Grid of nine: gallery wall layout with sizes
Three by three small prints: the museum study-wall look. 9 prints, 41 in (104 cm) wide by 53 in (135 cm) tall at 2½ in (6.5 cm) gaps; $315.90 unframed with 10% off. Hang it with its centre 57 in (145 cm) from the floor, or its bottom edge 6–10 in (15–25 cm) above furniture.
Hanger drop: measure from the top of the frame down to the hanger (on a sawtooth, to the middle of the teeth).
| # | Size | Nail from the floor | Nail from the left wall edge | Nail from the centre line | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunflowers (National Gallery, London) | 12 × 16 in | 94 in | 51½ in | 14½ in left |
| 2 | Lady with an Ermine | 12 × 16 in | 75½ in | 51½ in | 14½ in left |
| 3 | The Arnolfini Portrait | 12 × 16 in | 57 in | 51½ in | 14½ in left |
| 4 | Interior, Sunlight on the Floor | 12 × 16 in | 94 in | 66 in | on it |
| 5 | Wanderer above the Sea of Fog | 12 × 16 in | 75½ in | 66 in | on it |
| 6 | Zodiac | 12 × 16 in | 57 in | 66 in | on it |
| 7 | Rêverie (Daydream) | 12 × 16 in | 94 in | 80½ in | 14½ in right |
| 8 | Monaco · Monte-Carlo | 12 × 16 in | 75½ in | 80½ in | 14½ in right |
| 9 | Self-Portrait (Rembrandt Full) | 12 × 16 in | 57 in | 80½ in | 14½ in right |
9 prints: $801.90 (10% off three or more)
Every frame in this layout
| Column | Frames (top to bottom) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 12 × 16 in over 12 × 16 in over 12 × 16 in |
| 2 | 12 × 16 in over 12 × 16 in over 12 × 16 in |
| 3 | 12 × 16 in over 12 × 16 in over 12 × 16 in |
The rules and the formula
- Space frames 3 in (7.5 cm) apart in a row or set, and 2–3 in (5–7.5 cm) apart in a gallery wall.
- Nail height = centre height + half the frame height − the hanger drop (the distance from the top of the frame to its hanger).
Worked examples
- 9 prints, 41 in (104 cm) wide by 53 in (135 cm) tall at 2½ in (6.5 cm) gaps; $315.90 unframed with 10% off.
Art that fits this wall
Questions
What size frames for a 3×3 grid?
Nine 12 × 16 in prints with 2½ in gaps make a 41 × 53 in block: a whole wall in a study or hallway.
The reasoning behind these numbers: How to hang a gallery wall: spacing, height and layouts.
Sources
- Frameology, Gallery Wall Rules (2 to 3 inches between frames, measured edge to edge)
- PictureFrames.com, How to Group Pictures on a Wall (2 to 3 inches between frames)
Updated 2026-11-03. Free to use; no sign-up. To cite: Madten, “Grid of nine: gallery wall layout with sizes”, https://www.madten.com/tools/gallery-wall-layouts/grid-of-9.