What is the standard hanging height for artwork?

The museum standard is the "57-inch rule": the centre of the artwork sits 145cm (57 inches) from the floor, roughly average standing eye level. Galleries commonly work anywhere in the 145-152cm range depending on ceiling height and audience, so this field is adjustable — raise it slightly for high ceilings or seated viewing. (Note 152cm is 59.8 inches; a true 60 inches is 152.4cm.)

How much space should I leave between artworks?

Gallery standard spacing is typically 10-20cm between framed works. Smaller works benefit from tighter spacing (10-12cm), while larger works need more breathing room (15-25cm). The default is 15cm.

What is salon style hanging?

Salon style hanging arranges artworks in multiple rows covering much of the wall, often with frames edge-to-edge or with uniform small gaps. This style maximises the number of pieces displayed and creates a dramatic visual effect.

How do I account for frames?

Enter the framed dimensions (including frame and mount) rather than the image size. This ensures the spacing calculation accounts for the full size of each piece on the wall.

Exhibition Space Calculator — Plan Your Hanging

Calculate how many artworks fit on your gallery wall with correct spacing, hanging height and display area.

Wall Length

Usable horizontal wall span available for the display

Ceiling Height

Floor-to-ceiling height (only used for salon-style row count)

Average Artwork Width

Including frame

Average Artwork Height

Including frame

Hanging StyleSingle row hangs all works on one centre line; salon stacks multiple rows up the wall

How We Calculate This

This calculator packs fixed-width artworks along the usable wall span, leaving an equal gap between neighbours. Because n pieces only have (n−1) gaps between them (no gap is needed past the last frame), the fit is found by adding one spacing to the wall before dividing. Salon style repeats the same packing vertically to count rows.

The formula

Single row: Max artworks = floor((Wall width + Spacing) ÷ (Artwork width + Spacing))

Salon style: Rows × Columns, each axis packed the same way (rows use floor-to-ceiling height minus 30cm clearance top and bottom)

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: June 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.