How to hang frames with a sawtooth hanger

Many frames (including many of ours) come with a sawtooth hanger installed on the back of the frame. Sawtooth hangers are an easy way to hang small or medium-sized art that is not too heavy. (For art that weighs more than 20 pounds, you’ll need a different type of hardware like a hanging wire or a corner brackets). Follow our step-by-step guide below, and you’ll soon be a sawtooth pro–even if you’ve never used one before. Let’s get hanging!

Step 1: Pick your spot

Identify the place on your wall where you want to hang your frame. Tip: Ask a friend or family member to take a look from a distance, and measure your space to ensure your frame is centered in the desired wall space.

Step 2: Mark the wall

With a pencil, lightly mark the wall at the top-center of the frame. This will allow you to position your next mark below it (in Step 4), where the nail will actually go.

Step 3: Measure

Next, measure the distance from the middle of the sawtooth hanger to the top of the frame (this is usually about a half inch). A finger works for an estimate, but a tape measure or ruler is more exact.

Step 4: Mark your wall again

Now, measure down from your first mark the distance you just identified in Step 3 (from the sawtooth hanger to the top of the frame) and then make a darker mark below your original mark. This is where your nail goes.

Step 5: Hammer and hang

Hammer a nail into the second mark. Place the center of the sawtooth hook over the nail and straighten with gentle nudges as needed. A level is your friend for getting it straight, but once it's even, you're done!

Any questions? We're here to help. Hanging a whole gallery wall? Check out our guide here.

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