Hanging A Hammock Indoors

This video shows the process for hanging a hammock indoors.

I often get asked how to hang a hammock inside. This is actually very easy to accomplish. I’ve been using large metal eye bolts for years, but there are also hanging kits specifically made for hammocks, including the ENO Hanging Kit.

The process is straightforward:

  1. Measure the distance inside your room (wall to wall)
  2. Use the hang calculator to determine the hang point
  3. Locate the wall stud
  4. Drill the holes
  5. Insert the eye bolt (or other hardware)

Materials Needed

1 – Measuring tape
1 – Stud finder (you can also use a nail and hammer a series of holes until you find the stud edges and measure for the center)
1 – Hammock Hang Calculator
2 – Eye bolts (or hanging kit)
1 – Drill with drill bit

If you are installing a single hardware piece like the eye bolt, be sure to drill the hole in the center of the stud.

The minimum hang distance for a hammock, generally speaking, is about 9 ft (2.7 m), but much depends on what hammock you have. A lot of bedrooms are built with 10 or 12 ft (3 to 3.6 m) floor space, but if you have a small room, you could also go diagonally across a room for more distance.

Wall studs are easily found on corners or around window frames, but using a stud finder or using the nail method are good ways to make sure you are drilling or installing in the right place.

One the hardware is installed, hang your hammock! I use various hardware pieces I’ve collected over the years, including large steel S-hooks, steel carabiners, and even short lengths of chain. The chain is a nice because it provides variable hang points every few inches.

I also often use a short length of webbing that I hook on to the eye bolt and then use the Becket Hitch to tie off the hammock. This is a traditional method used in South America.

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195 responses to “Hanging A Hammock Indoors”

  1. Addison Avatar
    Addison

    Hi Derek, sorry if this was already asked. I’m moving into a tiny room – 9’8″ x 7’5″ – and I’m 6’3″ tall, so I need an XL. However everything I’ve read says most XL have a total length of 13-15′. If I’ve done my math right, even the diagonal length of the room is only 12′. Is an XL still possible in this space? Would I just be sacrificing how low it hangs? Thanks for your help!

    1. Derek Avatar
      Derek

      Remember that the hammock will hang with a sag, which reduces the length to around 80%. Check the Hammock Hang Calculator and see if it works out.

  2. Andy Avatar
    Andy

    I’ve got a rectangular room. One problem is two end walls are too far apart for a reasonable hang and it’s too narrow to hang from side to side. Other problem is that one end and one side wall is cinder block, the other two are drywall with metal studs. Thinking about affixing 2x4s with eyehooks to the two cinder block walls. This will have the hammock pulling slightly sideways as well as downward. Suggestions?

    1. Derek Avatar
      Derek

      Adding the 2×4 first is a good precaution. I think your plan sounds good.

  3. Mara Avatar
    Mara

    This post saved me, thank you sir. tried at first hanging from the ceiling, decided to probably not risk that when I saw that there was metal. Tryin’ for the walls now hahah

  4. John P Avatar
    John P

    Hi Derek,
    I recently found your website and decided to attempt installing a Mayan Hammock that was given to me while I was living in Southern Mexico. I have several questions though… I read in one of your posts that Mayan hammocks typically hang at 45 degrees, but whenever I use this value in your calculator I end up getting hang points that extend toward the highest points on my wall (I only have one balcony door frame, so my options for anchor points situated on reinforced studs are limited). Also when I lived in Mexico, I remember the eye bolts were seldom higher the 5 ft which I can arrive at on the calculator if I lessen the angle. So I was hoping for some clarity on that. My second question is: How important are the suspension lengths? My hammock came with a loop of rope, knotted to the threaded handles on each end of the hammock, measuring 9.5 inches out (not including the handles), where I used to just attach an S hook to that and the eye bolt. For convenience I’d like to just use this for suspension, but only if it doesn’t matter too much in the long run. My last two questions are: Do larger eye bolts equate to more carrying capacity? And, in one of your posts you said you were using a 3/8 in. eye bolt, and in the video you said you were using a 5/16 bit- There’s also a post by a contractor (Ricardo Henriquez) who mentions that it’s best to use a bit that’s 1/3 to 1/2 the size of your eye bolt. But you’re using a bit that is 5/6 the size of your eye bolt- I’ve never done this before, so I was hoping you could shed some light on how important this is. Thank you for your time!

