3 Piece Wall Art Spacing — The Exact Gaps That Look Right
3 Piece Wall Art Spacing — The Exact Gaps That Look Right
Spacing is one of the most technically specific aspects of hanging 3 piece wall art, and getting it right is the difference between a set that looks professionally installed and one that looks approximate. This guide provides the exact measurements, formulas, and techniques that produce consistently good results.
Spacing is one of the most technically specific aspects of hanging 3 piece wall art, and getting it right is the difference between a set that looks professionally installed and one that looks approximate. This guide provides the exact measurements, formulas, and techniques that produce consistently good results.
The Standard Gap Measurements
For a horizontal triptych hung above furniture — above a sofa, bed, sideboard, or console — a gap of 5 to 7 centimetres between each piece is the widely accepted standard. This distance keeps the three prints visually connected as a group (they read as one composition) while giving each piece its own breathing room.
On large walls or feature walls without furniture below, 8 to 10 cm is more appropriate — the larger scale of the wall and the absence of furniture demands slightly more breathing room between pieces. In hallway settings, where the pieces are distributed along a longer wall and each piece has more individual presence, gaps of 15 to 30 cm are common.
Spacing below 4 cm between pieces starts to feel cramped. Spacing above 12 cm in a triptych above furniture starts to read as three separate works. Stay within the recommended ranges for the best result. See all three-piece sets at Olive et Oriel — each framed set includes hanging hardware.
Each set is curated to hang together without guesswork — framed and unframed, printed in Australia, dispatched the next business day.
Browse 3 Piece Wall Art SetsCalculating Total Span
To calculate the total span of your arrangement: total span = (number of pieces x print width) + (number of gaps x gap width). For three 40 cm wide prints with 6 cm gaps: (3 x 40) + (2 x 6) = 132 cm. For three 50 cm wide prints with 8 cm gaps: (3 x 50) + (2 x 8) = 166 cm.
Compare this total span against the reference below: for above-furniture placement, aim for a span of two-thirds of the furniture width. For a standalone wall arrangement, aim for 60 to 75 percent of the wall width. Adjust print size or gap to reach the target span.
Calculating Hook Positions
Each framed print hangs from a single point: the hook position on the wall. To find this position: (1) Decide on the height of the bottom of your prints (furniture top + 20 cm, or your calculated height from the floor). (2) Add the print height to get the top-of-frame height. (3) Measure from the top of the frame to the hanging wire or D-ring on the back — this is typically 5 to 10 cm below the top edge. (4) Subtract this distance from the top-of-frame height to get the hook height. (5) Calculate the horizontal centre of each print: the left print's centre sits at (wall midpoint) minus (1.5 x print width) minus (1 x gap); the middle print's centre sits at the wall midpoint; the right print's centre sits at (wall midpoint) plus (1.5 x print width) plus (1 x gap). Mark all three points with a pencil, check with a spirit level, then install hooks.
Levelling Without a Spirit Level
A spirit level is the most reliable tool, but a line of painter's tape applied horizontally using a laser level or a water level can also work. The critical point is to measure all hook positions from the floor (not the ceiling or the picture rail), confirm they are all at the same floor-to-hook distance, then check with a level before making holes. See our step-by-step hanging guide for the complete process.
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Shop the CollectionFrequently Asked Questions
What is the standard gap between 3 piece wall art?
5 to 7 centimetres is the standard gap between pieces in a horizontal triptych above furniture. On large walls or feature walls, 8 to 10 cm is more appropriate. In hallway settings with wider spacing between pieces, 15 to 30 cm is common.
How do I calculate where to put the hooks?
Measure from the top of each frame to the hanging wire or hook point on the back (usually 5 to 10 cm below the top edge). Subtract this distance from your desired top-of-frame height to get the hook position. Mark all three hook points at the same height using a spirit level before installing.
What if my walls are not level?
Always measure from the floor, not the ceiling. Ceilings are rarely perfectly level, but floors (in most homes) are consistent enough to use as a reference. Use a spirit level to check that your marked hook positions are horizontal — do not rely on visual estimation alone.
Should the gap between pieces be the same as the gap at the edges?
No. The gap between pieces (5 to 7 cm) is intentionally smaller than the space at the outer edges of the arrangement. The outer edges are not fixed gaps — they are defined by the wall's width, the furniture below, and the aesthetic of negative space you want to create. The inner gaps are the element you control.
