How to Hang Pictures Straight and Level

With different hooks and wires on the back of pictures and paintings it can be difficult sometimes to get them to line up exactly. Watch me put up some pictures and I'll show you how to make sure you get the tops straight and level.

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[tonysmcneill]

I love this guy! Black Slazenger sweatshirts must be doing a roaring trade because of this absolute legend!🖤

[acidfuzzpedals]

Nice job. Love your channel. Decades ago I was a professional art handler/installer for galleries and high profile clients in Los Angeles. Hanging multiple works salon style, or in a perfect grid, can be very challenging. I've found mapping out your hardware and frames with masking tape before making any holes in the wall is a big help. I've also found that, if using plastic wall anchors rather than floreats, first installing the screw only, to test fit, can be helpful. If the screw is in the correct spot, I then remove it and use an awl to punch the hole for the anchor/sleeve. This eliminates having a larger hole in the wall for the anchor, in case you need to reposition. If you need to reposition, you can typically spackle the small screw hole and move your screw as needed. Using an awl also cuts down on dust and allows you to feel any obstructions within the wall cavity, as opposed to drilling. I also used to carry envelopes or sheets of paper to fold and tape up as dust collectors when drilling, like you've shown. In high traffic areas such as stairwells, tight hallways, drafty areas, earthquake zones, etc... using security hardware or just two anchor points eliminates the client having to constantly adjust/level. On frames with wire I use a small bubble level under the wire and mark the back of the frame in pencil. You can then measure from the top or bottom of the frame to your line, and use the bubble level to mark your hardware positions on the wall, if that makes sense.

[robwilkie]

Always use Fisher Duopower plugs in plasterboard. Excellent plugs and work fine if there is a dab behind the hole. Only needs a 6 or 8 mm hole (they have 2 different size plugs) and no need for those wings at the back. If really heavy my go to fixing is either the metal expanding rawl plug fixing which you use a tool to set or the excellent CoreFix fixings,

[George_in_Howden]

Sometimes these simple tips are the last thing you think of. That is one I will always use. Great tip thanks again.

[timscanlanphotography]

Hi Stuart. Wish I'd seen this six months ago. I hung 9 prints around the landing and down the side of the stairs by making a masking tape template. Really happy with results but your method is much quicker. Thanks for sharing.

[norfolkhall]

To be honest for hanging lightweight pictures on a stud wall, I find a single 40/50mm panel pin put in at an angle is adequate. Its also so much easier to rearrange the pictures 6 months later when the wife wants to alter things. To help keep them level just put a small self adhesive disk of cork to the bottom corners of the picture.

[stug]

These Fischer fixings are the best. I'd never use the red ones since discovering them. Finally on my second bulk packet in 10 years! I've cut the wings off when there is no cavity and are holding a 360mm curtain pole up with just 6 fixings

[bangelta]

please, please, please continue to make video's. Very much appreciated. The picture hanging tip is a life saver. :)

[jetaf]

Really liking the jig that helps ensure level on pictures hanging on wires ... a bit of a 'why didn't I think of that' moment !! Re the comment at 12:20 about the packaging, I understand your comment about preferring to see the contents, but it has probably been done so as to avoid multi material packaging which can be a real problem for recycling.

[martindunford]

Great stuff Mr Matthews....used your levelling tip to get two large posters level at the bottom as that suited the viewing...excellent....thank you

[martinsylvester]

Another great video, thank you. Another tip if you want to stop pictures leaning to one side a small dot of blue tack in bottom of each corner behind pic does the trick once lined up with level just press onto wall.

[pmd]

Brilliant tip for lining up different sized pictures. I’ve been putting off doing mine for weeks!

[andyb]

I use Fischer duopower for everything, they don't budge once they're in.
For large pictures I also add two small tack pins in the top left and right of the frame, it stops the pictures pivoting on the screw in the middle. Feels more solid

[jparky]

Nice to see a video released today ( April 1st ) that's not someone trying too hard to be funny.

As usual. Concise and clear information.
Thank you.

[Stringtrees]

Perfectly timed, the Missus has a picture hanging job that she had allocating to me this weekend so thanks.

[truthmatters]

Cleary presented, well narrated, easy to follow, useful practical tips. @11:44 "So what does it look like? I think it's pretty good." Mmmm... what you think is only for your own self satisfaction. For true harmony in the universe it's what "The Boss" (who apparently commissioned the works) thought! The multiple frame horizontal alignment did it for me. Hope it worked for The Boss too! Thanks for posting.Stay on the level.

[keitho]

Great tip for leveling the pictures with strings hangers Stuart

To confirm the Fischer "wings" are fully engaged, you could screw the the screw all the way in so the wings would spread fully and then back the screw off so it's proud of the wall to hang a picture from.

[neilingram]

What a fantastic yet simple method of getting 2 pictures to line up. I wish I knew that trick years ago.

[davidlilley]

A clever and simple tip, definitely one to remember.

[johntester]

Great tip for levelling the top of different frames. Need to remember that.