The short answer
Choose the fixing by what the wall is made of, not by how heavy the mirror looks. Solid masonry takes a plug and screw; plasterboard needs a cavity anchor or a stud; anything with a question mark gets a detector before a drill touches it. Two people lift anything over 120 cm, and the warranty seals stay on the hangers until the piece is inspected. Choosing the size first? Start with how to measure a wall for a mirror. Once you know the size, check at what height to hang a mirror before you mark the wall.
The steps below cover wall type, anchor choice, the inspection that protects your warranty, and the lean-instead-of-hang option.
Identify the wall before you choose a fixing
- Solid masonry (brick, concrete, stone). A standard nylon plug and screw, fitted with a hammer drill, holds almost any mirror we make.
- Plasterboard on a timber or metal frame. Find the studs first — they usually sit every 40 to 60 cm — and screw into them wherever the hanging points allow. Where they do not line up, use metal cavity anchors or spring toggles rated well above the mirror's weight; ordinary plastic plugs barely grip a 12.5 mm board.
- Tile. Drill without the hammer setting, start the hole with a spear-point or diamond bit to stop the glaze cracking, then switch to masonry or plasterboard technique depending on what is behind the tile.
- Unsure which you have? Tap the wall. A dull, solid sound is masonry; a hollow sound is plasterboard.
Match the anchor to the weight, not the frame material
A mirror's weight comes from the glass, not the frame, so a slim aluminium piece and a carved wood piece of the same size can weigh about the same. As a guide:
- Up to about 15 kg (most mirrors under 100 cm): a single heavy-duty plug and screw per hanging point, rated for at least double the mirror's weight.
- 15 to 30 kg (most mirrors 100–160 cm): two fixing points minimum, each rated above the full weight — not half each, because installation is rarely perfectly even.
- Over 30 kg (large arches, full-length and the heavier wood frames): two or more anchors into structural material wherever possible, and a professional installer if the wall is anything other than solid masonry.
If you do not know the weight, ask us — we can give you the exact figure for your size and frame before you buy anchors.
Before you drill
- Mark the height with painter's tape, not a pencil dot — you can see a strip of tape from across the room and adjust it before committing.
- Scan for cables and pipes with a detector. As a rule, electrical cables run vertically and horizontally from sockets and switches — treat the strips directly above, below and beside them as no-drill zones.
- Check the drill setting. Hammer action for masonry, no hammer for tile or plasterboard.
- Look at what the mirror will face. A mirror doubles whatever is in front of it: a window or a chandelier repays the reflection, an open wardrobe does not.
Inspect the mirror before you hang it
This is the step that costs people money, and it is written into our terms rather than being general advice.
- Every mirror leaves the workshop with warranty seals attached to its hangers. Removing a seal ends the possibility of a claim for mechanical damage — so look the piece over while the seals are still intact.
- Defects reported after installation are not covered. Inspect the glass and the frame in good light, at arm's length and then close up, before a single hole is drilled.
- Damage from improper installation is not covered either. A mirror that comes off a wall because the anchor was wrong for the wall is not a manufacturing fault.
- If the piece arrives damaged in transit, unpack it in front of the courier and have a damage report signed by both of you. Without that signed report a transport claim cannot be accepted.
The full wording is in our returns and warranty policy. Two minutes of looking before you drill protects a two-year warranty for private customers.
Hanging it, step by step
- Unpack in front of the courier, check for transport damage, leave the warranty seals in place.
- Identify the wall type and choose the anchor for it.
- Weigh the mirror, or ask us, and pick anchors rated well above that weight.
- Tape up a paper template and live with it for a day.
- Scan for cables and pipes, then mark both drill points with a spirit level.
- Drill, fit the anchors, drive the screws, leaving the heads far enough out for the hangers.
- Lift the mirror with a second person — two people, always, on anything above 120 cm.
- Check the level again and adjust before you let go of the weight.
Once the mirror is on the wall, the only upkeep it needs is cleaning — and the wrong product can damage the edge of the glass. Our guide on how to clean a mirror without streaks explains why we recommend warm water rather than vinegar.
Leaning instead of hanging
Large mirrors leaned against a wall look effortless, and the look is genuinely popular for full-length pieces. It is only safe if the mirror is still anchored to the wall with a strap or bracket at the top. A tall leaning mirror is a tipping hazard in any home with children or animals, and glass that falls forward does not fall gently. Lean it for the look; fix it for the safety.
Set the base 10–15 cm out from the skirting so the mirror tilts back slightly rather than standing vertical, and check that the floor covering will not let the base slide.
How our mirrors are made to hang
Every piece is made to order in our workshop in Wrocław, Poland, with 4 mm Optiwhite glass — production time is stated in our shipping policy. Delivery across Europe is free for sizes up to 120 × 60 cm and round mirrors up to Ø 80 cm; €100 flat for larger sizes — the exact amount shows in your cart.
- Satin Horizon — arched, matte black aluminium, a slim 28 mm deep and 10 mm wide profile, ten formats from 160 × 80 to 200 × 140 cm (€520–960). The lightest way to cover a big wall.
- Solaro — round, brushed gold aluminium, eight diameters from 60 to 200 cm (€400–872). A round frame hangs from a single well-anchored point more comfortably than a wide rectangle does.
- Verona Gilded Heritage — solid wood, 9 cm wide and 2 cm deep, fifteen formats up to 100 × 180 cm. The heaviest family we make, and the one that most deserves two anchors and a second pair of hands.
If you are choosing between a carved wooden frame and a slim modern one, our framed mirrors page compares both, and the full-length mirrors page covers the tall formats that are most often leaned rather than hung. And if the mirror is going above a console or sideboard, our guide to the right size above a sideboard covers the proportions to get right before you drill. Hanging it in a bedroom? Our guide on where to put a mirror in a bedroom covers the three placements that work best there.
Not sure how heavy your mirror is? See how much a large mirror weighs for a quick way to calculate it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I hang a heavy mirror on a plasterboard wall?
Screw into the studs wherever you can — they usually sit every 40 to 60 cm. If the hanging points do not line up with a stud, use metal cavity anchors or spring toggles rated well above the mirror's actual weight. Ordinary plastic plugs made for masonry have almost nothing to grip in a 12.5 mm board.
What fixing do I need for a mirror on a concrete wall?
A nylon plug and screw fitted with a hammer drill is enough for solid concrete or solid brick. Match the drill bit to the plug diameter, blow the dust out of the hole before fitting, and use two points on anything wide.
How much weight can a mirror hanger hold?
The hanger is rarely the limit — the wall and the anchor are. Look at the load rating printed on the anchor packaging, treat it as a maximum rather than a target, and pick a fixing rated comfortably above what the mirror actually weighs.
Do I need two people to hang a large mirror?
Yes, for anything above about 120 cm. One person lifts and holds while the other guides the hangers onto the screws. Trying it alone is how glass gets chipped and walls get scraped.
Can I lean a large mirror against the wall instead of hanging it?
Yes, provided you still secure it to the wall with a strap or bracket at the top. A tall leaning mirror tips easily, especially in homes with children or animals. Set the base about 10 to 15 cm from the skirting so it rests at a slight angle.
Last updated: 8 October 2026