The idea of a standardized eye level may seem confusing. After all, what a 6’4” person considers eye level for them will be very different from what a 5’4” person considers to be eye level. To ensure that no one has to strain their neck to view artwork, experts have determined a standard eye level for hanging art and prints on the wall.

What is eye level?

Eye level is considered to be 60” to the center of the artwork. This means that when hanging artwork or prints on the wall, you’ll want the center of whatever you are hanging to be 60” from the floor.

Should you always hang at eye level?

Whether or not you hang your artwork or prints at eye level will depend on where you’re hanging them. If you are hanging the artwork in a hallway, or any area with nothing underneath it, you’ll want to hang it at eye level. This ensures that the artwork will be easily viewed by anyone looking at it from a regular distance. No one will have to strain their neck looking too high or too low.

If you are hanging something above a piece of furniture, eye level may not be the right height. For example, if you are hanging a print above a tall headboard, you’ll want to make sure that there is enough space between the print and the headboard. Eye-level may end up being too low, making the print and headboard look crowded being so close together. When hanging prints and artwork above furniture, ensuring there is enough breathing room between the furniture and the artwork is more important than simply hanging at eye level. 

If you're looking to hang artwork above your couch, and need help deciding how high above the couch you should be hanging, you can check out our guide that details this info and more: What Size Prints to Hang Above Your Couch.

How to Hang Prints at Eye Level

Hanging prints at eye level may seem difficult, as you need to base it on the center of your print, rather than the top of the frame. With a few careful measurements, it’s not as tricky as it seems! Get a tape measure and a pen and paper to write down a few measurements, and we’ll take you through the steps. If you haven't yet framed your print, and need help sifting through the options, check out our article about framing options! 

Measure Your Print/Frame 

You’ll want to take two measurements before making the wall or hammering in any nails. First, measure the full vertical height of your print/frame. Then, you’ll need to measure the distance between the hanging wire and the top of the frame. Pull the hanging wire up to remove any slack and measure how far that is from the top of the frame. Write down these measurements, you’ll need them to determine where to mark your wall for hanging hardware. 

Mark the Wall

To find the right spot to mark your wall, you’ll need to do a little bit of math, but nothing too complicated! We’ll break it down step by step. 

First, divide the height of your frame by 2. 

Next, add 60” to this number. That will determine where the top of your frame will end up on the wall. 

Finally, subtract the distance between the hanging wire and the top of the frame. Now you’ve got the final number you need, this is where your hanging hardware will need to be on the wall. 

Measure from the floor to the number you calculated, and draw a small “x” or dot on the wall to mark where you need to place the hardware.  

For example, with the images above, the canvas height is 12", and the distance from the top of the canvas to the hanging wire is 3.5". 
Divide the height by 2: 6"
Add 60: 66"
Subject hanging wire distance: 62.5"

Choosing Hanging Hardware

Hanging hardware has weight ratings, and you’ll want to make sure you get the right hardware for your print/frame. If you use hardware rated for five pounds to hang a 10-pound frame, you’re likely to end up with your print falling from the wall, ripping a bigger hole in the wall. We would recommend weighing your print if possible. Whether you get an exact weight or are using an estimate, we always recommend erring on the safe side when choosing hardware. If your print weighs five pounds, there’s no harm in using hardware rated for ten pounds. This will ensure your print is safe on the wall, and won’t fall.