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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
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Home and Garden
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Hanging Things
Hanging Pictures and Wall Decorations
How to Hang an Unframed Canvas Download Article Co-authored by Jason Phillip
Last Updated: March 10, 2025 References
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Displaying Stretched Canvas
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Hanging Loose Canvas Art
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Expert Q&A
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Tips
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Things You'll Need
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This article was co-authored by Jason Phillip. 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. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 71,058 times.
There are several ways you can hang an unframed canvas to ensure it still looks great on your wall. If you're hanging a canvas that's stretched over stretcher bars, hammer a nail or two into the wall before placing the top stretcher bar over the nails. Pieces of loose canvas can be hung using metal hinge clips, washi tape, a dowel, or pushpins, depending on the size and weight of the canvas.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Displaying Stretched Canvas
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1 Install wire on the stretched canvas to hang larger pieces. This isn’t required to hang your canvas, but it’s a popular option for art that’s larger than 1 foot (0.30 m) squared. You'll place the wire between the left and right stretcher bars so the nail catches on it. Screw 2 eye hooks onto the back of the painting, positioning them on the inside of each canvas stretcher bar, roughly a third of the way down, so that they’re pointing towards one another. Attach a piece of wire to the hooks to hang the canvas from the wire.[1]XResearch source
The stretcher bars are what the canvas is stretched across to keep it taut and in place.
Make sure the hooks are level with one another so the wire is even.
Look for eye hooks and wire for hanging canvas at your local hardware store or art store.
Check to be sure the piece of wire isn’t too long by pulling up on it when it’s tied to the hooks. If it reaches above the top of the canvas, it’s too long.
2 Mark where you want to hang the canvas on the wall. Make a mark just below the center of the top stretcher bar if you're not using wire to hang the canvas. If you've attached a wire, hold the canvas up by the wire and place it against the wall where you'd like it to hang. Make a mark where your finger is holding the wire so you know where to place the nail.[2]X Expert Source Jason PhillipHandymanExpert Interview For heavier canvases or canvases larger than 1 foot (0.30 m) wide, consider using 2 nails to hold the stretched canvas in place more securely.[3]XResearch source
If the canvas is large or heavy, use 2 nails. Make 2 marks on the wall and use a level to ensure they're even.[4]XResearch source
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3 Hammer the nail(s) partway into the wall. Hold the nail on top of the pencil mark you made on the wall. Use a hammer to softly hit the nail into the wall, leaving at least 1 centimetre (0.39 in) exposed where the canvas will hang.[5]XResearch source Repeat with the second nail, if applicable.
If you’re hanging a large canvas with thicker stretcher bars, such as 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick, leave more of the nail exposed to ensure the canvas is secure.
If you're nailing between the studs or securing the canvas on concrete, install anchor screws first so the canvas doesn't fall off of the wall.[6]X Expert Source Jason PhillipHandymanExpert Interview
Visit the hardware store to find nails long enough to go into the wall and hold the stretched canvas.
4 Hang the canvas using the nail(s). If you installed a wire to hang the canvas, hang the wire on the nail so that the canvas is centered—you may need to slide the canvas to the left or right a little bit until it’s perfectly centered on the wire. If you didn’t install a wire, place the edge of the top stretcher bar on the nail(s) so it’s resting securely, centering it how you’d like it to appear on the wall.[7]XResearch source
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Hanging Loose Canvas Art
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1 Use metal hinge clips to hold a large piece of canvas. Place a metal clip on the top of the canvas in each corner. If your canvas is large, use 3 or more clips to hold it up adequately, or look for extra large metal hinge clips that are able to hold the extra weight.[8]XResearch source
Use nails or thumb tacks to hold the clips in place, inserting them into the hole at the top of each clip.
Purchase clips with a magnet on the back to hold loose canvas up on a magnetic surface like the fridge.
Metal clips can be found at your local big box store or online.
Use a level to make sure you hang your clips evenly.
2 Tack a small canvas directly onto the wall using thumb tacks. If your piece of canvas is lightweight and thin, consider attaching it to the wall using thumb tacks or pushpins. Use a level to mark a straight line with pencil where you'd like to tack the canvas. Place a tack in each corner of the canvas, pushing through the canvas with the pin to ensure it’s secure.[9]XResearch source
If you don’t want to push the tack through your canvas, place the tack right on the edge of the canvas and use the tack head to hold it in place.
3 Apply washi tape to light canvas to hold it on the wall. Washi tape is a fun way to attach art to a wall, though the canvas needs to be lightweight and thin for the tape to be able to hold it in place. Choose washi tape in a color or design of your choice before taping it along each edge of the canvas so it’s attached to the wall.[10]XResearch source
Use a level to form an even line where the canvas and washi tape will go on the wall.
Create a frame out of washi tape by making a design along the edges of the canvas, forming a unique border.
If you’re worried about the canvas falling off of the wall, attach painter’s tape or a stronger tape that won’t damage the wall to the back of the canvas before using the washi tape.
