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Nails and screws are not designed to install securely into drywall and other wall types, such as tile. Instead, use drywall anchors to hang your mirrors, shelves, decorations, artwork, and more. There are a variety of drywall anchor types from which to choose, and the best ones for you will depend on the items you plan to hang. To help you narrow down your options and find the right product, we compiled this guide of some of the best drywall anchors online. Here are our top choices.
Courtesy Amazon
TOGGLER SNAPTOGGLE BA Toggle Anchor
Prices taken at time of publishing.
These sturdy toggle drywall anchors are ideal for hanging large, heavy items. They work on materials up to 3 5/8 inches thick, including drywall, gypsum board, and concrete. One thing we particularly like about these drywall anchors is that the channels stay in place when installing bolts, whether by hand or with a screw gun. These anchors also come with plastic tabs that make them easy to align.
Pros
Cons
Good for: Those seeking a sturdy set of anchors that can hang large, heavy items.
We find that customers who like this product are pleased with their durability and high weight capacity. Others feel these anchors are difficult to insert, and some users are disappointed they do not come with screws.
Courtesy Amazon
Swpeet Assorted 24 Pcs Toggle Bolt
Prices taken at time of publishing.
This set of toggle bolts includes three sizes: 1/4 inch, 3/16 inch, and 1/8 inch. The bolts have a durable and corrosion-resistant zinc coating and feature a wing-nut design that presses against the wall to keep items in place. The set comes with both screws and toggle bolts.
Pros
Cons
Good for: Those seeking a drywall anchor set with multiple bolt sizes that can hang a variety of light-to-medium-weight items.
Our team finds that customers impressed by these drywall anchors say they’re sturdy and easy to install. Others are pleased there are multiple sizes in the same pack. However, some customers feel as though these anchors break easily, and some claim that they’re too big to use in small holes.
Courtesy Amazon
ITW Brands 25310 Drywall Anchor
Prices taken at time of publishing.
These anchors can hold up to 75 pounds, making them a good choice for hanging light fixtures, towel bars and other bathroom accessories, or small mirrors. Our team likes the twist-and-lock mechanism that keeps them in place. The set includes 50 total anchors.
Pros
Cons
Good for: Consumers who want high-quality anchors that can hold items between 50 and 75 pounds.
We find that customers that are pleased with these drywall anchors like that they’re easy to set up and have a secure base. Several customers like how useful they are for setting up curtain rods in particular. However, some reviewers feel these anchors strip easily, and others say they hold less weight than advertised.
Courtesy Amazon
Qualihome Plastic Drywall Anchor Kit
Prices taken at time of publishing.
This pack of 100 plastic drywall anchors is great for projects that involve hanging several small items, such as a gallery wall. The anchors split and expand inside the wall for maximum support. They also include a ribbed shank that prevents them from turning inside the hole during installation. These anchors are reusable, helping you save money.
Pros
Cons
Good for: Customers seeking a durable set of plastic anchors that can hang small items, such as photographs and decorative materials.
Our team finds that those who like this product say the anchors are highly versatile and sturdily designed. Several others are happy they come with a drill bit. However, some customers feel these anchors are hard to get into the wall, and several others find that the drill bit is too large for the anchors.
Courtesy Amazon
Ansoon Zinc Self-Drilling Drywall Anchors
Prices taken at time of publishing.
These durable drywall anchors are made with heavy-duty zinc for extra durability. Each anchor holds up to 50 pounds and works in drywall up to 5/8 inch thick. Additionally, these anchors don’t require predrilling and feature a deep-thread design that provides strong engagement.
Pros
Cons
Good for: DIYers looking for a well-built set of reusable drywall anchors that can hold medium-sized items.
We find that customers who leave positive reviews like that the anchors are well-built and durable. Others like that they’re versatile and hold a large amount of weight. Those who leave negative reviews claim these anchors are difficult to insert and require predrilling. Others say they have issues with the anchors being too fragile despite being made of metal.
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When purchasing drywall anchors, consider factors such as weight limit, screw size, and material to ensure you buy the best product for your needs. Read our guide below to learn more about the most important considerations.
A drywall anchor’s weight limit determines how heavy of an item you can hang from it. If you’re hanging a small photograph or towel holder, the weight limit will matter less than if you’re hanging a shelving unit or large mirror. Ensure you know the weight of the item you’d like to hang before purchasing anchors. It’s particularly important to be aware of your item’s weight if it’s fragile, as using too small of an anchor could cause it to fall and break.
Many drywall anchors come in kits that include the necessary screws. If you buy a drywall anchor set that does not come with screws, carefully check that you have the right size screws for the anchors, and purchase them if you don’t. The correct screw size is often listed on the package.
Drywall anchors are typically either metal or plastic. Metal anchors are stronger, more durable, and better for holding large items. Plastic anchors are less expensive and often come in larger packs. They are better suited for hanging small items, such as small artwork and pictures.
There are several different types of drywall anchors, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are the main drywall anchor types you will encounter and what their common functions are.
