How to Hang a Heavy Picture

We’ve all done it. We put a nail in the wall, hang up a picture, and stand back to see our accomplishments. But then… whoosh! The picture falls and the frame splits. What happened? Upon closer inspection, the nail we had so confidently hammered into the drywall has shifted and is now at a downward angle.

Verdict? The picture was too heavy, so the weight pulled the nail through the drywall until… down went the picture—CRASH!

To avoid such disasters, here are some tips on hanging heavy pictures to drywall.

For heavy frames, putting a nail into a wall stud will provide the security needed to keep that picture from moving. However, If you’re like me, you want to hang artwork where it looks best, and not where a stud is located. If I happen upon a stud, great, but it’s not necessary, especially with the variety of drywall anchors available.

Figure out the weight of the picture

Each drywall anchor is rated to hold different weights. To figure out which works best, weigh your picture to see how heavy it is.

First, pull out your bathroom scale. Stand on the scale and take note of your weight. Step off, grab the picture, and get back on. Take the new total and subtract your weight. The outcome is the weight of the picture. Easy as pie.