Finding the center of a wall is an important step when you want your picture (or grouping of artwork) to feel balanced in the room. Here’s the simplest way to do it:
Step-by-Step Method
- Measure the wall width.
- Use a tape measure to find the total length of the wall from one corner to the other.
- Divide by two.
- Take that measurement and divide it in half.
- Example: If your wall is 120 inches wide, the center point is at 60 inches.
- Mark the spot.
- Use a pencil to lightly mark the center on the wall, or place a piece of painter’s tape as a guide.
- Apply the hanging height rule.
- Once you know the center width, measure up from the floor to about 57 inches (the “rule of 57”) to set the vertical position.
- This ensures the center of your picture aligns with eye level.
- Double-check with a level.
- Before hanging, use a level or laser level to keep your artwork straight.
Pro Tip with Hanging Systems
If you’re using a picture hanging system (track, cables, and hooks), you don’t need to get the placement perfect on the first try. The system allows you to slide the artwork left, right, up, or down until it’s perfectly centered, with no extra holes and no patching.
✅ Bottom line: To find the center of a wall, measure the total width, divide by two, and combine that with the 57-inch rule for height. With a hanging rail system, adjustments are effortless, making it easy to get the perfect placement every time.