Art size calculator

Tell it what the art hangs above and how wide that is. It gives the width and height that look right, where to hang it, and the print sizes and paintings that fit.

Your numbers

Art above a sofa: 56 to 63 in (142 to 160 cm) wide in all, up to about 41 in (104 cm) tall.

Art width: 56 to 63 in (142 to 160 cm), about 59 in (150 cm) is ideal: two thirds to three quarters of an 84 in sofa.
Height: Up to about 41 in (104 cm) tall, two thirds of the wall above the sofa.
Hang it: Center it 64¼ in (163 cm) from the floor, which leaves 8 in (20 cm) between the sofa and the frame (6 to 10 in is fine). That is for the 36 × 48 in print below, 44½ in (113 cm) tall framed.

36 × 48 in landscape print (91 × 122 cm) with a 3 in mat, centered 64¼ in from the floor, 8 in above the sofa. Drawn to scale on a 12 × 8 ft wall.

Standard print sizes that land in range

Widths include a 1¼ in frame on every side; a set includes 3 in between frames.

Landscape, one piece

36 × 48 in, with a 3 in mat: 56½ in (144 cm) wide framed, 44½ in (113 cm) tall, a little over the height above

Panoramic, one piece

20 × 60 in, no mat: 62½ in (159 cm) wide framed

Portrait, a pair

2 × 20 × 30 in, with 3 in mats: 60 in (152 cm) across, gaps included
2 × 24 × 36 in, no mat: 56 in (142 cm) across, gaps included
2 × 18 × 24 in, with 3 in mats: 56 in (142 cm) across, gaps included

Square, a pair

2 × 20 × 20 in, with 3 in mats: 60 in (152 cm) across, gaps included
2 × 24 × 24 in, no mat: 56 in (142 cm) across, gaps included

Square, a trio

3 × 16 × 16 in, no mat: 61½ in (156 cm) across, gaps included
3 × 12 × 12 in, with 2 in mats: 61½ in (156 cm) across, gaps included

Paintings that fit

Famous paintings whose shape fills the print sizes above, best first: single pieces from the paintings that suit this spot, pairs and trios from the whole collection.

See all 830 paintings above the sofa

Try the mock-up on your wall color

Default greige

The rule for common widths

Art over furniture looks right at two thirds to three quarters of the furniture's width. A pair or a trio counts as one piece, the gaps between frames included.

Art width for common furniture widths, in inches with centimeters
Width	Typical piece	Art width	Ideal	Each of a pair
36 in (91 cm)	narrow console, desk	24 to 27 in (61 to 69 cm)	25 in	11 to 12 in
48 in (122 cm)	loveseat, small console	32 to 36 in (81 to 91 cm)	34 in	15 to 17 in
54 in (137 cm)	console table, full bed	36 to 41 in (91 to 104 cm)	38 in	17 to 19 in
60 in (152 cm)	queen bed, desk, tub	40 to 45 in (102 to 114 cm)	42 in	19 to 21 in
66 in (168 cm)	mantel	44 to 50 in (112 to 127 cm)	46 in	21 to 23 in
72 in (183 cm)	apartment sofa, dining table	48 to 54 in (122 to 137 cm)	50 in	23 to 26 in
76 in (193 cm)	king bed	51 to 57 in (130 to 145 cm)	53 in	24 to 27 in
84 in (213 cm)	standard sofa	56 to 63 in (142 to 160 cm)	59 in	27 to 30 in
96 in (244 cm)	long sofa, sideboard pair	64 to 72 in (163 to 183 cm)	67 in	31 to 35 in
108 in (274 cm)	sectional side	72 to 81 in (183 to 206 cm)	76 in	35 to 39 in
120 in (305 cm)	open wall, 10 ft	80 to 90 in (203 to 229 cm)	84 in	39 to 44 in

How the calculator works

Measure the furniture. Measure the sofa, bed, console or mantel from end to end. On a bare wall, measure the stretch the art belongs to, between a door and a window, say.
Take two thirds to three quarters. Multiply that width by two thirds and by three quarters. The art, or a whole pair or trio with the gaps between frames, should land between the two.
Keep the height in proportion. Keep the art no taller than about two thirds of the wall between the top of the furniture and the ceiling.
Set the gap or the center. Hang the bottom of the frame 6 to 10 in above the furniture (4 to 8 in above a mantel, at least 6 in above a tub). On a bare wall, center the art 57 to 60 in from the floor.
Choose a standard size. Pick a standard print size whose framed width lands in range. A mat adds 4 to 6 in to the width and lets a smaller print fill the space.

These are rules of thumb that most designers start from, not laws. A tall, narrow wall, a low ceiling or a painting you love at a size it does not quite fit are all good reasons to bend them.