Guides · Storage
How to hang heavy shelves on drywall
Drywall alone holds very little. A heavy shelf stays up when its screws go into the studs behind the drywall, or, where there is no stud, into anchors rated for the load. The weight ratings on the bracket and the anchor pack tell you which.
- Time
- 30 to 60 min
- Skill
- Beginner
- Key step
- Find the studs
Before you drill. Wires and pipes run inside walls, often straight up and down from outlets and switches, and behind sinks and toilets. Avoid drilling directly above or below them. Renters: check your lease or ask your landlord before drilling into walls.
Tools and materials
- Stud finderShows where the studs are behind the drywall.
- Drill/driver and bitsFor pilot holes and driving screws.
- Level, 24 inLong enough to level the brackets against each other.
- Tape measure and pencilMark the height and the bracket positions.
- Shelf bracketsCheck the weight rating per bracket, and use the screws size the bracket asks for.
- Wood screws, long enough for the studThey must pass through the bracket and the drywall and bite well into the stud. The bracket instructions usually give a length.
- Heavy-duty drywall anchorsToggle-style anchors for spots with no stud. Use the rating on the pack, not a guess.
- Safety glassesDrywall dust falls straight into your eyes when you drill at head height.
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1. Work out the load
Add up what the shelf will hold, not just the shelf itself: books and dishes are heavier than they look. Compare that total with three ratings: the shelf board, each bracket, and each screw or anchor. The lowest one is your limit. If the pack does not state a rating, assume it is not meant for heavy loads.
2. Find the studs
- Scan the wall with the stud finder, sliding it slowly sideways. Mark both edges of each stud and the centre between them.
- Check the spacing. In North American homes studs are usually 16 in apart centre to centre, sometimes 24 in. If your marks fit that pattern, they are probably right.
- Confirm with a small nail or thin bit in a spot the bracket will cover. It should hit solid wood just behind the drywall. Steel studs feel solid too but need different screws; check the bracket instructions.
3. Mark and level
- Pick the height and draw a light level line across the studs.
- Hold the first bracket on a stud at the line and mark its holes. Do the same for the other brackets, checking with the level across the brackets as you go.
4. Fasten the brackets
- Drill pilot holes into the studs, a little narrower than the screws.
- Screw the brackets on firmly. Stop when the bracket is tight; overdriving strips the wood.
- No stud where you need one? Use a heavy-duty anchor rated for the load, installed exactly as its pack says. Better still, use a longer shelf or a rail system so every bracket can land on a stud.
- Fit the shelf and fix it to the brackets if they have screw holes on top. Load it gradually and check that nothing shifts.
Plaster, brick or concrete? Older plaster walls and masonry need different drill bits and anchors. Buy anchors made for that wall type, and follow their instructions.
When to call a pro
- You plan very heavy loads, such as a wall of books or a large TV with storage.
- The wall is plaster in poor condition, or you cannot find studs where the plan needs them.
- You hit a wire or a pipe.
Related: The starter tool kit · How to patch a hole in drywall · How to plan garage storage.
See where the shelf goes before you drill
Photograph the room, add one measurement and pick a style. RoomTag redesigns it with furniture sized to your floor, so you can plan the wall before you mark it.
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