice the weight.
Test before you drill
Cut paper to the frame size, tape it to the wall, and live with it for a day. It costs nothing and catches the two mistakes that are hard to undo: too high, and too small for the wall.
Not sure about size? Send us the wall measurement — we answer with numbers, not adjectives.
