Quick answer: It depends on your situation. Renting and can't drill? Get Command strips. Own your home? Get a multi-piece hanging kit with hooks, nails, and anchors. Hanging something heavy? You need a stud finder and proper wall fixings — strips and basic hooks won't cut it.
The Problem: You Have a Frame and No Idea What to Use
You've moved in. There are frames leaning against walls, a mirror that needs to go up, and a box of random fixings from your parents that may or may not be useful.
The real question isn't "which product is best?" — it's "what's the right approach for my walls and my situation?" A renter on plasterboard needs a completely different solution to a homeowner drilling into brick. Get that wrong and you'll end up with cracked plaster, a frame on the floor at 3am, or a deposit deduction you didn't need.
Pick Your Route First: Rent, Own, or Heavy Item
Before you look at any product, answer these three questions:
- Do you rent or own? Renters need damage-free options (or at least ones that leave only tiny, fillable holes). Homeowners can use whatever works best.
- How heavy is the item? A standard photo frame (under 2kg) is a different job to a large mirror (10kg+). Weight determines the fixing type.
- What are your walls made of? Plasterboard, brick behind plaster, or solid masonry — each needs a different approach.
Here's the short version:
- Renting + lightweight frames → adhesive strips, no holes needed
- Own your home + mixed weights → a hanging kit with hooks, nails, and anchors
- Heavy mirror or shelf (5kg+) → wall anchors into studs or masonry, plus a stud finder to locate solid fixing points
Wall Type Matters More Than Product Hype
Most UK homes have one of three wall types, and picking the wrong fixing for your wall is the number one reason things fall down.
Plasterboard (stud walls): The most common internal wall in newer builds. It's a thin layer of gypsum board fixed to timber studs. Standard nails pull straight out of plasterboard under any real weight. You need either plasterboard anchors (which spread load across a wider area) or to find the timber stud behind the board and fix directly into that.
Brick behind plaster (older homes): Many Victorian and Edwardian houses have a layer of plaster over solid brick. Hardened steel pins and picture hooks work well here for lighter items. For heavier items, you'll need to drill into the brick and use wall plugs.
Solid masonry (exposed brick, stone): You'll need a masonry drill bit and wall plugs. Standard hooks and nails won't penetrate this. Not something you'll encounter on most internal walls, but common for feature walls.
How to tell what you have: Knock on the wall. Hollow sound = plasterboard. Solid thud = brick or masonry behind plaster. If you're still unsure, push a small pin into the wall. Goes in easily = plasterboard. Meets hard resistance after a few millimetres = brick behind plaster.
Best Options by Situation
If you're renting and want zero damage
Command Picture Hanging Strips
3M Command Picture Hanging Strips — the standard for damage-free picture hanging. Available in small (up to 1.8kg per pair) and large (up to 7.2kg per pair) sizes. Removes cleanly from smooth, sealed surfaces by stretching the adhesive tab straight down.
Why this one: No holes, no nails, no deposit deductions. They genuinely remove cleanly when you follow the instructions. The only reliable damage-free option for anything heavier than a postcard.
Trade-off: More expensive per frame than hooks and nails. Don't work on textured walls, wallpaper, or fresh paint (wait at least 7 days). Weight limits are strict — if the strip says 1.8kg, don't hang 2.5kg and hope for the best.
When NOT to buy these: If you own your home and have multiple frames to hang, strips get expensive fast. A full hanging kit costs less than two packs of strips and covers far more use cases. Also skip these if your walls are textured, papered, or freshly painted — the adhesive won't bond properly and your frame will end up on the floor.
If you own your home and have a mix of frames to hang
HAUSPROFI 282-Piece Picture Hanging Kit
A 282-piece kit with everything you need for any wall type: single-pin and double-pin picture hooks, hardwall hangers, D-rings, sawtooth hangers, picture wire, screw eyes, wall anchors, and nails in multiple sizes. Covers lightweight photo frames through to medium-weight mirrors.
Why this one: One box covers every scenario — different hooks for different weights, different fixings for different wall types. You won't need to make a separate trip to B&Q for a specific hook size. At under £10, it's cheaper than a single pack of Command strips and far more versatile.
Trade-off: No adhesive strips included, so renters will still need Command strips separately for damage-free hanging. The steel pins are hardened but won't penetrate solid brick without a pilot hole.
When NOT to buy this: If you're a renter who genuinely can't make any holes, this kit isn't for you — get strips instead. And if you're hanging something truly heavy (a large mirror, a floating shelf, a TV mount), this kit's fixings alone aren't enough. You'll need proper wall anchors and ideally a stud finder.
