The best picture nails, compared.
Top pick: VZU 90 picture nails, 26–35 mm Best value: Fizzix 60 picture nails – Lowest shelf price, about £3.79. The 4.8 line is only 18 reviews, and a reviewer says the nails bend. Updated October 2026.
A picture nail is a small steel pin, a short masonry nail, or the nail through a plaster picture hook. You are usually hanging on plasterboard, on brick or hard render, or in a tenancy that may forbid holes. Judge a pack by whether the pin stays straight, whether a length is printed, and whether the metal wording matches from the title to the bullets. British table gives a steel picture hook and masonry nail in plasterboard a typical safe working load of 4 kg. That figure is for their board and that fixing. It is not a rating of these amazon.co.uk packs, and it is not a reason to hang a mirror, a television, or a shelf on a brass pin. The [picture nail buying guide](/hub/staplers-and-nail-guns/picture-nail/sub/picture-nail-buying-guide) sets out how the wall decides between a pin, a hook, and a masonry nail. Adhesive strips and a general nail assortment sit outside the set. What remains is picture pins, masonry-style picture nails, plaster hooks, and one hanging kit. Plasterboard and soft timber suit a pin or a small hook. Bare brick, concrete, and hard render do not. EasyFrame says a picture hook and pin will not go into brick.
A picture nail is a small steel pin, a short masonry nail, or the nail through a plaster picture hook. You are usually hanging on plasterboard, on brick or hard render, or in a tenancy that may forbid holes.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you fixing into?
The VZU pack is listed as 90 black, copper-headed nails in 26, 27 and 35 mm lengths. That printed size choice is more informative than packs that omit length altogether, and the surface attribute names plasterboard, brick, concrete and wood. However, its 5.0-star rating comes from a single review, which is not enough evidence for a dependable ranking. The listing says lightweight mirrors without giving a kilogram limit, while the 10 g pack weight and unit count of one sit awkwardly beside the 90-piece title. No stored review confirms performance in brick or with a mirror. Treat it as a lightly evidenced multi-length pack, not as the strongest choice merely because it shows five stars.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light frames where the stated lengths and dark heads suit the job
Less suitable: Heavy mirrors, evidence-led buyers or hard masonry where a proven fixing is needed
Specifications
Common questions
How many reviews are on the listing?
One. It is 5.0 and praises the design. It does not describe a brick wall, a mirror, or a fault.
What does the listing claim they hold?
A bullet says lightweight mirrors. There is no kilogram figure. The surface attribute lists drywall, brick, concrete and wood.
What is the listed pack weight?
10 g, and the unit count is 1, against a title of 90 nails in 26 mm, 27 mm and 35 mm. Those are the listing figures.
Fizzix offers 60 alloy-steel picture nails for £3.79, the lowest shelf price in this comparison. The surface attribute names drywall, plaster and wood, and one reviewer used the nails in gaps in acoustic panelling. The listing does not state a nail length, a load or even substantive bullet details, which makes it hard to check whether the pack fits a particular frame. One reviewer also says the nails bend. Although the 4.8-star line looks strong, it comes from only 18 reviews and should not outweigh those information gaps. This is our best-value option for a small, light indoor job where price matters most, but Merriway offers a much deeper review base for only 20p more.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Budget-conscious buyers hanging a light frame on a suitable soft wall or timber surface
Less suitable: Masonry, heavy frames or any job where nail dimensions and capacity must be known
Specifications
Common questions
How long are these nails?
The listing does not say. The questions on the page ask about length, plasterboard and rust, and the bullet section is empty.
Which surfaces are named?
The surface attribute says drywall, plaster and wood. A reviewer tapped them into gaps in acoustic panelling. Another said they bend.
Why is this the best-value pack?
It is the lowest shelf price in this comparison, at £3.79. The place follows price. The star line is 4.8 from 18 reviews, and one reviewer said the nails bend.
This 120-piece set gives you 30 nails in each of four useful lengths: 20, 25, 30 and 40 mm. The divided box makes it easier to select a length and keep the remaining nails organised. Its bullets claim use in concrete or brick without pre-drilling, but that is a seller claim rather than a measured test. More importantly, the listing contradicts itself: the title says stainless steel while the bullets refer to hardened steel and iron. The 4.7-star rating is based on 52 reviews, though many stored review bodies are not in English. It is a more plausible option than a brass pin for a light masonry job, but eye protection and a stop-at-the-first-bend rule remain essential.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light picture-hanging jobs where you need a choice of masonry-style nail lengths
Less suitable: Buyers who need verified material specifications, a tested load or a fixing for very hard concrete
Specifications
Common questions
What are these nails made of?
The title says stainless steel. The bullets say hardened steel, iron nails, a rust-resistant coating and brass-headed nails. The listing does not settle that.
What sizes are in the box?
30 nails each of 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm and 40 mm, in a four-compartment box. Pack weight is listed as 130 g.
Does a UK review mention plasterboard?
Yes. One UK review says they go into stone and plasterboard. The bullets themselves name concrete or brick and say no pre-drilling.
