How many centimetres from the floor should the centre of a picture hang?

The geometric centre of a picture should hang exactly 145 centimetres from the floor. This is the universal gallery and museum standard, calculated to match the average eye level of an adult standing up. It applies to single framed cotton prints, stretched canvases, and multi-frame gallery walls regardless of frame size.

To mark your nail position correctly, take half of the total frame height and add it to 145 cm, then subtract the distance between the top of the frame and the hanging bracket. For example, with a 70 cm tall frame, half is 35 cm (145 + 35 = 180 cm). If the hanger sits 5 cm below the top edge, insert the wall fixing at 175 cm.

The main exception to the 145 cm rule occurs when hanging art above furniture such as a sofa, sideboard, or bed headboard. In these positions, place the bottom edge of the frame 15 to 20 cm above the furniture surface so the two elements form a balanced unit. The total width of the artwork should ideally span 60% to 75% of the furniture width.

When hanging a gallery wall of multiple prints, treat the entire arrangement as one large rectangle whose collective centre sits at 145 cm. Maintain a consistent gap of 5 to 8 cm between ayous wood frames to preserve visual balance across the display. Explore our frames to match dimensions and finishes to your space.