Gallery Wall Planner
Plan a gallery wall before you put a single hole in it. Enter your wall and frame sizes, start from a template or drag frames into place, and the planner gives you the exact height and position of every nail.
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Drag a frame to move it. Arrow keys nudge the selected frame.
Nail positions
| # | Frame | Size | Top edge from floor | Nail height from floor | Nail from left end of wall |
|---|
How to use the Gallery Wall Planner
- Enter your wall size and choose inches or centimeters. Tick the furniture box if the art hangs above a sofa or console.
- Pick a template and press Apply template, or add frames one by one in the sizes you own.
- Drag frames on the wall. They snap to an even gap and line up with each other; arrow keys nudge the selected frame.
- Set the hanger drop for each frame: the distance from the top of the frame down to the hook, or to the wire pulled taut.
- Press Center on wall to center the whole group at eye level (or just above the furniture).
- Read the nail table, then download the PNG plan or copy the measurements to take to the wall.
Gallery wall rules of thumb
These are widely used starting points, not strict rules. Trust your eye once the plan is on the wall, and always use anchors rated for the weight of heavy frames.
| Measurement | Typical value | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Center of the arrangement | 57–60 in (145–152 cm) from the floor | Close to average standing eye level; many museums hang at 57 in. |
| Gap between frames | 2–3 in (5–8 cm) | Close enough that the frames read as one piece; keep the gap the same everywhere. |
| Space above a sofa or console | 6–10 in (15–25 cm) | Connects the art to the furniture without heads bumping the frames. |
| Width over furniture | About 2/3 of the furniture width | A group much narrower looks lost; wider than the furniture looks top-heavy. |
| Space to ceiling, doors and corners | At least 6–12 in (15–30 cm) | Gives the arrangement breathing room so it does not look crammed in. |
How the nail position is worked out
For each frame the planner knows the height of its top edge above the floor and the hanger drop, the distance from the top of the frame down to the point that will rest on the nail.
- Nail height = top edge height − hanger drop.
- One hook or a wire: one nail, centered: left edge + width ÷ 2.
- Two D-rings: two nails at the same height, at left edge + inset and right edge − inset, where the inset is the distance from each side of the frame to its ring.
Example: a 16 × 20 in frame whose top edge is at 72 in, with its wire 3 in below the top when pulled taut, needs a nail at 72 − 3 = 69 in. If its left edge is 40 in from the end of the wall, the nail goes 40 + 8 = 48 in from that end.
Tips for a wall that looks planned
- Start with the biggest piece near the middle and build outward, keeping the outer edges roughly square.
- Measure the drop on every frame. Wires on similar frames often sit at different heights, which is the most common reason a row ends up crooked.
- Mix orientations in a salon wall, and repeat a frame finish or color three or more times so the mix feels intentional.
- Hang the center frame first, check it with a level, then measure the others from it.
- For a single picture, the Picture Hanging Height Calculator gives the nail height in one step, and the Picture Frame Mat Calculator helps you size mats.
Frequently asked questions
How high should a gallery wall be hung?
A common rule used by galleries and designers is to place the center of the whole arrangement about 57 to 60 inches (145 to 152 cm) above the floor, roughly average eye level. Above a sofa or console, leave about 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) between the furniture and the bottom of the lowest frame. The planner centers the group at the eye-level height you enter, or raises it just enough to clear the furniture.
How much space should be between frames in a gallery wall?
Most gallery walls use a gap of 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) between frames. Smaller gaps look tighter and more unified; bigger gaps suit large frames and big walls. Keeping the gap the same everywhere matters more than the exact number, which is why the planner snaps frames to the gap you set.
How do I find where to put the nail?
Measure the hanger drop: the distance from the top edge of the frame down to the sawtooth hook or D-ring, or to the wire when you pull it up tight as it will hang. The nail goes at the height of the frame's top edge minus that drop. For a single hook or wire the nail is centered on the frame; for two D-rings there are two nails at the same height, one above each ring.
What does the nail table measure from?
Horizontal positions are measured from the left end of the wall, and heights are measured up from the floor. If your wall has a door or window on the left, measure from the point you entered as the left edge. Inch values are rounded to the nearest 1/8 inch so you can read them straight off a tape measure.
Should the frames in a gallery wall all match?
No. A grid of identical frames looks formal and modern, while a salon-style wall mixes sizes, orientations and finishes for a collected look. What ties a mixed wall together is a consistent gap, a shared outer edge or center line, and a repeated color or frame finish.
How do I transfer the plan to the wall?
Mark the nail points lightly in pencil using the table, checking each line with a level. Another popular method is to trace each frame on kraft paper, mark the nail point on the paper, tape the sheets to the wall to check the look, and then nail straight through the marks.
Is my layout saved?
The wall, frames and positions are saved automatically in this browser's local storage, so they are still there next time on the same device. Photos you drop into frames are only used for the preview and are never uploaded; they are not kept after you leave the page.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.