The 11 Best Picture Hangers of 2023
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Decorate your wall with these user-friendly and reliable options
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Fact checked by Richard Scherr
When it comes to hanging pictures, framed art, and other wall decor, there are tons of routes you can take in terms of mounting type and hardware. "First, determine how much the piece weighs," says Decorist designer Linzie Merchant. "You definitely want the hardware you choose to be able to hold your artwork or wall decor for the long term without falling off."
To help you out, we compiled buying tips from two interior designers and scoured the internet for the best picture hangers on the market. We researched the top options from dependable brands like Command, Everbilt, and OOK. Our favorite picks include user-friendly, reliable options for every wall material and art size.
Best Overall: 3M Claw Drywall Picture Hangers
What We Like
Tool-free installation
No studs needed
Spot markers included
What We Don't Like
Leaves noticeable holes
If we could only choose one piece of hardware to hang pictures, we'd have to go with the 3M Claw Hangers. Made of hardened steel with hooks that lock securely into your wall, you can count on it to hold art pieces as heavy as 25 pounds. (For heavy-duty needs, 3M also makes claw hangers that can support up to 65 pounds.)
In addition to framed pictures, these work perfectly for paintings, art prints, canvases, and mirrors. Best of all, you don't need any tools, and they can be attached anywhere on your drywall—even without a stud. Just push each claw in firmly with your thumb, and you're good to go.
This pack comes with four claws and four spot markers, which you can use to mark the corners of where your art will go. While the hooks will leave noticeable holes in your wall, they're pretty small and can easily be patched with putty.
Price at time of publish: $13
Type: Tool-free claw | Material: Hardened steel | Unit Count: 4 | Weight Capacity: 25 pounds
Best Budget: Liberty Arrow 4-Pack 75 lb Picture Hanger
What We Like
Budget-friendly
Supports up to 75 pounds
Nails included
What We Don't Like
Not ideal for plaster
For a highly affordable solution, consider these Liberty Arrow hangers. These little steel hooks are just 2 inches tall but can support up to 75 pounds. Just bear in mind it's not ideal for plaster, and you'll probably need to find a stud if you plan to hang something nearing that 75-pound limit.
Designed for hanging framed pieces with wires or D-rings, this hanger is ideal for photos, paintings, mirrors, and art prints. This set comes with four hooks and four nails, so all you'll need is a hammer.
Price at time of publish: $3
Type: Hammer-in hook | Material: Steel | Unit Count: 4 | Weight Capacity: 75 pounds
Best Kit: Everbilt Picture Hanging Kit (217-Piece)
What We Like
Vast pieces work well for varying projects
Nails and wire included
Case included
What We Don't Like
Not suitable for concrete or brick
Not sure what hardware to use? Since it can vary by project, you might consider getting a kit, like this comprehensive set from Everbilt. It comes with a whopping 217 pieces, including traditional picture-hanging hooks, sawtooth hangers, screw eyes, escutcheon pins, and strand wire. Everything comes in a handy case for keeping it all organized.
Each piece is made of sturdy steel and features a shiny brass finish. When using the hooks, be sure to note the size. While the largest can support up to 100 pounds, the smaller ones can only hold about 10 pounds. These hangers are great for drywall, but just a heads-up, they won't work on concrete or brick.
Price at time of publish: $10
Type: Various | Material: Steel | Unit Count: 217 | Weight Capacity: 10–100 pounds
Best for Heavy Art: OOK 200 lb Steel Heavy-Duty Drywall Hanger
What We Like
Supports up to 200 pounds
Nails included
No stud needed
What We Don't Like
Leaves noticeable holes
Relatively large
For those seriously big and heavy art pieces, the OOK Heavy-Duty Hanger supports up to 200 pounds. It's designed for hassle-free mounting on drywall, and you don't even need a stud.
This sturdy hanger is made of steel and features a brushed-nickel finish. One thing to note is that it's almost 7 inches long and 4 inches wide, so it's quite a bit bigger than most other picture hooks. Still, we like that it comes with all the nails you'll need to mount it.
Price at time of publish: $5
Type: Mount plate and hook | Material: Steel | Unit Count: 1 | Weight Capacity: 200 pounds
Best for Lightweight Items: 3M Command Medium Wire Hooks
What We Like
Transparent design
No sticky residue
Designer-recommended
What We Don't Like
Can damage walls if not used correctly
Command has quickly become a household name thanks to its damage-free picture-hanging solutions. These wire hooks have adhesive backings that stick to painted walls, finished wood, metal, tile, and even glass. Not only that, but they promise not to leave behind a sticky residue.
