How far apart should pictures be in a gallery wall?
Spacing is what makes a set of frames read as one piece. Get the gaps consistent and almost any layout looks deliberate.
- 2–3 in (5–8 cm) between frames for most gallery walls.
- 1.5–2 in (4–5 cm) for small frames and tight grids.
- 3–4 in (8–10 cm) between large pieces.
- Measure edge to edge, and keep it the same everywhere.
The usual gap: 2–3 inches
For most gallery walls, a gap of 2–3 in (5–8 cm) between neighboring frames keeps the group together without looking crowded. Go a bit tighter, 1.5–2 in (4–5 cm), for small frames or a precise grid; go wider, 3–4 in (8–10 cm), when the pieces are large. Past about 4–5 in (10–13 cm), frames start to look like separate pictures rather than one arrangement.
Spacing mixed sizes
With frames of different sizes, space them by their edges, not their centers. Equal edge-to-edge gaps are what the eye notices. In a salon-style wall the outer shape can be loose, but the gaps between neighbors should still match.
A cheap trick: cut a scrap of wood or card to the gap width and use it as a spacer when you mark the wall.
Grids: same gap both ways
In a grid of identical frames, use the same gap horizontally and vertically. A 3 × 3 grid of 12 in (30 cm) frames with 2 in (5 cm) gaps is 3 × 12 + 2 × 2 = 40 in (102 cm) wide and tall.
Room around the group
- Furniture below: 8–10 in (20–25 cm) from the top of a sofa back to the bottom of the group.
- Corners, doors and windows: give the group visible breathing room so it doesn't look squeezed against the trim.
- Width: over furniture, aim for about two-thirds of its width (sofa guide).
Working out positions from the gaps
Three frames in a row: 16, 12 and 16 in wide (41, 30, 41 cm), with 2.5 in (6.3 cm) gaps.
Total width = 16 + 2.5 + 12 + 2.5 + 16 = 49 in (124 cm).
Centered on a sofa whose center is 60 in (152 cm) from the left wall, the row starts at 60 − 24.5 = 35.5 in (90 cm). Frame left edges: 35.5, 54 and 68.5 in.
The nail for each frame then sits on its hanger, not its edge: for a centered hook or wire, that's the frame's left edge plus half its width.
Questions
How far apart should pictures be on a wall?
Usually 2–3 in (5–8 cm) between frames in a gallery wall; 3–4 in (8–10 cm) for large pieces.
Should spacing be measured from the centers or the edges of frames?
From the edges. Equal edge-to-edge gaps look even, especially with mixed frame sizes.
How much space should be between a picture and a couch?
About 8–10 in (20–25 cm) from the top of the sofa back to the bottom of the frame or group.