Wire Drop Calculator
Calculate the exact wire drop to achieve perfect artwork placement
Professional Wire Drop Insights
Wire drop is the distance between a wire's highest point when pulled taut and its position when supporting weight. Professional installers account for this drop to achieve precise placement.
Factors affecting wire drop include wire length, material (steel cable has minimal drop compared to traditional picture wire), tension, and artwork weight.
For valuable artworks, consider using two hooks rather than one to prevent rotation and distribute weight more evenly.
Always add the calculated wire drop to your intended hook height measurement to achieve perfect artwork placement.
How to Use the Wire Drop Calculator
Input your frame height, the wire’s distance from the top, the artwork’s weight, and wire tension level (tight, medium, loose). The calculator determines how much the wire sags when under load and calculates the total wire drop. Use this drop to adjust your hook height for accurate, gallery-grade art hanging.
Why Use the Wire Drop Calculator
Most people forget to account for wire sag, causing misaligned and amateur-looking installs. This tool corrects that by giving you an exact wire drop measurement based on real-world physics—wire angle, frame width, tension, and weight—so your artwork lands exactly where it should, every time.
Wire Drop Calculator – FAQs
Q: What is “wire drop”?
Wire drop is the vertical distance the wire descends when it’s under the full weight of your artwork. It’s the difference between where the wire starts and where it sags when hung.
Q: How does tension affect drop?
A loose wire can drop significantly more than a tight one. This tool adjusts for that based on your selection.
Q: Should I still measure my hook height?
Yes—this tool gives you the drop value. Add that to your target hanging height to determine exact hook placement.
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