How to Choose the Right Picture Hanging System or Picture Rail Hooks for Your Room

Steel Cable picture hanging systems work well in all situations, and are particularly effective against dark-colored and wallpapered walls. They have the highest weight capacity and can be used with all hook types.

Clearline art hanging systems offer affordable pro-quality hanging, with your choice of Pushbutton or Classic Mini-Hooks, which adjust with an included wrench. 

Clear Tape gallery hanging systems use our economical Classic Hook, which adjusts with an included wrench, and provide a barely visible alternative, especially against white or light-colored walls.

Our art hanging tracks come in lengths of either 6.5 feet (Original Gallery System) or 4.5 feet (GalleryOne), and are easily cut to any size. 

Running them across the full width of your hanging area offers maximum hanging flexibility, a clean and seamless look, and the ability to “turn the corner” onto adjacent walls. Or, mount separate shorter sections of art hanging track and use our inexpensive end caps to provide a finished look. 

After determining the overall length you'll need, dividing the total (in feet) by 6.5 for Original Gallery System or 4.5 for GalleryOne and round up to the nearest whole number. Note that your installation must use either Original Gallery System or GalleryOne tracks; combinations of the two will not work.

A good starting point is 10 hangers and 10 hooks for every 25 feet of picture hanging track, but consider the number, size, weight and arrangement of pieces to be hung. 

Smaller pieces can be hung on a single hanger with a single hook; vertical columns can be created with several hooks on one hanger.

In many cases, the use of paired hangers and hooks will ensure secure, even hanging of heavier and larger (over about 24 inches) pieces, and make it easier to create columns of differently sized/shaped pieces.

Clear Tape art hanging systems require Classic Hooks (which adjust using the provided hex wrench).

Steel Cable gallery hanging systems can use Classic Hooks, Pushbutton Hooks (for instant, tool-free adjustment) or Security Pushbutton Hooks (for a measure of protection against theft or earthquake).

Clearline art hanging systems offer a choice of Pushbutton Hooks (black color only) or (for higher weight capacity) wrench-adjustable Classic Mini-Hooks.

Artworks must be seen to be appreciated. You can review our discreet, gallery-quality lighting option here; please call for more information.

Exact hanging capacity varies with the system, type of hanger, and type of hook — view all the combinations.

Note that using paired hooks and hangers is a great technique for hanging heavier wortks.

Yes! The art hanging track comes in your choice of pre-painted white enamel finish, or satin anodized aluminum, which can be painted the color of your choice (see full details on painting).

No, because the hole spacing varies depending on your wall's construction and other considerations. Note that our GalleryOne tracks never need drilling — they snap on to plastic mounts that are attached to the wall during the installation process.

Yes, installing is a basic handyperson job. We provide detailed instructions (which can be viewed here), and our team is happy to provide assistance via phone or email.

Yes — see full guidance here.

While every installation is different, placing the gallery track at or near ceiling level usually creates the cleanest appearance and leaves the most wall area for display.

However, if the lighting option will be used, tracks should not be mounted more than 9 feet above floor level, and a few inches of overhead clearance above the track is needed for installation of the light wands.

It’s easy to remove tracks from the wall for reinstallation in a different location, painting, etc.

Original Gallery System tracks can be taken down by simply removing the fasteners holding them in place.

If space allows, remove tracks for GalleryOne system by sliding them sideways until the track is clear of the last wall mount. If not, start at the location of the first wall mount at the outside end of the installation. Slip the end of a pry bar or the tip of a flat screwdriver between the bottom edge of the track and the wall and gently pry outward to pop the track off the mount. In most cases you can then use a gentle pull to release the track from its other mounts without use of a tool. Repeat the process for additional sections of track.

No, our art gallery lighting system works only with the Original Gallery System picture hanging system. The GalleryOne System does not support the lighting option.

Yes, but only with the Original Gallery System (not GalleryOne). Note that a few inches of clearance between the track and the ceiling is needed for attachment of the light wands.

No, as long as the correct lamps (such as those supplied by Gallery System) are used. In general, LED lamps are perfectly safe, and are what we sell and recommend. Many incandescent halogen bulbs can generate excess heat and/or ultraviolet light, which can damage artwork, and we do not recommend their use.

One 300-watt transformer will run up to 24 7-watt LED lamps; the 60-watt Power Pack transformer will run up to 5 7-watt LED bulbs.

The Power Pack 60-watt power supply can feed up to 25 feet when the power-providing junction box is mounted at the end of the track, or up to 50 feet when the junction box is mounted centrally (up to 25 feet in either direction).

The 300-watt transformer, used with custom lighting packages, can feed up to 50 feet when the junction box is mounted at the end of the track, or up to 100 feet when the junction box is mounted centrally (up to 50 feet in either direction).

Gallery System light wands accommodate standard MR-16 bulbs; we recommend using LED bulbs that consume no more than 7 watts of power. The bulbs we sell are specially selected for art lighting; they have a neutral color temperature of 3000K, and a color rendering index (CRI) of 90, to ensure that the colors of your artworks are perceived accurately. When replacing bulbs, pay close attention to their power consumption and do not exceed the capacity of your Gallery System Lighting power supply. We do not recommend use of halogen bulbs.

Our art gallery lighting products are designed for do-it-yourself or handyperson installation, but an electrician can be used if you desire. Our art lighting systems use safe 12-volt power, so you are not legally obliged to use a licensed contractor, but if in doubt hire a pro. Any work on 120-volt wiring requires a licensed contractor.

Power is carried by a flat cable, hidden in the channel on top of the wall-mounted track. When a light wand is locked onto the gallery track, sharp probes on the wand’s base penetrate the cable to draw 12-volt power.

The power cable bends around corners. You can use our track corner covers to hide the cable or miter the tracks at the corner.

Yes. The lamp slides along the curved stainless steel rods so you can aim the light anywhere from 24 inches below the track down to floor level. For best results, tracks with lighting should not be mounted higher than 9 feet above floor level.

Yes! Combine your choice of Gallery System Lighting components with Original Gallery System art hanging track to create a sleek, efficient art lighting system. You can add hanging capabilities later — unlike some hanging systems, our light wands and hangers operate completely independently.

No. The system is designed to illuminate the art and not the surrounding area. You will still need to provide ambient lighting in the room.