Hanging a large canvas
A big canvas weighs less than it looks, but it is awkward. Most of the job happens with a tape measure and a pencil, before you lift it.
Find the height first.
Galleries often place the centre of a picture around 1450mm to 1500mm from the floor, which is roughly eye level for an adult. That is a starting point. Above a sofa or sideboard, leave a gap of a hand or two between the furniture and the bottom edge instead, and let the room decide.
Worked example: an A0 canvas, portrait
An A0 canvas measures 841mm by 1189mm. With its centre at 1500mm, the top edge sits about 595mm above that, at 2095mm. Suppose the fixings on the back are 200mm below the top edge. The hooks then go at 1895mm from the floor. Always measure the fixing position on your own canvas, as it will not be the same on every piece.
Six steps to hang it.
- Check the back. Note what is fitted, such as D-rings or a wire, and measure the distance between them.
- Hold a paper template to the wall, or mark out the corners with masking tape, then stand back.
- Check the area for pipes and cables with a detector before drilling, particularly above sockets and switches.
- Mark two fixing points, level with each other. Two points stop a wide canvas swinging out of true.
- Fit the fixings to suit the wall (see below).
- Lift it with two people, hook it on, then check it with a spirit level on the top bar.
Match the fixing to the wall.
| Wall | How to tell | Usual approach |
|---|---|---|
| Brick or block | Sounds solid; dust from the drill is red or grey | Masonry drill bit, wall plugs and screws |
| Plasterboard | Sounds hollow when tapped | Screw into a timber or metal stud, or use a cavity fixing rated for the weight |
| Lath and plaster | Older houses; uneven and crumbly when drilled | Find the timber behind; avoid relying on the plaster |
| Tile or concrete | Very hard; tiles can crack | Ask a professional unless you have the right drill and bits |
Read the load rating on the packet and allow a good margin. If you have any doubt about the wall, or the canvas is going over a bed, a stairwell or a place where people sit, ask a competent installer to do it.
Where not to hang it
Avoid the area directly over a radiator, where hot air dries out the fabric and frame. Avoid damp outside walls too, and spots that get strong direct sun for hours a day. Our guide to looking after a printed canvas covers the long term.
A note on our canvases
Ours are stretched over 36mm bars, so the piece stands proud of the wall by about that depth. Ask us what is on the back of yours when you order, and tell us if you want to plan the fixing in advance. Not sure of the size yet? Try our guide to choosing a print size for a wall.
Canvases on the wall.
Your questions.
Can I use adhesive strips for a large canvas?
Not for a large piece. Adhesive strips are rated for light items and they can fail on painted walls. Screw fixings are the safer route.
Should two canvases hang at the same height?
Line up their centres for a calm look, or their bottom edges along a shelf or a piece of furniture. Mock it up with tape before you drill.
Why does my canvas lean forward at the top?
A wire that is too long or fixings set low on the back will tip it. Move the fixings up the bars or shorten the wire.