Aluminum Panel Cleats & Z-Clips

A two-piece hanging system: two strips with matching angled edges, one mounted to the wall and one to the back of the item. The item drops onto the wall strip and its weight locks it in place. Panel Cleat® profiles are extruded aluminum French cleats.

A French cleat made from Z-shaped aluminum profiles, also called panel clips or hanging cleats. Clips on the back of the panel hook over a continuous rail on the wall.

Both work on the same principle. Extruded aluminum cleats are thinner and more consistent than wood French cleats, so panels sit closer to the wall and line up more precisely.

The two profiles interlock. As the panel is lowered, its cleat hooks over the wall cleat and pulls the panel tight to the wall. Lifting the panel by the lift-off distance releases it.

1. Check that you have at least the profile’s lift-off distance of clearance above the panel.
2. Fasten the rail to the wall, level.
3. Fasten the clips, or a matching rail, to the back of the panel.
4. Lift the panel above the wall rail and lower it until the profiles engage.

Fasten wall rails into studs or solid blocking wherever possible. Where there are no studs, use anchors rated for the wall material and the panel’s weight.

Space clips evenly along the panel, with one near each end. Longer or heavier panels need more clips, or a continuous rail on both the wall and the panel.

It depends on the cleat profile, the fasteners and the wall they go into, and the fasteners and wall are usually the limiting factor. For heavier panels, fasten into studs or blocking, use more clips or a continuous rail, and contact us for help choosing a profile.

At least the profile’s lift-off distance, listed on each card above: from .312" (Avondale) to 1.477" (Montavilla).

How far the panel sits out from the wall once it’s hung: from .175" (MF625) to .750" (Williamsburg XL).

Yes. Lift the panel by its lift-off distance and pull it away, which makes cleats a good fit for access panels and displays that change.

Wall panels, millwork, cabinetry, signage, artwork and retail displays.

All Z-clips are pre-punched. Most rails come pre-punched or unpunched; Avondale is pre-punched only.

Z-clips come in 20, 100, 250, 500 and 1,000 packs, and volume pricing applies automatically at each quantity break.