How to Hang Canvas Prints (With or Without Nails)

You've chosen your canvas. It's arrived in perfect condition. Now comes the part that makes most people slightly anxious — actually getting it on the wall straight, at the right height, without putting seventeen holes in the plaster.

Good news: hanging a canvas print is straightforward. Here's everything you need to know.

Method 1: Standard Wall Nail or Picture Hook (Recommended)

The most secure method — works on any wall type.

1. Find your hanging height. The centre of your canvas should sit at eye level — roughly 145–150 cm from the floor. Mark this point lightly with a pencil.
2. Measure the hanging hardware. Look at the back of your canvas. Find the D-ring or wire and measure how far it sits from the top of the frame. Subtract this from your centre-point mark to find where the nail goes.
3. Tap in the nail at a 45° upward angle. This stops the canvas from slipping off.
4. Hang and check level. Most phone apps have a built-in spirit level — rest your phone on the top edge of the canvas to check it's straight.

Method 2: Adhesive Strips (No Nails)

Great for renters or anyone who wants to avoid wall damage. Brands like Command strips work well for lighter canvases — but check the weight limit first. Most adhesive strips support 2–7 kg per pair.

1. Clean the wall with a dry cloth and let it dry completely.
2. Press the strips firmly to the back of the canvas frame — not to the canvas itself.
3. Press the canvas against the wall for 30 seconds, then remove and let the wall strips cure for 1 hour before rehanging.
4. Check alignment with a spirit level before the adhesive fully sets.

Method 3: Picture Rails

Older homes and many apartments have picture rails near the ceiling — a horizontal moulding designed specifically for hanging art. You can hang almost any canvas from a picture rail using adjustable hooks and cord, with no nails in the wall at all.

How to Hang Two Canvases Perfectly Level

Hanging a pair of prints — or a diptych set — symmetrically is where most people struggle. Here's the easiest method:

1. Cut paper to the exact size of one canvas and tape it to the wall in the desired position.
2. Mark through the paper where the nail needs to go, then remove it.
3. Repeat for the second print, measuring so both are the same height and equal distance apart.
4. Hang both canvases and confirm with a spirit level.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Hanging too high. Eye level is always the answer. If you have to look up at it, it's too high.
• Too much gap above a sofa. Leave 15–20 cm between the top of the sofa and the bottom of the canvas. More than 25 cm and the art feels disconnected.
• Nail too small. When in doubt, go heavier on the hardware.
• Not checking wall type first. Brick or masonry walls need a drill and wall anchor before your hook.