Hang a picture on drywall with a hammer and nail hooks

How a picture hook holds on drywall

Drywall is a layer of gypsum between two sheets of paper. A plain nail driven straight in holds poorly, because the soft gypsum crumbles around it and the nail can tip out. A picture hook fixes that. Its nail passes through a small sleeve at a steep downward angle. The weight of the frame pulls down on the hook, which presses the nail across the gypsum instead of pulling it straight out. That's why a tiny nail can carry a real load.

Makers rate each hook by weight. OOK and Hillman, for example, sell nail-in hooks in common ratings such as 20, 30 and 50 pounds, printed on the package. The rating assumes the hook is installed the way the instructions show, usually into drywall or wood. The cord, sawtooth or D-ring on the back of the frame also matters. Two hooks spread the load and keep a wide frame from tilting. If you hit a wood stud behind the drywall, the nail holds even better.

What makes a picture fall or hang wrong

Let's fix it

1. Weigh it, check the back and pick the hookStep on a bathroom scale holding the frame, then subtract your own weight. Or weigh it on a kitchen scale if it's small. Turn the frame over and look at the hanger. A sawtooth strip or small ring suits one hook. A cord or two D-rings works with one or two hooks. Tug the cord; if it's frayed, loose at a screw eye or thin, replace it before hanging. Buy a picture hook whose package rating is above the frame weight. For frames wider than about 2 feet, use two hooks spaced apart, so the frame stays level. Stop if the frame weighs more than your hooks are rated for; use anchors or a stud instead.
   Done

   Something went wrong?

   • The frame has no hanger at all Add a sawtooth hanger or two D-rings with a cord. Kits are cheap at hardware stores. Center them so the frame hangs straight.

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2. Choose the height and measure the cord dropMany galleries and framers hang art so its center sits about 57 to 60 inches off the floor, near average eye level. Over a sofa or table, leave roughly 6 to 10 inches between the furniture and the frame bottom instead. Mark the center height lightly in pencil. Now find the hook spot. Hook a finger under the cord and pull it up tight toward the top of the frame, as a hook would. Measure from the taut cord down to the top edge of the frame. Add half the frame height, then subtract that cord drop. Mark the hook spot that distance above the center mark. A strip of painter's tape on the wall takes pencil and peels off cleanly.
   Done

   Something went wrong?

   • My math keeps coming out wrong Try the tape trick. Put painter's tape across the back where the cord peaks, mark the peak, then stick the tape on the wall at your chosen spot and nail through the mark.

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3. Check for pipes and cables behind the spotLook at what's near your mark. Electrical cables often run straight up or down from outlets and switches, so don't nail directly above or below one. Shift the spot a few inches sideways instead. Pipes often sit behind sinks, toilets and tubs, and on the wall beside them. Scan the area with a stud finder that has an AC or live-wire detection mode, if you have one. It may also show a stud, which holds a nail very well. Picture-hook nails are short, but some can pass through 1/2-inch drywall, so check first. If a nail ever hits a cable, turn that circuit's breaker off and call an electrician. Stop if the scanner flags live current at your mark; move the spot rather than guess.
   Done

   Something went wrong?

   • The stud finder beeps everywhere Recalibrate it on a bare spot, hold it flat and move slowly. Paint, damp drywall or metal corner bead can confuse some models. Our guide to finding a wall stud explains other ways to check.

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4. Tap the hook nail in at its anglePut on safety glasses. Use a light claw hammer, about 13 to 16 ounces; see how to use a hammer if you rarely swing one. Hold the hook flat on the wall with its bottom curve on your mark. Push the nail through the sleeve. It will point down at the angle the sleeve sets, so don't straighten it. Pinch the hook with your fingertips and give two or three gentle taps until the nail bites. Then move your fingers away. Tap lightly with the hammer face flat on the nail head until the head stops against the sleeve. Stop there; extra blows crush the drywall and loosen the hook.
   Done

   Something went wrong?

   • The nail bent Pull it out with pliers and use a new nail in the same sleeve. Tap more lightly and keep the hammer face square to the head.
   • The hook spins or feels loose The gypsum crumbled. Move up or sideways an inch, or switch to an anchor. A loose hook won't hold its rated weight.

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5. Hang it, level it and add bumpersLift the frame with both hands and lower the cord or sawtooth onto the hook. Let go slowly and watch the hook for a second. It should stay put without sagging. Set a small level or a level app on the top edge. Slide the frame along the cord until the bubble centers. With two hooks, a crooked frame means one hook sits high; take it down and move one hook rather than forcing it. Stick small felt or rubber bumpers on the two bottom corners on the back. They keep the frame from shifting and protect the paint. Step back and look from across the room.
   Done

   Something went wrong?

   • It keeps tilting Add a second hook a few inches from the first, or put a bumper on each bottom corner. A dab of removable putty behind a corner can also help.

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6. Fix a hole in the wrong spotMissed the mark? It happens to everyone. Pull the hook nail out with pliers, pulling along the same angle it went in. Press a little lightweight spackle into the hole with a putty knife or your fingertip. Scrape it flush. Let it dry as the tub says; small holes often dry within an hour or so. Sand lightly if needed and dab on matching paint. If the hole is bigger than a nail hole, or the paper tore, see patching a hole in drywall. Then measure again and set the new hook at least an inch away from the old hole, so the nail bites solid gypsum.
   Done

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Watch it done

How To Install A Picture Hook Easily-Full TutorialBy Helpful DIY on YouTube. Their method may vary a little from ours.

Watch on YouTube

If it slips or falls later

If the hook pulls down or the drywall crumbles over time, the frame is likely too heavy for a nail hook. Use the methods in hanging a heavy mirror or picture, which cover anchors and studs.

If the wall cracked around the nail, it may be plaster, not drywall. See hanging things on plaster before you try again, and patching plaster for the damage.

If you ended up with several stray holes, fill them all at once. See patching drywall for larger damage, then paint so the repair disappears.