How To’s

Canvas Stretching

If you want to learn how to stretch a canvas, then you’re in the right place. We’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you learn to stretch canvases. If this feels like too daunting of a task, don’t worry! We offer canvas stretching services for the canvas prints we create. 

Supplies you will need:

  • Staple gun
  • 1/4″ and 5/16″ staples
  • Canvas pliers
  • Regular pliers
  • Small hammer
  • Safety glasses
  • Earplugs
  • Padded gloves (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  • Lay your print face down on the table, with the long side toward you. Lay the bars down on top of the canvas, in the center. Pull the sides of the canvas up around the bars and make sure the amount of overlap of the print is equal on opposite sides, and straight across on each side, to ensure the bars are centered and squared on the print.
  • If the print has white sides, you can print a stroke line around it so that you can line it up on the back, otherwise you will have to look eye level with the bottom of the bars and line up the edge of the print with the edge of the bars.
  • Use the ¼ inch staples for the sides of the canvas. Without the canvas pliers, pull the middle of the side closest to you over the bars and staple it in place with one horizontal staple in the center.
  • Turn the bars & canvas around so the opposite side is facing you. Check to make sure the bars are still even and centered, as they may have shifted when you moved them.
  • Use the canvas pliers from this point on.
  • Pull the center of canvas tight around the bars and staple in place. You want the canvas pliers to be rolling over the edge of the bar, and you should be able to see the canvas being pulled tighter.
  • Turn the canvas back to the side you started on, and pull out your first staple. Use the canvas pliers to pull this side.
  • Next, pull and staple in the center of each of the short sides, so you have one staple in the middle of all four sides.
  • Check that the canvas is still centered. Look at the front of the image and make sure that either the reflection line or the black/white edge does not show on the front. If it is askew, pull your staples out and adjust.
  • If the piece is very large (36” or more on the long dimension), you’ll want to put temporary staples at the ends of the long sides. Using the pliers, pull and staple as far out as you can on both ends of both long sides. This will keep tension tight and prevent the canvas from shifting while you are working with the short sides. Turn the canvas so one of the shorter sides is facing you. Pull the canvas on the right side of the center staple and staple it in place. Do the same on the left side of the center staple. Slightly angle your staples so that they form a plateau with the center staple. Turn the canvas to the opposite side and repeat. Continue this cycle until you have stapled out to the ends. If the short sides are the sides of the image, staple all the way out to the end, as little as an inch from the edge. If the short sides are the top and bottom of the image, place your last staple 3-4 inches in from the edge. Pull out the temporary staples on the long sides, and repeat the previous steps on the long sides.
  • If the canvas is on the smaller side, less than 36”, you don’t need the temporary staples. Instead, starting on any side, put a staple on both sides of the center staple at the same angle mentioned above. Flip to the opposite side and repeat. (Repeat this step on the remaining two sides.)
Once you learn how to stretch a canvas, you'll just keep going! Many stretched canvases on our studio table.

One of our busiest weeks of canvas stretching. Artwork by Rebecca Williams.

  • Continue to staple in this manner until you have reached the ends.
  • To start the corner fold, lay the canvas so that the top or bottom of the image is toward you, so that the bulk of the fold will be on the top and bottom where it will be less visible.
  • Pull the canvas out on the bottom side and pull the corner in. Pull tight and line up the edges of the canvas. Make sure the fold is fully on the back, not hanging slightly over the side.
  • If you are dovetailing the corner, fold the furthest back piece of canvas so that it aligns with the bottom of the stretcher bar, and forms a diagonal line with the corner. Fold the top piece of canvas around the diagonal fold.
  • If you are not dovetailing the corner, make sure the fold on the furthest back piece of canvas is aligned with the fold of the front piece along the edge of the bar.
  • Using the canvas pliers, pull the corner fold and staple twice across the bottom. Release the pliers, and place two more staples above the first, so that the entire piece is held down.
  • Repeat on the remaining three corners.
  • To keep the excess canvas from curling up, you will place holding staples on all sides. Staple close to the inside of the bars, to hold down as much of the canvas as possible. Put at least one staple on each side, and if the canvas is larger, put several staples along each edge.
  • To check that the canvas is tight enough, lightly tap the face of it. It should sound like a drum, and there should be no give in the canvas.
  • Hold the canvas so the face is aligned with your eye-line and make sure there are no ripples in the canvas. Tilt it so the light hits from different directions.
  • We leave the excess canvas on the back just in case the canvas needs to be un-stretched for storage or travel.