Picture frame wire is great for hanging light frames, but when your mirror is heavier than the smallest person in the household, you need French cleats! Metal French cleats are the only hanging hardware we use for mirrors and frames. We also use and love wooden French cleats on wall cabinets.

If you’re wondering how to hang a heavy mirror or frame, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve shipped hundreds of them with French cleats, and can safely say this is the best hanging hardware. Very secure and easy to use.

If you just ordered a mirror from our shop and aren’t sure how to install French cleats, keep reading and you’ll be ready to hang it up in just a few minutes!

Here’s what you’ll need:

French Cleats, one for the wall, one for the frame
Wall anchors
Screws
Screwdriver (we love this magic one that has saved our wrists)
Level
Stud-Finder

We use these 6″ French cleats for smaller frames, but they’re so strong they hold up to 50 lbs. Just to be extra safe, on larger frames we use these 12″ French cleats, which hold up to three people, I think. We’ve been using this hardware for years and it’s always worked great!

Step 1: Attach a cleat to the back of the mirror

Measure the back of the mirror and place the cleat in the center. Drill holes through the cleat into the back of the mirror being careful not to go all the way through. Attach the cleat to the back with screws.

Step 2: Attach the cleat to the wall

Determine where the top of the cleat should be and mark the wall with a pencil. Check the wall for studs and mark any that will be behind the cleat. Place the cleat on the wall and adjust the position with a level. Drill two holes for screws. If the hole lines up with a stud, attach the cleat with a screw. If the wall is hollow behind the hole, use a wall anchor and screw to attach the cleat. The cleat must have a minimum of two screws to keep the piece secure.

Step 3: Hang the mirror on the wall

Lift the mirror and place it flat against the wall with the mirror cleat above the wall cleat. Slide the mirror down until the two cleats are interlocked. If the mirror isn’t level, you can pull it off and slightly adjust the screws.