How to Hang a Heavy Mirror

A hanging mirror has to have a strong frame. If your new mirror already has hardware attached, it’s safe to hang. If you’re not sure about an old mirror, you can reinforce the frame with angle brackets.

Pick a spot to hang the mirror. Locating it over studs is helpful but not necessary with the right anchors. Always mark the center of the studs and keep in mind that utilities might be attached to them if they’re near a light switch, outlet or faucet. To find out more, take a look at the guide Wall Hanging Tips: What’s Inside My Wall? To learn how to locate studs, see our guide How to Find Studs in Walls. 

Be sure to clear the area where you’re installing the mirror. The fewer obstacles there are, the better.

Hold the mirror in place — it should be close to eye level. Mark the wall at the center of the top edge with a pencil or painters tape. Use a straight edge to draw a line centered on this point.

To get the right space between hooks for D-rings, apply a piece of tape along the top edge of a level long enough to span the width of the mirror. Place the level across the back of the mirror and mark the tape at the D-ring locations.

To get the right spacing for hooks to support picture-hanging wire, have your helper support the mirror by the wire with both hands. Ensure the mirror is level and measure the distance between the support points on the wire.

To position hooks for D-rings, lock a mounting hook on a ring as it will be positioned on the wall. Measure the distance from the mounting hole in the hook to the top of the mirror.

To position hooks for hanging wire, again have your helper support the mirror by the wire with both hands. With the mirror level, measure from the support points to the top of the mirror. 

Transfer the vertical measurements to the wall, measuring down from the line you marked in Preparation Step 5.

If your mirror has D-rings, center the level on the wall and transfer the marks you made on the tape to the wall to indicate the installation locations for the hooks.

If you’re installing hooks for hanging wire, start at the center point you marked on the wall and use the measurements from Step 2 to mark the hook locations.

If the hook installation locations are in line with wall studs, secure the hooks to the studs. If not, install wall anchors and attach the hooks.

Add bumpers to the bottom of the mirror to prevent it from scratching the wall.

Gently hang the mirror on the hooks.

Lock the bottom cleat to the top cleat and measure from the top of the frame to the bottom cleat mounting holes. Transfer this measurement to the wall, measuring down from the line you marked in Preparation Step 5. Use this measurement to determine the position of the bottom cleat mounting holes. Center and level the bottom cleat. If you’re installing the cleat at stud locations, secure it to the wall with the included screws. If you’re not in line with studs, install suitable wall anchors before securing the cleat. 

Set the mirror in place, carefully lowering it so the top cleat on the frame hooks securely to the bottom cleat on the wall.

Use the measurements you collected and the line you drew in Preparation Step 5 to mark the wall for the screw locations. Check the locations with a level to ensure the mirror will hang correctly.

Drill pilot holes in the wall at the marks. If the screw locations are over studs, you can drive the screws into the wall and stud. If studs aren’t available, use a hammer to carefully tap the anchors into the pilot holes. Use a screwdriver to install the screws into the anchors, leaving about 1/4 inch of each screw exposed.

With the screws in place, it’s time to hang the mirror. Carefully lift the mirror and position it with the bracket recesses over the screws. Lower the mirror until the screws hook onto the brackets.

Mark the wall where the screws will go by using your measurements, a level and a pencil.

Drill pilot holes at the screw locations. If you’re installing the screws in studs, you can drive them directly into the studs. If there are no studs at the screw locations, tap suitable wall anchors into the pilot holes with a hammer. Use a screwdriver to install the support screws or hooks.

With the screws in place, it’s time to hang the mirror. Carefully lift and position the mirror so the bracket recess fits over the screws. Lower the mirror to allow the screws to hook onto the bracket.