You hang a triptych with a spacing of 5 to 8 centimetres between the panels, with the combined centre at 150 centimetres from the floor. You always start with the middle panel and then work symmetrically outwards. A triptych is wall art consisting of three panels that belong together, and it only works well when the distances and heights are exactly right. This step-by-step guide takes you from measuring to the final panel.
The three rules of thumb for a triptych
Three measurements determine whether a triptych looks professional:
- Spacing between panels: 5 to 8 centimetres. With smaller gaps, the panels look like a single piece with distracting seams; with more than 10 centimetres, the artwork visually falls apart. For larger panels, such as three sections each 40 centimetres wide, 8 centimetres is appropriate; for smaller panels, 5 centimetres is better.
- Combined centre at 150 centimetres. The vertical centre of the complete triptych hangs at 150 centimetres from the floor, the standard eye height that museums also use. Not the top edge, and not the centre of an individual panel, but the centre of the whole.
- Equal height for all panels. With a triptych of three equally sized panels, all top edges hang at exactly the same height. A deviation of just a few millimetres is already visible.
A triptych above the sofa: the two-thirds rule
Above a sofa, the two-thirds rule applies: the total width of the triptych, including the two gaps, covers roughly two thirds of the width of the sofa. A triptych that is narrower looks lost; a triptych wider than the sofa visually overpowers the furniture.
Above a sofa, the height rule also changes: keep 20 to 30 centimetres between the top of the backrest and the bottom of the panels. The 150-centimetre rule no longer applies, because the sofa dictates the height.
| Sofa width | Ideal total triptych width | Example arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| 180 cm (2-seater) | approx. 120 cm | 3 panels 35 cm wide + 2 x 6 cm gaps |
| 220 cm (3-seater) | approx. 145 cm | 3 panels 43 cm wide + 2 x 7 cm gaps |
| 260 cm (large 3-seater) | approx. 175 cm | 3 panels 53 cm wide + 2 x 8 cm gaps |
Step-by-step: how to hang the triptych
Work in this order and the result will be right first time:
- Step 1: determine the total width. Add up the width of the three panels plus twice the chosen gap.
- Step 2: find the centre point of the wall. Measure the wall or the sofa and lightly mark the horizontal centre with a pencil. The middle panel is centred on this line.
- Step 3: determine the height. Mark 150 centimetres from the floor as the vertical centre of the whole, or apply the sofa rule. From this point, calculate back to the position of the hanging point: measure the distance from the hanging system to the top edge of the panel.
- Step 4: hang the middle panel first. Drill or tap in the fixing at the calculated spot and hang the panel. Check immediately with a spirit level.
- Step 5: hang the outer panels. From the side edge of the middle panel, measure the gap of 5 to 8 centimetres and mark the hanging points of the side panels at exactly the same height as the middle panel.
- Step 6: final check. Place the spirit level across the top edges of all three panels and check the two gaps at top and bottom; they must be equal everywhere.
Spirit level tips that make the difference
Most crooked triptychs are caused not by hanging but by marking out. These techniques prevent that:
- Use painter's tape to mark the positions of all three panels on the wall first. This lets you judge the composition before drilling and remove the marking without leaving traces.
- Place the spirit level on the top edge of the panel itself, not on the rail of the hanging eye: panels sometimes hang a fraction crooked on their own system.
- Always draw guide lines with a soft pencil and use small crosses instead of stripes at drilling points.
- For panels with two hanging points, use a batten with a spirit level to set both drill holes at exactly the same height.
- Check again after a week: hanging systems sometimes settle slightly, especially with heavier materials such as aluminium and acrylic glass.
Order of the panels
With a continuous image, where one photo or artwork is divided across three panels, the order is fixed by the image itself: lay the panels on the floor first to confirm left, middle and right. With a triptych of three separate but related works, place the visually heaviest piece — with the darkest colours or the largest object — in the middle; this gives the composition a natural anchor point.
Frequently asked questions
What gap should I keep between the panels of a triptych?
Keep 5 to 8 centimetres between the panels. Choose 5 centimetres for smaller panels up to about 30 centimetres wide and 8 centimetres for larger panels from 40 centimetres wide. The gap must be exactly equal on the left and right.
At what height do I hang a triptych?
The vertical centre of the complete triptych hangs at 150 centimetres from the floor. Above a sofa, a different rule applies: keep 20 to 30 centimetres between the backrest and the bottom of the panels.
Can I also hang a triptych vertically or in a stepped arrangement?
Yes. A vertical arrangement suits narrow, tall spaces such as a hallway or stairwell; use the same gap of 5 to 8 centimetres. Stepped hanging, where each panel hangs slightly higher, only suits a staircase and only with three separate works, never with a continuous image.