4 Attach a dowel to the canvas to hang it on the wall using rope or thread. Use hot glue to attach the top and bottom side of the canvas to dowels. Tie a piece of yarn, string, or rope to the top dowel on either end so you can hang it on the wall. Hammer a nail into the wall or pin a tack to hang the canvas evenly.[11]XResearch source
Attaching a dowel to the bottom end as well as the top is important so that the canvas falls flat against the wall.
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Expert Q&A
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Question How can I hang a canvas without using nails? 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 If your canvas is light, you can use adhesive-backed hooks attached to your wall. These won't work as well in hot or humid climates though since the glue will melt. 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 Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
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Tips
If your stretched canvas is super small and light and you don’t want to damage your wall, place a removable hook on the wall and hang the stretcher bar on this.[12]X Expert Source Jason PhillipHandymanExpert InterviewThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Things You'll Need
Displaying Stretched Canvas
Eye hooks (optional)
Wire (optional)
Pencil
Nails
Level (optional)
Hammer
Hanging Loose Canvas Art
Metal clips (optional)
Nails (optional)
Pushpins (optional)
Washi tape (optional)
Wooden dowels (optional)
String, yarn, or rope (optional)
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Co-authored by: Jason Phillip Handyman This article was co-authored by Jason Phillip. 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. This article has been viewed 71,058 times. 27 votes - 48% Co-authors: 3Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 71,058 Categories: Hanging Pictures and Wall Decorations In other languages Spanish Indonesian German Portuguese
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Reader Success Stories
Blair
Jul 26, 2021
"How to hang thin board canvas art when there are no fastenings, clips etc provided on the on the reverse sides. e.g. how to actually setup the board/canvas for hanging in the styles presented here. Otherwise good article!"..." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Jason Phillip Handyman 27 votes - 48% Click a star to vote 48% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 3Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 71,058
Blair
Jul 26, 2021
"How to hang thin board canvas art when there are no fastenings, clips etc provided on the on the reverse sides. e.g. how to actually setup the board/canvas for hanging in the styles presented here. Otherwise good article!"..." more Share yours!
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Download Article Co-authored by Jason Phillip 
How to Properly Hang a Painting on Your Wall 
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Co-authored by: Jason Phillip Handyman This article was co-authored by Jason Phillip. 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. This article has been viewed 71,058 times. 27 votes - 48% Co-authors: 3 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 71,058 Categories: Hanging Pictures and Wall Decorations In other languages Spanish Indonesian German Portuguese 
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1 Install wire on the stretched canvas to hang larger pieces. This isn’t required to hang your canvas, but it’s a popular option for art that’s larger than 1 foot (0.30 m) squared. You'll place the wire between the left and right stretcher bars so the nail catches on it. Screw 2 eye hooks onto the back of the painting, positioning them on the inside of each canvas stretcher bar, roughly a third of the way down, so that they’re pointing towards one another. Attach a piece of wire to the hooks to hang the canvas from the wire.[1] 
2 Mark where you want to hang the canvas on the wall. Make a mark just below the center of the top stretcher bar if you're not using wire to hang the canvas. If you've attached a wire, hold the canvas up by the wire and place it against the wall where you'd like it to hang. Make a mark where your finger is holding the wire so you know where to place the nail.[2] For heavier canvases or canvases larger than 1 foot (0.30 m) wide, consider using 2 nails to hold the stretched canvas in place more securely.[3] 
3 Hammer the nail(s) partway into the wall. Hold the nail on top of the pencil mark you made on the wall. Use a hammer to softly hit the nail into the wall, leaving at least 1 centimetre (0.39 in) exposed where the canvas will hang.[5] Repeat with the second nail, if applicable. 
4 Hang the canvas using the nail(s). If you installed a wire to hang the canvas, hang the wire on the nail so that the canvas is centered—you may need to slide the canvas to the left or right a little bit until it’s perfectly centered on the wire. If you didn’t install a wire, place the edge of the top stretcher bar on the nail(s) so it’s resting securely, centering it how you’d like it to appear on the wall.[7] Advertisement 
1 Use metal hinge clips to hold a large piece of canvas. Place a metal clip on the top of the canvas in each corner. If your canvas is large, use 3 or more clips to hold it up adequately, or look for extra large metal hinge clips that are able to hold the extra weight.[8] 
2 Tack a small canvas directly onto the wall using thumb tacks. If your piece of canvas is lightweight and thin, consider attaching it to the wall using thumb tacks or pushpins. Use a level to mark a straight line with pencil where you'd like to tack the canvas. Place a tack in each corner of the canvas, pushing through the canvas with the pin to ensure it’s secure.[9] 
3 Apply washi tape to light canvas to hold it on the wall. Washi tape is a fun way to attach art to a wall, though the canvas needs to be lightweight and thin for the tape to be able to hold it in place. Choose washi tape in a color or design of your choice before taping it along each edge of the canvas so it’s attached to the wall.[10] 
4 Attach a dowel to the canvas to hang it on the wall using rope or thread. Use hot glue to attach the top and bottom side of the canvas to dowels. Tie a piece of yarn, string, or rope to the top dowel on either end so you can hang it on the wall. Hammer a nail into the wall or pin a tack to hang the canvas evenly.[11] 
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. 