How to Hang Pictures with Sawtooth Hangers

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From choosing the right type of hanger to installing it
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A sawtooth picture hanger is a great way to hang pictures that weigh less than 20 lb (9.1 kg). Sawtooth hangers are attached directly to the back of the frame, then hooked onto a hole in the wall. We talked to handyman Jason Phillip and installation expert Peter Salerno to find out everything you need to know about attach the hanger to the wall and hanging the picture on the wall —plus we’ll go over the different types of sawtooth hangers and when to use them.

Hanging a Picture with a Sawtooth Hanger

Line the hanger up exactly in the center of the frame, then nail, screw, or hammer it into place. Mark the spot on the wall where you want the picture to hang, then drive a nail into that spot at a 45° angle. Place the picture against the wall, then hook the sawtooth hanger onto the nail.

Section 1 of 3:

Attaching the Hanger to the Picture

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  1. Most sawtooth hangers are only meant to support about 20 lb (9.1 kg) of weight. Weigh the picture you want to hang, and make sure to purchase a sawtooth hanger that’s rated to hold that amount. [1]
    • To easily weigh the picture, hold it as you step onto a scale and then subtract your weight from the total.
    • If your painting weighs more than the limit for the sawtooth hanger, hang it by a different means. Phillip recommends hanging heavier pictures with a wire installed across the back of the frame. [2]

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Jason Phillip is a handyman and home services expert who’s spent over 9 years running his home services business, Iconic Interior Installations.

    Peter Salerno is an installation expert and the owner of Hook It Up Installation, a Chicago-based professional installation company that specializes in art pieces and other mountable objects.

  2. Use a tape measure and a pencil or pen to make the mark. This will help you properly situate the sawtooth hanger once you're ready to install it. [3]
    • If you don’t want to make a mark directly on the frame, place a piece of painter’s tape or masking tape roughly halfway across the frame. Measure the frame, then mark the center point on the tape.
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  3. Salerno recommends “placing a sawtooth hanger about 3 in (7.6 cm) on either side of the picture.” He says that this will help keep the picture more stable, so it’s less likely to get bumped out of place over time. [4]
    • This isn't a requirement, but it will make your frame more stable when it's finally hanging up.
  4. Position the sawtooth hanger over the mark you made so that the center of the hanger is over the exact center of the frame. Hold the hanger in place and use a pencil to mark through each nail hole. That way, you’ll be able to quickly find your place again if you accidentally drop the hanger. [5]
    • A lot of sawtooth hangers have a mark in the very center to make it easier to line up on the back of the frame.
    • If you prefer, you can put a piece of tape on the hanger so you don’t have to worry about it shifting out of place.
  5. Most sawtooth hangers are attached to the frame by nails. Place one nail through the hole in the hanger and gently hammer it into place. Keep the nail as straight as you can so it doesn't go in at an angle. Repeat with the other nail. [6]
    • If your sawtooth hanger has screws , use a screwdriver to attach them one at a time.
    • If you have a nailless sawtooth hanger , just tap it with a hammer to push it into the frame.
    • If your sawtooth hanger has adhesive , peel off the backing, then carefully press the sawtooth hanger onto the frame so it’s perfectly centered. You probably won’t be able to adjust the hanger once it touches the frame, so take your time to position it correctly.
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Section 2 of 3:

Hanging the Picture on the Wall

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  1. The general rule of thumb is that the center of the picture should rest about 57–60 in (140–150 cm) from the floor, but you can put it wherever you think it would look best. It may be helpful to have another person hold the picture up while you look at it from the other side of the room to make sure it's positioned the way you want it. [7]
    • Sawtooth hangers are usually attached to lightweight pictures, so you generally don't need to worry about finding a stud to tap in to.
  2. Once you’re happy with the position of the picture, mark where the top of the frame rests. The best options to use are either a pencil (so you can erase the mark) or a piece of painter's tape (which will easily peel off the wall). [8]
    • Try your best to make the mark in the center of the frame; if someone is helping you, they could hold the frame as you measure and mark the exact center.
  3. 3
    Measure from the top of the frame to the center of the hanger. Turn the picture over and use your ruler or measuring tape to find the distance from the top of the frame to the very middle of the sawtooth hanger. This is usually a fairly small distance—sometimes as little as 0.5 in (1.3 cm), depending on the width of the frame. [9]
  4. 4
    Mark that distance on the wall just below the first mark. Go back to the wall and measure down from the mark you made to represent the top of the hanger. Measure down the distance that you just found from the top of the frame to the center of the hanger, and make a second mark there. [10]
    • For instance, if the distance from the top of the frame to the center of the sawtooth hanger is 1 in (2.5 cm), your second mark would be 1 in (2.5 cm) beneath the first.
  5. Hammer the nail down into the wall at a 45° angle. The angle will help provide more support for the picture. Leave at least 1 ⁄ 8  in (0.32 cm) of the nail protruding to the wall so you can hook the sawtooth hanger onto the nail. [11]
    • Opt for a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) to 2 in (5.1 cm) hardware nail . Be sure to use a nail with a head, not a finishing nail or brad—the hanger needs to latch onto the nail head to stay in place.
    • Phillip says you can use a screw driven straight into the wall for the same effect. [12]
    • Some sawtooth kits come with small hooks that go on the nail. This hook latches into the sawtooth hanger, rather than just hanging the picture from the nail.
    • Don't forget to erase your mark or remove the tape after you've hammered the nail into the wall.
  6. Carefully position the sawtooth hanger across from the nail and lower it into place until you feel it snag on the nail. Stand back and check to see if it looks level. Because there are multiple “teeth” in the sawtooth hanger, you might need to move the picture slightly so that it's hanging perfectly straight. [13]
    • If you're having trouble gauging whether or not the picture is straight, Phillip recommends using a level to check it.You could also use a screw driven straight into the wall for the same effect. [14]
    • Many smartphones now have “level” apps so you might not even need an additional tool.
  7. 7
    Place a small piece of rolled tape on the bottom corners to secure the frame. This is optional, but it’s a good way to keep your frame from shifting. Roll two small pieces of painter’s or masking tape so each one makes a tube shape, sticky-side out. Press the pieces of tape to the bottom corners of the frame. Then, gently press the frame against the wall.
    • This won’t help support the weight of the frame, but it will help prevent the frame from shifting so it looks crooked.
    • If the frame scrapes the wall, try placing rubber bumpers beneath the corners of the frame instead of tape.
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Section 3 of 3:

