Gallery Wall Layout Planner: Spacing and Hanging Height
To plan a gallery wall, treat all your frames as one big picture: keep the gap between frames the same (2 to 3 inches is the framing-shop standard), centre the whole group about 57 inches above the floor, and over a sofa or bed keep the bottom edge 7 to 10 inches above the furniture. Enter your frames below and the planner arranges them in rows and gives every frame's measurements.
Gallery wall planner
Enter the space you want to fill and your frames. Results and the preview update as you type, and your numbers are saved in the page address so you can bookmark or share them. Nothing leaves your browser. All sizes are in inches and are the outside size of the frame.
How the planner works
It treats your frames as one picture. It tries one row, two rows, three rows and so on, keeps the layouts that fit inside your width, and picks the one closest to a 3 to 2 landscape shape. Each row is centred and every gap equals your spacing. Then it hangs the whole group so its vertical centre is at your centre height, or 7 to 10 inches above the furniture if you entered one.
row width = sum of frame widths + gap × (frames in row − 1) group width = widest row group height = sum of the tallest frame in each row + gap × (rows − 1) left margin = (width to fill − group width) ÷ 2 open wall: group top = centre height + group height ÷ 2 over furniture: group bottom = furniture height + gap above furniture frame top from floor = group top − frame offset from the group top
- gap
- the same space between every pair of neighbouring frames
- centre height
- 57 in by default (eye level)
Worked example
Given: 96 in of wall, 96 in high; 2 frames 16 × 20 in, 2 frames 11 × 14 in, 2 frames 8 × 10 in; 2.5 in gap; centre at 57 in.
- Two rows of three frames fit best, each row holding one frame of each size. Row width:
16 + 11 + 8 + 2 × 2.5 = 40 in - Both rows are 20 in tall, so the group height is:
20 + 2.5 + 20 = 42.5 in - Left margin:
(96 − 40) ÷ 2 = 28 in - Top of the group:
57 + 42.5 ÷ 2 = 78.25 in from the floor - Bottom of the group:
57 − 21.25 = 35.75 in from the floor - The top-left frame (16 × 20) is at 28 in from the wall edge and its top is 78.25 in from the floor.
Answer: Two rows of three frames, 40 in wide and 42.5 in tall, starting 28 in from the left wall edge, centred 57 in above the floor.
Published rules used
| Rule | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Centre of a frame or whole group | about 57 in above the floor | Source 1 |
| Centre height range | 57 to 60 in | Source 3 |
| Centre in a hallway | 60 to 66 in | Source 1 |
| Bottom of frames above furniture | 7 to 10 in above its top | Source 1 |
| Gap between frames | 2 to 3 in, kept consistent | Source 2 |
These are guidelines from a framing company and a home magazine, not building rules. Adjust for very low furniture, very tall people and unusually large art.
Assumptions and limits
- Frame sizes are the outside size including the frame. Hanging hardware position is not included; measure to the top edge.
- The layout is a tidy grid of centred rows, a good starting point. Lay paper templates on the wall to try it before you drill.
- The 3 to 2 landscape shape the planner aims for is our planning default, not a published rule.
- Heights are measured from the floor, not from the top of a baseboard or rug.
- Source figures as published on 2026-11-13.
Frequently asked questions
How high should I hang a gallery wall?
Centre the whole group, not the lowest frame, about 57 inches above the floor. Framebridge says museums and galleries use this rule of thumb, and Better Homes & Gardens gives 57 to 60 inches for comfortable viewing. In a hallway, where people see art close up, Framebridge suggests 60 to 66 inches.
How far apart should frames be on a gallery wall?
Framebridge recommends 2 to 3 inches between frames, and the same distance everywhere. Set the planner's spacing to any number from 1 to 6 inches if you prefer a tighter or looser look.
How do I hang a gallery wall over a sofa or bed?
Fill the optional furniture height field. The planner keeps the bottom of the lowest frame 7 to 10 inches above the top of the furniture (Framebridge's range; it starts at 8) and works out the centre height from there. Keep the group narrower than the furniture so it reads as part of it.
How wide should a gallery wall be?
Set the width field to the width you want the group to fill, often the width of the sofa, console or bed below it. The planner never goes wider than the number you enter and centres the group in it.
How many frames do I need?
That is a style choice rather than a rule. Enter your frames and the planner shows how much of the wall they fill. If the group looks small in the preview, add frames or use larger ones.
Does the planner work with frames of different sizes?
Yes. Enter up to three frame sizes and how many of each. Frames are packed into rows, each row is centred, the gap is the same everywhere, and the group aims for roughly a 3 to 2 landscape shape, which is our planning default and not a published rule.
What about the nail or hook position?
All measurements are to the top edge of each frame. A frame on a wire hangs from the hook a little lower than its top edge: pull the wire up tight, measure from the top of the frame to the wire, and move the hook up by that amount.
Sources
- Framebridge, What is the "right" height to hang a frame? (framebridge.com) Accessed 2026-11-13.
- Framebridge, How to hang a personalized, one-of-a-kind gallery wall (framebridge.com) Accessed 2026-11-13.
- Better Homes & Gardens, art placement advice (eye-level centre) (bhg.com) Accessed 2026-11-13.