Free, no sign-up. Enter your wall and the furniture under it, pick a layout or add the frames you own, and get the exact spot for every frame and nail.
| # | Frame | Left edge from wall’s left | Top edge from floor | Nail from wall’s left | Nail height |
|---|
Frames to buy
Measurements are to the outside edge of each frame. “Nail height” assumes one centered hanger that sits the hanger drop below the frame’s top edge; for two hooks or a wire, measure your frame and change the hanger drop.
The gallery wall numbers to start from
Hang the arrangement so its bottom edge sits 6 to 8 inches above the sofa or console, keep 2 to 3 inches between frames, and make the whole group about two-thirds as wide as the furniture under it. With no furniture, center the group about 57 to 60 inches from the floor.
| Measurement | Common guideline | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Gap above sofa or console | 6–8 in | Close enough that the art and the furniture read as one group |
| Space between frames | 2–3 in | Under 2 in looks cramped; over 4 in starts to look scattered |
| Total width | About 2/3 of the furniture | Wider than the sofa feels top-heavy; much narrower looks lost |
| Center height, open wall | 57–60 in from the floor | Close to average standing eye level |
Popular gallery wall grids and how big they get
These totals use a 2.5-inch gap between frames, the same default as the generator. The last column is the sofa width that puts each grid at about two-thirds of the sofa, so you can check a layout before buying frames.
| Layout | Frame size | Frames | Total size (W × H) | Best over a sofa of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row of 3 | 8×10 | 3 | 29 × 10 in | about 44 in |
| Row of 3 | 11×14 | 3 | 38 × 14 in | about 57 in |
| Row of 3 | 16×20 | 3 | 53 × 20 in | about 80 in |
| Grid 2×2 | 8×10 | 4 | 18.5 × 22.5 in | about 28 in |
| Grid 2×2 | 11×14 | 4 | 24.5 × 30.5 in | about 37 in |
| Grid 2×2 | 16×20 | 4 | 34.5 × 42.5 in | about 52 in |
| Grid 2×3 | 8×10 | 6 | 29 × 22.5 in | about 44 in |
| Grid 2×3 | 11×14 | 6 | 38 × 30.5 in | about 57 in |
| Grid 2×3 | 16×20 | 6 | 53 × 42.5 in | about 80 in |
| Grid 3×3 | 8×10 | 9 | 29 × 35 in | about 44 in |
| Grid 3×3 | 11×14 | 9 | 38 × 47 in | about 57 in |
| Grid 3×3 | 16×20 | 9 | 53 × 65 in | about 80 in |
A 2×3 grid of 11×14 frames is about 38 inches wide, which suits a loveseat or a small sofa. Over a standard 84-inch sofa, step up to 16×20 frames or add a third row of smaller frames.
How to use the generator
- Measure the wall and, if there is a sofa, bed or console under it, its width and the height of its top edge.
- Pick a layout. Grids suit matching frames. “1 big + 4” and “Centerline 5” suit one statement piece with smaller frames around it.
- Have frames already? Choose “Your frames” and add each size you own with how many you have. The generator splits them into balanced rows, biggest piece in the middle.
- Read the table. Every frame gets its left-edge and top-edge position, plus where the nail goes for one centered hanger.
- Copy or print the numbers, then mark each nail spot with painter’s tape before you drill.
Mixing frame sizes without it looking messy
- Keep one consistent gap. Equal spacing does more to make mixed sizes look planned than matching frames do.
- Anchor with the largest piece. Put it in the middle of the main row and let smaller frames step out from it.
- Hold a shared line. Line up the centers of each row (a centerline) or the top edges, not both.
- Repeat a frame color or a mat. Two or three repeats tie different sizes together.
Finding the nail spot
The table gives the frame’s top edge. The nail goes lower by the hanger drop: the distance from the top of the frame down to the sawtooth hook or to a pulled-tight wire. Measure one frame, type that number into “Hanger drop”, and every nail height updates. For frames with two D-rings, hang from two nails at the same height and use the drop to the rings.
Renting? Hang it without nails
Use adhesive picture-hanging strips instead of nails, and check the weight limit on the package against each frame. Put the strips where the generator places each frame’s top edge, and press each frame for the time the package says before letting go.
Gallery wall questions
How far apart should frames be in a gallery wall?
About 2 to 3 inches. Gaps under 2 inches look crowded and gaps over 4 inches make the frames read as separate pieces instead of one group.
How high should a gallery wall be above a couch?
Start the bottom row 6 to 8 inches above the top of the sofa back. That keeps the art and the sofa visually connected while leaving room to lean back.
How wide should a gallery wall be?
About two-thirds of the width of the furniture below it. Over an 84-inch sofa that is roughly 56 inches of art, gaps included.
What size frames should I use above a sofa?
For a matching grid over a standard sofa, 16×20 frames in a 2×3 grid come to about 53 inches wide. For a mixed layout, pair one 16×20 or 18×24 piece with 8×10 and 5×7 frames.
Is the gallery wall generator free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with no sign-up, and nothing you enter is sent anywhere. The share link stores your layout in the page address.
Spacing guidelines summarized from framing and decor guides, including Frameology and Mixtiles. Related guides: 8 Gallery Wall Layout Templates · How to Plan a Gallery Wall