Types of Sawtooth Hangers

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  1. Sawtooth hangers come in a variety of sizes and styles. They’re most commonly made to hold items that weigh 20 lb (9.1 kg) or less, and they’re usually attached to the frame with nails—but not always. Here are the different types of sawtooth hangers you might find, plus when to use them: [15]
    • Sawtooth hangers with nails : This is the most common type of sawtooth hanger; it’s attached to the frame with nails. Use these for most lightweight framed art.
    • Sawtooth hangers with screws : These hangers attach to the frame with screws. They’re a little more secure than hangers that attached with nails, so they may be rated for a slightly heavier weight.
    • Nailless sawtooth hangers : Some sawtooth hangers don’t need nails or screws to attach to the frame. Just tap firmly on the hanger with a hammer to drive the prongs into the frame. These are good for wood frames, but may be less secure than hangers with nails or screws.
    • Snap-in sawtooth hangers : These are intended for metal frames, which have slots that you clip the hangers into.
    • Adhesive sawtooth hangers : Adhesive hangers come with an adhesive strip that you can use to attach the hanger to the frame. These can be a good option for very lightweight plastic frames or materials like posterboard.
    • Heavy duty sawtooth hangers : Some sawtooth hangers are rated to hold more weight than standard sawtooths, so you can use them for hanging heavier pictures.

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What should I hang a sawtooth hanger from?
    Jason Phillip
    Handyman
    Jason Phillip is a handyman and home services expert based in Brooklyn, New York. He founded a homes services business, Iconic Interior Installations, in 2013, and spent over 9 years running the business. His company specialized in professionally mounting and installing objects, including mounting window AC units, designing art gallery walls, installing kitchen cabinets, and replacing light fixtures on drywall, brick, and plaster. He was rated a "Top Pro" every year from 2016-2022 by Thumbtack for being one of the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack. Jason closed Iconic Interior Installations in 2022, but continues to hone his home services expertise. He has also cultivated a career as a Machine Learning Engineer, and has been working to drive innovation in space-focused satellite technology since 2022.
    Jason Phillip
    Handyman
    Expert Answer
    You can use the hanger with a nail or screw in your wall. If you can't put a hole in your wall, you can also try using adhesive-backed hooks.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How do you hang a heavy picture frame?
    Jason Phillip
    Handyman
    Jason Phillip is a handyman and home services expert based in Brooklyn, New York. He founded a homes services business, Iconic Interior Installations, in 2013, and spent over 9 years running the business. His company specialized in professionally mounting and installing objects, including mounting window AC units, designing art gallery walls, installing kitchen cabinets, and replacing light fixtures on drywall, brick, and plaster. He was rated a "Top Pro" every year from 2016-2022 by Thumbtack for being one of the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack. Jason closed Iconic Interior Installations in 2022, but continues to hone his home services expertise. He has also cultivated a career as a Machine Learning Engineer, and has been working to drive innovation in space-focused satellite technology since 2022.
    Jason Phillip
    Handyman
    Expert Answer
    Try installing a wire across the back of your frame so it'll have more support when you hang it on the wall.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      • Leave the picture somewhere safe out of the way while you're hammering. You don't want to accidentally drop something on it or step on it while you're working.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Hammer
      • Tape measure
      • Pencil or pen
      • Screws or nails
      • Sawtooth hanger
      • Painter's tape (optional)
      • Nails
      • Level
      • Rubber bumpers (optional)

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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/EdDtfxgBTy0?t=16
      2. ↑ Jason Phillip. Handyman. Expert Interview
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/EdDtfxgBTy0?t=22
      4. ↑ Peter Salerno. Installation Expert. Expert Interview
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/EdDtfxgBTy0?t=25
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/EdDtfxgBTy0?t=34
      7. ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/our-guide-to-hanging-art-like-a-professional
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/_ugKARUatkM?t=31
      9. ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/our-guide-to-hanging-art-like-a-professional
      1. ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/our-guide-to-hanging-art-like-a-professional
      2. ↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/our-guide-to-hanging-art-like-a-professional
      3. ↑ Jason Phillip. Handyman. Expert Interview
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/y7yojkqUdJQ?t=89
      5. ↑ Jason Phillip. Handyman. Expert Interview
      6. ↑ https://www.designsinkart.com/library/IEA-SubjectIsSawtooth201104.htm

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