    1. Derek Avatar
      Derek

      Hey John, sorry for any delay. A Mayan-style hammock has nettles and a loop at the end, but all of that is considered part of the overall hammock length–from end to end. Make sure you use the full length for the measurement of your hammock. It may change the calculation. The good news is that if your hammock is long enough, you won’t need any extra suspension to span the distance between your anchor points. I have a Brazilian hammock that I can just hook like you describe, directly to the eye bolts.

      As for the eye bolts, they will say on the package what they are rated to, which is also a safe working load limit, not the breaking strength. I also use climbing anchors in my house, so whatever you feel most comfortable using, make it work for you 🙂 Thicker hardware is typically stronger.

      In terms of the pilot hole, you want it to be slightly smaller than the bolt size, otherwise the bolt won’t have anything to bite into and will easily slip out. I’ve been using my eye bolts for years now, with all kinds of horse play (thanks kids!) and demos with adults, and they’ve been holding up fine.

      1. John P Avatar
        John P

        Thank you Derek!

  5. JAY Avatar
    JAY

    Hi Derek, I am constructing a house and have a mayan hammock like the previous gentleman mentioned which needs to be hung outdoors. The total length of the hammock is about 13′ 10″ including the nettles and loop. In this article, you mention that minimum distance between hang points is 9′.

    1. In one of the locations where I want to hang the hammock, the distance between hang points is only 8’10”. Is that an issue?

    2. When I use the hang calculator and use the total length of the hammock like you mentioned above, for the location where distance between hang points is 8’10”, the calculator is giving the hang point height as 48.6 inches. But, when I use the hang point distance for the other location which happens to be 9’10”, the calculator spits out a hang point height of 52.1 inches.
    I maybe wrong here but when the distance between hang points increases, the hang point should go lower not higher right? Please clarify the calculation.

    Appreciate your great work here!

    1. Derek Avatar
      Derek

      I should clarify what I meant with that 9 foot distance. A typical all-fabric, gathered-end hammock is around 10 feet long. These are your ENO, Grand Trunk, and other parachute nylon, run-of-the-mill hammocks. Traditional Mayan and Brazilian hammocks are much longer, like yours, and so the minimum distance is a little different, but not by much. Longer, wider hammocks, like the Mayan/Brazilian style, should be hung at a deeper angle than a basic hammock, so even though they are longer, they can often fit in a short 9-foot space. The hang point will be higher, however. I hope that makes sense.

      The hang point is dependent on the length of the hammock, the sit height, and the hang angle. Let’s say your distance is 9 feet long and you have a 9 foot hammock and you hang it nearly flat. Your hang point would be just slightly above your sit height. If you keep the sit height the same (this is common) but you increase the hang angle, the ends of the hammock are going to raise up. You will begin to need some suspension to span the distance between the end of the hammock and the wall.

      For a shorter distance like what you have, the hang point won’t be as high since the walls are closer together. If the walls were further apart, then the hang point would also be higher.

      Email me if that doesn’t make sense.

      1. JAY Avatar
        JAY

        Thanks Derek! I had to get the hooks in before they drywall so took the hammock to the job site, had a couple of us hold it against the wall strong and had my daughter sit on it to see the sit height and sag. I was able to stretch out the distance between the hang points in the second spot so both were about 10′ and I ended up with a hang point more like 68″. Hopefully, that will work…

        1. Derek Avatar
          Derek

          Ahh! What we will do for our hammocks 🙂 be sure to send photos!

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  7. Eva Avatar
    Eva

    Hi, I also have a rental I really want to hang a hammock in. I’m ordering a cotton Mayan (if that even makes a difference). I would really like it if it could hold my boyfriend and my kids when they climb in. Is this possible to do in a rental? I can do spackle and paint work, but I really want to make sure this is something I can pretty easily fix up before I get started. My room is ten by nine, so I’ll have it diagonal in the corner. Or is there such a thing as a super sturdy stand, like one I could share with my bf, if you know what I mean.
    P.S. I don’t mind if it takes up most of the room, I’m just looking forward to sleeping better Thanks!

    1. Derek Avatar
      Derek

      Give it a try! I love sleeping in my hammocks indoors and do it regularly. Large cotton Mayan or Brazilian hammocks are very comfortable and work well indoors. If you risk a fine for drilling holes in the walls, I would recommend getting a stand or building a stand. I have a few examples on this website.

  8. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    Can I hang 2 hammocks on the same anchor? Example…. I have 2 sets of anchors for each of my hammocks running perpendicular to each other. Can I also hang a 3rd hammock diagonal? (Would form a triangle). Everyone weighs < 200 lbs. thanks!