Each hook can only support 2 pounds of weight, but they're still great for small pictures, Christmas stockings, calendars, keys, sunglasses, hats, kitchen utensils, tools, office supplies, and wardrobe accessories. "For lighter items, these are some of my favorites to use," says Merchant. She also notes that these are also a great option for small projects in rental homes or dorms, where you don't want to create any permanent holes.
Price at time of publish: $15
Type: Adhesive hooks | Material: Plastic, metal | Unit Count: 6 | Weight Capacity: 2 pounds
Best Tool-Free: High & Mighty 60 lb Tool-Free Wall Hanger
What We Like
Supports up to 60 pounds
No nails needed
Leaves minimal damage
What We Don't Like
Not suitable for plaster
Our favorite tool-free option is this claw-style hanger from High & Mighty. Not only do you need zero tools, but no nails are required either. Once you have each claw in place, just push it in firmly and attach your art.
Made of durable steel, this picture hanger can support as much as 60 pounds of weight on drywall and promises to leave minimal damage. It's designed for framed art pieces with wires and D-rings, but it can also work with sawtooth mounts.
Price at time of publish: $6
Type: Tool-free claw | Material: Steel | Unit Count: 1 | Weight Capacity: 60 pounds
Best Strips: 3M Command 16 lb. Large Picture Hanging Strips
What We Like
Nail-free design
Ensures level hanging
Leaves no marks
What We Don't Like
Lower weight capacity
Not reusable
Not surprisingly, the best strips also come from Command. These innovative picture hangers click together, then stick to the back of the frame. After that, you remove the adhesive backing and press the entire thing onto your wall. The click-together component ensures your pictures are always level, while the nail-free design ensures no holes in your walls.
Supporting up to 16 pounds, these have a lower weight capacity than many other options on this list. However, they can still hold most small art pieces and framed pictures with acrylic fronts (as opposed to glass). Also that note that these are not reusable.
Price at time of publish: $3
Type: Click-together strips | Material: Synthetic fabric, plastic | Unit Count: 8–12 | Weight Capacity: 16 pounds
Best Twist-In: Furhua Super Hooks Picture Hanger
What We Like
Tool-free installation
Works without stud
Large weight capacity
What We Don't Like
Leaves noticeable hole
Furhua Super Hooks Picture Hangers are undoubtedly the best twist-in picture hangers. Merchant prefers to use twist-in hardware for framed art and other items on the heavy side. "You'd use these when screwing into drywall without being able to use a stud for support," she tells The Spruce. "It's always best if you can use a stud for support, but sometimes that isn't possible.
These iron hooks come in packs of 20, each supporting around 100 pounds. Easy to install, all you do is push in the tip, then twist it back and forth until it penetrates the wall. Finally, rotate the hook upward and push it all the way in so it's flush.
Price at time of publish: $9
Type: Twist-in hook | Material: Iron | Unit Count: 20 | Weight Capacity: 110 pounds
Best Adjustable: Ikea Fixa 116-Piece Picture Hook Set
What We Like
Eight height adjustments
Suitable for various wall materials
Case included
What We Don't Like
Not suitable for heavy art
If you want to be able to adjust the height of your art, this picture-hanging set from Ikea is your best bet. The 116-piece kit comes with rung hooks, allowing you to shift your art up or down without having to reinstall hardware or create new holes in your wall.
With the kit, you'll also get standard hooks for wood, plaster, or drywall, two sizes of nails, and concrete wall hooks. Ikea recommends using two when hanging larger pieces. But since the weight capacity isn't listed, we wouldn't recommend this kit for any heavy art.
Price at time of publish: $8
Type: Various | Material: Steel, thermoplastic | Unit Count: 116 | Weight Capacity: Not listed
Best Sawtooth: EesTeck Small Sawtooth Picture Hangers
What We Like
Budget-friendly
Easy to adjust
Screws included
What We Don't Like
Nails not included
Not suitable for large artwork
Sawtooth mounts can make hanging pictures a breeze. And if the level is off slightly, you can easily adjust them without having to move any nails or create new holes. We like this affordable option from EesTeck, which comes in packs of 50, 100, or 150.