The Merriway BH02287 pack gives you 100 hardened, brass-plated picture pins for light frames on plasterboard, ordinary walls or timber. Its 4.6-star rating comes from 319 amazon.co.uk reviews, the deepest evidence among the dedicated pin packs here. Buyers commonly find the pins useful for straightforward picture hanging, although several say a pin bends when a hammer blow misses the centre of its small head. The listing does not state the pin length or a tested load, so it is not a sound choice for a heavy or glazed frame. Nor should the word hardened be read as permission to drive it into bare brick or concrete. At £3.99, this is our top pick for light, ordinary plasterboard jobs, but only where the frame and wall suit a simple pin.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light frames on ordinary plasterboard or timber where a simple brass-coloured pin is appropriate
Less suitable: Brick, concrete, hard render, heavy glazed frames or any job needing a stated load
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say these pins are hardened?
Yes. The title calls them hardened picture pins made of steel with a brass-plated plain head. Several reviewers still say the pins bend if the hammer misses the centre of the head.
Which walls does the listing name?
The bullets say normal walls, plasterboard and wooden beams. The surface attribute says drywall. No length is printed on this amazon.co.uk listing.
How many pins are in the pack?
100. The item weight is listed as 40 g. The listing does not mention a storage box.
The Eteamcan box contains 120 carbon-steel picture nails in 20, 25, 30 and 40 mm lengths. Its listing names brick, concrete, plasterboard and wood, while a UK reviewer says the large head kept picture wire in place on a brick wall. Another UK reviewer says the first nail bent, so the broad surface claim needs a cautious reading. A bullet claims a 2 mm hole, but the listing provides no tested load and does not call the steel hardened. The 4.5-star score comes from only 20 reviews, which is a relatively thin evidence base. This set makes sense when the length choice and broad head matter, provided you wear eye protection and stop rather than repeatedly striking a nail that resists.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light frames where a broad-headed masonry-style nail and several length options are useful
Less suitable: Very hard masonry, heavy frames or buyers needing a verified capacity
Specifications
Common questions
What lengths are in the pack?
20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm and 40 mm, 120 nails in total, in a four-compartment box. Item weight is listed as 110 g.
Does the listing state a weight limit?
No. A bullet claims a 2 mm hole. UK reviews mention a brick wall and a large head that holds picture wire. One UK reviewer said the first nail bent.
Are they described as rust-resistant?
The listing asks the question. The bullets do not say rust-resistant. The material line is carbon steel.
The Hosung kit puts 220 pieces in one divided box, including hooks, 99 nails, D-rings, screws and 3 metres of wire. That breadth is useful when several frames need different hanging arrangements, and one reviewer used the wire when IKEA frames did not sit on the supplied hooks. Its 4.4-star rating comes from 321 reviews, the largest review count in this set. However, reviewers also report that the nails bend in hard walls. The Amazon 220 lb attribute and the hook labels from 10 lb to 75 lb are listing claims, not measured capacities established by our research. Choose it for flexibility rather than for one headline weight, and move to a suitable wall fixing when the frame or substrate demands it.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Households hanging several light frames that need a choice of hooks, wire and frame fittings
Less suitable: Hard masonry, heavy mirrors or buyers seeking one fixing with a verified load
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the box?
The listing counts 4 hooks at 75 lb, 6 at 40 lb, 10 at 30 lb, 15 at 20 lb, 25 at 10 lb, 10 sawtooth backs, 20 D-rings, 99 nails, 30 screws and 3 metres of wire, in a divided box.
Will the hooks fit every frame?
Not on this evidence. One reviewer said IKEA frames did not sit on the hooks and used the included wire instead.
Is the 220 pound figure a test result?
No. It is the Amazon maximum-weight attribute. The bullets list hook pieces from 10 lb to 75 lb. Reviewers say the nails bend in hard material.
BRITECO supplies 50 black plaster picture hooks with nails rather than loose picture pins. One reviewer used them for A2 posters in Perspex frames, while also suggesting that heavy glazed wooden frames may be too much. Another reviewer describes the pins as short and prone to bending, and one buyer could not drive them into a wall without the surface crumbling. The listing says drywall and plaster but gives no kilogram rating. Its stated 255 mm length is not credible beside a 30 g pack of 50 pieces, so it should not guide your choice. At £3.99 and 4.4 stars from 60 reviews, this is a low-cost hook pack for genuinely light plasterboard displays, not a substitute for an anchor.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light posters and small frames on suitable plasterboard where a hook is preferable to a loose pin
Less suitable: Crumbly or hard walls, glazed wooden frames and loads needing an anchor
Specifications
Common questions
How long does the listing say the pins are?
One bullet says 255 mm. The pack weight is 30 g for 50 pieces. Both figures are on the listing and they sit oddly together.
What did reviewers hang with them?
One reviewer hung A2 posters in Perspex frames and said heavy glazed wood frames may be too much. Another said the pins bend and are short. There is no kilogram rating on the listing.
Will they go into every wall?
A reviewer could not drive them into one wall and said the wall crumbled. The surface attribute says drywall. The bullets also say plaster.