  9. Jeff W Avatar
    Jeff W

    I’M NO GENIUS. I want to bring a little turtledog stand innovation into the picture for those people who feel unsure about the integrity of their home or apartment construction.
    First, get a 2×4 or 2×6 a smidge tall enough for each anchor point of the installation. Set one end on the floor and use a boatload of finishing nails to attach boards vertically to the walls from where you want to hang–apartment dwellers should leave 1/8″ of nail sticking out so you can easily take it down when you move out. I’d pound the nails in at an angle to help keep the 2x on the wall.
    We then get enough chainlink fence top rail to bridge the distance between the planks–they come in 10′ pieces with one end tapered to fit into another. Then for each end, Heavy-Duty White Closet Pole Sockets http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-5-16-in-Heavy-Duty-White-Closet-Pole-Sockets-2-Pack-HD-0010-WT/205561117 –get two sets unless you can grind away enough of the closed bracket to make it usable.
    Screw a nut onto a 2.5″ long 5/16″ bolt until 1 7/8″ of thread has passed through the nut. Drill a 5/16″ hole through each end of the assembled rail 1.5″ from the end of the rail. Push the bolt through the hole. Screw a nut on the end and tighten. both sides of the rail so that equal amounts of bolt stick out–the rail diameter is 1.25″ leaving about 5/8″ of excess bolt on each end. The hammock’s downward force is on the boards, the horizontal forces are on the fence rail, not the wall. Very little force exerted on the wall studs or the sheet rock (if your nails were short). It’ll easily work with 5/4 cedar if the screws holding the angle iron are beefy enough like #12 or 1/4″

    In use, raise one end of the rail, slip your whoopie or strap over the end of the rail on the side of the bolt closer to the end, lower rail and repeat for other end.

    And paint the boards so they look like the previous tenant put them there!

    Cost: maybe $50-60 ? boards nails, sockets, fence rail, bolts, nuts

    Cheers, :*)
    Jeff

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  12. Caroline O Avatar
    Caroline O

    Derek, What a treasure trove of information! Thanks for sharing your knowledge so generously. It’s possible that my question has been asked and answered above, but I don’t think so. I have built an 8′ x 8′ reading (napping) shed in my yard and would like to hang a hammock in it. If I hang a hammock on the diagonal, I have a little more than 11 feet of hang space. But I’d have to sink the eye-bolts (screws) into the sides of the posts and not in the corners, right? Would it matter that the bolts aren’t exactly in line with the hammock? Not sure I’m describing this well, but I hope you get my drift. I’d welcome any other suggestions. (And thanks for putting me off the hammocks with spreaders.)

    1. Derek Avatar
      Derek

      The diagonal approach will work great. It doesn’t matter if you install the bolts on the side.

      1. Caroline O Avatar
        Caroline O

        Thanks! And now to find the perfect hammock…

  13. Gunther Avatar
    Gunther

    Hey Derek, Could I use this same idea to hang a Hammock in my cargo enclosed trailer ? Does anyone have comments or experience doing this? I have a Eno for it .

    1. Derek Avatar
      Derek

      Yes if the structure is solid.

  14. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    Derek,
    I just want to say thank you. I have a weird nook in my living room I didn’t know what to do with. I don’t recall exactly how the idea came to me but on a whim I bought a Brazilian hammock off Novica (I have never spent any amount of time in a hammock and this is the first I have ever laid in that did not have a spreader bar). When it came I was so excited but then realized I had absolutely no idea how to hang it (or the physics involved). Then I found your site. I spent hours reading and watching the articles, comments, and videos you have provided. I found a friend much handier than I and then believe it or not, was able to explain the physics involved to him. I am now very happy to report that my hammock is up and because of you I am able to relax with peace of mind knowing my house will not come crashing down around me nor will I wake up with a bruised tailbone. Thank you for providing the knowledge necessary to give me to the confidence to make it happen. It may seem like a small thing, giving someone a math lesson, but it means everything to me.

    1. Derek Avatar
      Derek

      Thanks Emily! You made my day!

  15. Angelica Avatar
    Angelica

    I bought a hammock in Guatemala, came home and bought the eno kit along with some paracord. Because of how it was made it will not fit in the carabiners. My hanging space is 12.5′ and my hammock is 12′ 3″ from eye to eye (where I can attach cord). What do I do?
    If you want a picture email me, I can’t add one here.