How to Hang Metal Wall Art in 7 Easy Steps

With metal wall art, you can represent personal style, share special memories and bring extra love to any room in your home. Knowing how to hang metal wall art properly is important for both practical and design purposes. That’s why we put together an easy step-by-step guide to walk you through the process. We’ll share tips from hanging your piece safely on the wall to ensuring it’s perfectly level.

If you’re still looking for a stunning piece of art for your home, customize your own metal wall art to design something that is beautiful, personal and lasting.

What You’ll Need:

Supplies for hanging metal art
  • Metal wall art
  • Hanger
  • Screwdriver and/or drill
  • Wood screws or nails
  • Level
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • Stud finder

How to Hang Metal Wall Art

Step 1: Choose a strong hanger

Back of metal art Make sure the device holding your metal art to the wall can sustain the weight of the piece. Sometimes metal prints come with a hanger, but sometimes you’ll need to purchase one separately. If your metal wall art doesn’t come with a hanger, we suggest a picture wire or sawtooth bar.

Step 2: Find a stud in your wall using a stud finder

Because metal wall art tends to be heavier than other framed artwork, you’ll want to mount your piece in a safe place. Hanging it directly on drywall or plaster could leave you with a torn or damaged wall.

Studs run vertically within a wall and are a fundamental element in the wall’s frame and structure. To find a stud, turn on your stud finder and place it on the wall. Slide the device along the wall horizontally. A light will indicate when a stud has been found. Mark the wall with a pencil so you know exactly where the stud is located.

Step 3: Mark where you wish to hang your art

Measuring metal art By finding a stud, you know the vertical line on which you can hang your artwork. Choose the spot along the stud line where you wish to hang your piece, and mark it clearly with a pencil.

Step 4: Determine the hanger’s placement

Measuring back of metal art In order to get your artwork placed just where you want it, you need to determine how low the hook or wire is on the back of the art piece. To find this, measure the distance from the hook or wire to the top of the artwork. Record the measurement on a piece of paper.


Step 5: Mark your exact hanging spot

Marking wall for metal art The pencil mark you made in Step 3 indicates where you want your metal artwork to hang. Moving downward from that pencil mark, measure the distance you recorded in Step 4. Mark the new spot with pencil in a manner that’s distinct from your original marking.

Congratulations! Now you have the exact location to place your screw.

Step 5: Secure the hanger on the stud

Drilling holes for metal art Using your screwdriver or drill, secure the screw into the wall at the exact location you marked in Step 5. The screw should be long enough to penetrate the stud in the wall and have enough leftover length for your hook or hanger to rest comfortably on the end. You may need to create a pilot hole using a drill before inserting the screw.

Step 6: Hang your metal artwork on the hanger

Carefully latch your artwork on the hanger. Before releasing the piece, ensure that you can feel the hanger and full weight of the artwork secured on the screw.

Step 7: Use a level to verify that your piece is even

Metal wall art hanging Place your level on top of your metal artwork. See if the bubbles in the level indicate that it’s straight. Adjust your piece as needed until it rests in a perfectly even position.

Now step back, and admire how beautiful your new artwork looks in the room!

Tips for Metal Wall Art:

  • Tip 1: Consider the height of your furniture and ceilings when choosing where to hang your piece. Designers suggest art be hung at eye level to allow for easy viewing. This handy rule of thumb also ensures your art doesn’t end up too high or too low on a wall.
  • Tip 2: When designing your wall art, choose photographs that are particularly beautiful and eye-catching. Choose action shots, candids and images with vivid colors.
  • Tip 3: Consider the room in which you’ll be hanging your artwork. Choose a photo that coordinates (or uniquely contrasts) with the colors and style of your other room decor, like furniture and rugs.
  • Tip 4: Create a wall gallery to fill a blank wall and maximize your space. Galleries can incorporate several types of photos, but work best if there is an underlying theme or color scheme.