Scores are editorial comparisons, not laboratory test results. For the seven amazon.co.uk listings compared on 16 October 2026 we used the star rating and review count, the completeness and consistency of each listing, useful pack features, the shelf price, and recurring faults in the stored UK review evidence. Adhesive strips and a general nail assortment were set aside. Review count moderates the star rating: one five-star review carries much less weight than several hundred. Seller load claims were not treated as measured capacities.
Amazon rating and review confidence
40%The star line is read with the review count. Merriway at 4.6 from 319 reviews outweighs a 5.0 from a single review. Points come off for bending complaints and a very small sample.
Suitability for the stated job
25%A printed length, a named wall, and useful pieces such as a divided box, hooks, or wire count here. A brass pin is not scored as a brick fixing.
Value at the listed GBP price
20%Shelf price on 16 October 2026 decides the best-value place. The lowest credible price is Fizzix at £3.79. Price does not raise the editorial score.
Listing clarity and consistency
15%Points come off when the title and the bullets disagree on the metal, or when a length or a pack weight fights the piece count.
Start with the wall, then the length, then the metal wording. A picture nail in this comparison is a slim pin, a short masonry nail, or the nail through a plaster hook. Prices on 16 October 2026 run from about £3.79 to £9.49, and nothing here is above £10. A perfect star line from one review is weaker evidence than several hundred reviews. Seller kilogram and pound lines are not measured capacities. If the tenancy forbids holes, do not start here.
A picture nail, in this comparison, is a small steel pin, a short masonry nail, or the nail that passes through a plaster picture hook. Adhesive strips and a general nail assortment sit outside the set. What remains is picture pins, masonry-style picture nails, plaster hooks, and one hanging kit. Name the wall before the pack. Plasterboard and soft timber suit a pin or a small hook. Bare brick, concrete, and hard render do not. EasyFrame says a picture hook and pin will not go into brick.
EasyFrame says a picture hook and pin will not go into brick. Bare brick, concrete, and hard render need a different fixing. If a masonry nail bends or the plaster blows, stop and use a plug and screw.
Hosung's 220 lb attribute and the hook labels from 10 lb to 75 lb are listing claims. Reviewers say those nails bend in hard walls. The 4 kg Gyproc figure belongs to British Gypsum's board and that fixing, not to these packs.
BuildWiz UK says a hardened masonry nail can shatter. Wear safety glasses and hold the nail with pliers for the first blows. A 1968 BMJ letter records eye injuries from nails that fractured. It is not a current rate.
The wall decides the fixing. Plasterboard and soft timber suit a pin or a small plaster hook. Bare brick, concrete, and hard render do not, and EasyFrame says a picture hook and pin will not enter brick. A masonry-style nail is the type for a light frame on brick, and you stop if it bends or the plaster blows. Prefer a length printed on the amazon.co.uk listing. Eteamcan and the £9.49 pack print 20, 25, 30 and 40 mm. VZU prints 26, 27 and 35 mm. Merriway BH02287 and Fizzix print none.
Read the metal from the title and from the bullets. Merriway's title says hardened steel with a brass-plated plain head, and several of 319 reviewers still report bending. The £9.49 pack says stainless in the title and hardened steel or iron in the bullets. Eteamcan says carbon steel and does not say hardened. A 5.0 from one review, as on VZU at about £5.59, is weaker evidence than Merriway's 4.6 from 319.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are hanging a light frame on plasterboard or timber, and you want a simple brass-coloured pin. Merriway BH02287 is 100 pins at about £3.99, 4.6 from 319 reviews. The listing prints no length, and several reviewers say a pin bends.
A brass pin will not go into brick. Eteamcan lists 120 carbon-steel nails in 20, 25, 30 and 40 mm, and a UK reviewer used the large head on a brick wall. Another UK reviewer said the first nail bent. Stop if it resists.
Fizzix is 60 alloy-steel nails at about £3.79, the lowest price in this comparison. The star line is 4.8 from only 18 reviews, the listing prints no length, and a reviewer says the nails bend. Merriway is 20p more, with 319 reviews.
The top pick for a light frame on ordinary plasterboard or timber is the Merriway BH02287 pack of 100 brass-plated pins, about £3.99, at 4.6 from 319 reviews. That is the deepest review set among the dedicated pins. Several reviewers say a pin bends, and the listing prints no length and no tested load. The best value is the Fizzix pack of 60 nails at about £3.79, the lowest shelf price here, at 4.8 from only 18 reviews, with a bending comment and no stated length. For brick or concrete, use a masonry-style nail with a printed length, and stop if it bends. None of these packs is a fixing for a mirror, a television, or a shelf.
Fizzix 60 picture nails
Lowest shelf price, about £3.79. The 4.8 line is only 18 reviews, and a reviewer says the nails bend.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources on plasterboard fixings, product safety, and tenancy inventories. Listing prices and star counts are from the amazon.co.uk extracts for this comparison, dated 16 October 2026. Prices move.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Scores are an editorial reading of amazon.co.uk listings on 16 October 2026. They are not a laboratory test, and seller weight claims were not measured.