If you're hanging something heavy (5kg+)
Stud Finder + Spirit Level Combo
A combination stud finder and spirit level for locating wall studs (timber frames behind plasterboard) and ensuring level hanging. Detects wood studs, metal pipes, and live electrical wires behind the wall.
Why this one: Hanging a heavy mirror or shelf on plasterboard alone is asking for trouble. Finding a wall stud gives you a solid timber anchor point that no plasterboard fixing can match. The wire detection also prevents you drilling into electrical cables — a genuinely useful safety feature.
Trade-off: Unnecessary for hanging standard photo frames. Most lightweight picture hanging can be done with hooks and strips alone. This is specifically for when you're mounting heavy items or drilling into walls and need to know what's behind them.
When NOT to buy this: If you're only hanging lightweight photo frames and prints, you don't need a stud finder. A basic hanging kit or adhesive strips will do the job. This is for heavy mirrors, floating shelves, and anything you really don't want coming off the wall.
How to Hang a Picture (Step by Step)
With hooks or nails (homeowners)
- Decide placement. Hold the frame against the wall. Mark the top centre with a light pencil mark.
- Find the hanging point. Measure the distance from the top of the frame down to the hanging wire or D-ring. If it's wire, pull it taut with a finger to measure.
- Mark the hook position. Measure that distance down from your pencil mark. That's where the hook goes.
- Choose the right hook. Under 2kg: single-pin hook. 2–5kg: double-pin hook or hardwall hanger. Over 5kg: wall anchor screwed into a stud or masonry.
- Pin or screw. Tap the pin in at a 45-degree angle — it grips better at an angle than straight in. For wall anchors, push or screw the anchor in first, then fix through it.
- Level check. Place a spirit level across the top of the frame. Adjust until it's straight.
Hanging height: Gallery standard is the centre of the artwork at eye level — roughly 145–150cm from the floor. Most people hang pictures too high. If you're hanging a group, align the centre of the group at that height, not each individual frame.
With adhesive strips (renters)
- Clean the wall. Wipe the area with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol). This removes dust and grease that weakens adhesive bond.
- Wait for the wall to dry. 30 seconds is enough.
- Separate the strips. Click two strips together, sticky sides facing out.
- Apply to frame. Press one set of strips firmly onto the back of the frame.
- Press to wall. Hold the frame against the wall and press firmly for 30 seconds.
- Remove frame. Gently lift the frame off the wall strips (they unclick). Press the wall strips firmly for another 30 seconds.
- Wait 1 hour. This isn't optional. The adhesive needs time to bond before it takes any weight. Skip this step and you'll find your frame on the floor.
- Rehang frame. Click the frame strips back onto the wall strips. Done.
Renter's tip: Take photos of your walls when you move in. If you use Command strips correctly, there'll be no damage — but photographic evidence of the original wall condition protects your deposit either way.
What to skip: Cheap no-name adhesive hooks and strips from marketplaces. The adhesive is weaker, the weight ratings are often inflated, and they're far more likely to damage paint when removed. Command strips cost a few pounds more but actually work as advertised. Also skip "universal picture hanging kits" that are just a bag of random nails — you need hooks with pins at the right angle, not just nails.
Common Mistakes
- Using the wrong fixing for the wall type. A standard nail in plasterboard will hold for a week, then pull out. Match the fixing to the wall — plasterboard needs anchors or studs, not nails alone.
- Eyeballing "level." Human perception of level is surprisingly poor. Use a spirit level or a phone app. It takes 10 seconds and prevents weeks of low-grade annoyance.
- Ignoring weight limits. If the hook says 2kg, it means 2kg. Not 3kg "because it looks fine." Gravity always wins, usually at 3am.
- Forgetting to check for pipes and cables. Before drilling, check the area with a stud finder or cable detector. At minimum, avoid drilling directly above or below sockets and switches — that's where cables usually run.
- Hanging too high. Centre of the artwork at 145–150cm from the floor. If it feels too low, it's probably right.
UK tenancy law (general guidance): Most Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) allow "reasonable" decoration, which typically includes small pin holes for picture hooks. However, drilling larger holes or using wall anchors may not be covered. Always check your specific tenancy agreement. If in doubt, Command strips are the safest way to avoid any dispute.
Final Recommendation
Renting? Get Command Picture Hanging Strips. They work, they remove cleanly, and they protect your deposit. Buy the large strips if your frames are heavier than a standard photo.
Own your home? Get the HAUSPROFI 282-Piece Kit. One box covers every wall type and every weight up to about 5kg, and it'll last you years.
Hanging something heavy? Add a stud finder to locate solid anchor points behind plasterboard. A heavy mirror on plasterboard anchors alone is a risk you don't need to take.
Setting up a first home? See our first home essentials checklist for everything else you need, or check the best starter tool kit if you don't own basic tools yet.