Picture hanging - 6 lbs - do i need to use a stud, or will a simple nail in the drywall hold its weight?

That's pretty much all there is to say. The picture is around 24inches in length by 18 inches in height. I wonder if there's some sort of standard metric for how much weight plain old drywall can hold...so I always know when I will need to predrill a hole into a stud for a nail, and when I can just tap a nail into the drywall to support a picture frame. And when I should have one point (nail) to support a picture and when I should have two points (two nails, spaced some distance apart) to hold a picture. Thanks in advance.Picture hanging - 6 lbs - do i need to use a stud, or will a simple nail in the drywall hold its weight?
If you want to hang a picture that heavy, and a wall stud is not available in the area you wish to hang the picture, then purchase a wall anchor kit at your local hardware store.





Wall anchors are installed by drilling a hole slightly smaller than the wall anchor, tapping the anchor in with a soft mallet (wood or rubber are best), then inserting a screw into the opening on the wall anchor. The anchor kits come with an assortment of sizes and screws to fit, and you can pick the one that will best suit your needs. Generally, the anchor kit will have guidelines on which size to use for a certain weight.





If the framed picture comes from the framer/supplier with a wire across the back, just use one anchor. If it comes with no wire, try to hang on one anchor centered. You can use two nails or two anchors for large pieces, but you MUST USE A LEVEL!! (its really really hard to get the two points to line up so the picture hangs level - much better to use one anchor than two nails...)Picture hanging - 6 lbs - do i need to use a stud, or will a simple nail in the drywall hold its weight?
A stainlees steel straight pin will hold 10 lbs if inserted at a 45 degree angle and you do NOT need to find a stud. You will make some VERY big holes in the drywall with some of these suggestions..so unless it will be above your headboard or on a wall that gets shaken a lot from slamming doors..alll you need is a steel staight pin or a very small finishing nail. You can use two pins or a picture wire for that weight ..but if the picture has two hangers on the back two pins will hold the picture straighter.
Stud, also use a picture hanging wire therefore u only need to use one screw
A simple nail will hold any picture weight as long as you are holding the picture's weight. Suggest find a stud only should it be in the area you want picture hung. Otherwise, use 'spider' screw for dry Wall or other hollow backing or special drywall hook and nail, which are sold according to the weight it will hold.
I would at least use a molly bolt for the picture to be safe ,don't want to loose your art work because of laziness or a couple bucks.