I own a level. Somewhere. I have not seen it since we moved into this house. Every time I needed to hang a picture, I would spend ten minutes digging through tool drawers, give up, and eyeball it. The results were exactly what you would expect — frames tilted at angles that made me twitch every time I walked past.

Then I discovered three tricks that are genuinely more accurate than a cheap bubble level.

The Phone Method

Your phone has a built-in level inside the Measure app on iPhone or the Compass app on some Android phones. Open it, place the phone on top of the frame, and adjust until the bubble centers. If your phone does not have a native level app, there are dozens of free level apps that use the same accelerometer hardware. They are surprisingly precise.

The Tape Measure Method — Most Reliable

Measure down from the ceiling to the top edge of the frame on the left side. Then measure the same distance on the right side. If both measurements match, the frame is level. This method is more accurate than a bubble level because it does not depend on the frame itself being perfectly square — which older frames often are not. If your ceiling is uneven, measure up from the floor instead.

The String and Weight Trick

Tie a weight — a metal washer, a heavy key, anything — to one end of a piece of string. Hold the other end against the wall just above where the picture will hang. The string will hang perfectly vertical. Align the side edge of your frame with the string. This costs nothing and works in any room, on any wall, with zero setup.

I now use the tape measure method for everything important and the phone level for quick jobs. I have not missed the actual level once.