Made of stainless steel, these sawtooth hangers are sturdy, rust-resistant, and long-lasting. They come with 8-millimeter screws to attach to the back of your frame. However, you'll need to get your own nails for the wall. Also, the weight capacity isn't specified, and the brand recommends using them with small frames only.
Price at time of publish: $6
Type: Sawtooth | Material: Steel | Unit Count: 50–150 | Weight Capacity: Not listed
Best for Brick and Concrete: Rocky Mountain Goods Picture Hangers for Brick, Concrete, and Cinder Block
What We Like
High-strength design
Supports heavy pictures
Lifetime warranty
What We Don't Like
Tricky mounting
If you're working with a brick, concrete, or cinder block wall, these clever hooks from Rocky Mountain Goods are the way to go. They're made of sturdy plastic and feature three stainless steel pins. Once you have them in place, gently tap the pins in with a hammer until they attach to the wall behind.
The process is pretty straightforward, but it can be tricky to get the pins to lock in without leaving cracks in your wall. While the brand doesn't specify a weight capacity, it says the high-strength design can support heavy pictures. Plus, it's backed by a lifetime warranty.
Price at time of publish: $6
Type: Hammer-in hook | Material: Plastic, stainless steel | Unit Count: 5 | Weight Capacity: Not listed
Final Verdict
Overall, we like the 3M Claw Picture Hanger, a drywall-friendly solution boasts tool-free installation and comes with handy spot markers for precise picture hanging. But if you're looking for something even more wallet-friendly or need to hang a heavier art piece, the Liberty Arrow 75lb Picture Hanger is a solid choice.
What to Look for When Buying Picture Hangers
Type
There are several types of picture hangers to choose from. This includes tool-free claws, nail-in hooks, screw eyes, heavy-duty mounts, adhesive hooks, click-together strips, and twist-in hooks—to name just a few.
With the exception of strip-style hangers, like the 3M Command Picture Hanging Strips we recommend, most options are designed to attach to wires, D-rings, or sawtooth mounts, which may or may not be already attached to the back of your art. Decorist designer Katy Byrne always recommends hanging framed pictures from two points. "This will keep the piece straight."
Weight Capacity
As Decorist designer Linzie Merchant noted, you should always start by confirming the weight of what you intend to hang and then checking the weight capacity before buying a picture hanger. For heavy-hanging projects, consider options like the OOK Heavy-Duty Drywall Hanger, which can support up to 200 pounds. On the other hand, for super light objects like keys or stockings, 3M Command Wire Hooks are easy and don't require any holes.
Wall Material
Lastly, consider the wall material. Most picture hangers are suitable for use with standard drywall and can often be installed with or without studs. However, those with higher weight capacities may call for studs. Plaster is more brittle than drywall but also harder, so it often needs special hooks.
Similarly, concrete and brick are tricky for hanging pictures. For these wall materials, you'll need a hook with small metal pins you gently tap into the wall until they attach securely. We recommend Rocky Mountain Goods picture hangers for these projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high should you hang a picture or piece of art?
"One of the biggest mistakes I see is when clients hang artwork too high, and it just makes the room scale feel off," says Merchant. "I recommend hanging wall art with the center of the artwork being between 60 and 66 inches above the floor."
Byrne agrees with this general rule of thumb. "It puts the piece at eye-level for the average person," she explains.
Can you hang a picture without tools?
Yes! Many picture hangers are designed for tool-free installation. This includes press-in claws, adhesive hooks, and click-together strips. Just keep in mind that if the picture doesn't have a wire, D-rings, or sawtooth mounts, you might have to use a screw or hammer to attach them.
When should you hire a professional to hang art?
Many picture hangers are easy to use, especially tool-free designs. However, if you're worried about leaving holes in your wall, aren't sure about wall art placement, aren't confident about mounting to brick or concrete, or just prefer leaving this type of thing to the experts, hiring a professional might be the way to go.
Why Trust The Spruce?
The Spruce contributor Theresa Holland compiled buying tips and expert insights from two interior designers for this piece. She then researched various mounting types, hardware materials, and products for hanging art, narrowing it down to dependable, user-friendly options that work on multiple wall materials. We also consulted Decorist designers Linzie Merchant and Katy Byrne for their insight on what to look for in a picture hanger. As a commerce writer and product tester, Holland specializes in decor, textiles, home improvement, and organizational solutions. You can find more of her stories on People, Travel + Leisure, and Byrdie.
This article was updated by Bianca Pineda, a commerce writer for The Spruce.
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