Toggle bolt anchors, also called industrial bolt anchors, are ideal for heavy-duty use. They are available in both plastic and metal and have a butterfly-like shape with wings that lock against drywall. While durable and designed for large items, they can sometimes be challenging to install because they require drilling a large hole.
These anchors expand to create a tight bond with drywall when installed. They are usually made of plastic and are best suited for lightweight items.
Self-drilling anchors, also called threaded anchors, can easily cut through walls and require only a screwdriver for installation. They’re typically made from hard nylon or metal and are designed to hold heavy items.
Molly bolts, also called “mollies,” are screws encased with metal that expand inside predrilled holes. They are best suited for medium-sized items and are removable if necessary, which is a rarity among drywall anchors.
Steel-hollow anchors are sturdy and can typically hold at least 40 to 50 pounds per anchor. They feature metal casing with a screw and a load-distribution washer. When inserted, they expand and tightly hold onto drywall for extra stability.
There are certain items you simply can’t hang from a nail or screw, especially on drywall ceilings and walls. With drywall anchors, you can securely hang heavy objects and ensure they stay in place. Here are some things you can hang with drywall anchors:
If you can locate a wall stud using a stud finder, you won’t need to use a drywall anchor, as nails driven into studs can hold a large amount of weight.
The weight drywall anchors can hold varies significantly based on the type of anchor and the specific model. Typically, smaller drywall anchors can hold anywhere from 10 to 50 pounds, while more heavy-duty models can hold up to 200 pounds.
You can install self-drilling anchors without using a power drill by screwing them into drywall with a screwdriver. For most drywall anchors, however, you should drill a pilot hole in the wall using a drill bit that’s smaller than the anchor’s width. Then, place the anchor in the pilot hole and lightly tap it with a rubber mallet until it is fully inserted. Avoid hammering in drywall anchors, as it could break the drywall and create too large of a hole.
Some drywall anchors are designed to be reused, but it’s important to check the individual product description first if you plan on using an anchor more than once. Most toggle bolts, for example, are not reusable. Reusable metal or plastic anchors still need to be carefully removed. If the anchor is broken once you remove it from the wall, it can’t be reused.
Drywall anchors are useful tools for any homeowner looking to hang items from their walls. But finding the best drywall anchors for your needs is challenging if you don’t know what to look for. We created this guide by researching the best drywall anchors and considering various models and sizes, including toggle anchors, self-drilling anchors, hooks, plastic anchors, and more.
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of drywall anchors with a significant number of verified-buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and backyard fencing to pool vacuums and snow blowers.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
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If you're insanely lucky, you'll have a stud in your wall exactly where you want to hang something heavy. For the other 99% of the time, you're going to need to use a drywall anchor to hang that thing on the wall. (That's a sheetrock anchor for the American folks out there.)
I know. The drywall anchor! It's a big, scary looking thing but once I explain it, it'll be about as scary as a chocolate covered cotton ball. I'll be calling it a drywall anchor through this post by the way because that's what it's called in my area in Canada. You might refer to it as sheetrock and a sheetrock anchor, but it's the same thing.
We've all been there I'm sure ... hung a full sized cow on our wall only to have it fall down in the middle of the night, scaring the farts right out of the cat. It happens. But it doesn't have to.
For some reason people are under the impression that hanging things on the wall is frightening. This fear stems out of two things. The fear of filling your wall with holes (you can overcome that fear in this tutorial where I teach you how to fix nail holes in drywall), and the fear of having no idea what the hell you're doing, what the hell you're supposed to use and how the hell you're supposed to use it.
Also you hung something once before and it fell down. And it was traumatizing.
But that's only because you probably used the wrong types of drywall anchors. I bet you're using those little, brightly coloured plastic wall anchors aren't you?
It's O.K. Not knowing, making mistakes, asking questions and learning are all a part of your successful home improvement journey.
Plastic Wall AnchorsI've used them too. I'll admit it. Those plastic anchors (expansion anchors) in bright colours that you hammer into the drywall. You keep screwing and screwing your screw into it and it just keeps spinning and spinning because it isn't actually grabbing onto anything. But you hang something off of it anyways because you paid for it and installed it and can't think of any other way to do it. Then your cow falls down.
It's because those plastic anchors aren't really meant for drywall. They're actually meant for solid walls like concrete. They *can* in certain circumstances be used for drywall but even the must robust plastic anchor can only hold around 10 pounds. So they're very definitely light duty and don't have a lot of holding power.
If you INSIST on using a plastic wall anchor in drywall, remember this tip.
Pull the wings out on your plastic anchor!Not all plastic anchors are going to have them, but if they do, pull them out. They'll squish back in when you hammer the anchor into the wall but they'll pop out again a bit once they're in there. They'll help (a minuscule amount) to keep the anchor from falling out of the wall.
So if plastic wall anchors are crap, what should you be using to hang your stuff on the wall?
Threaded AnchorsThreaded anchors, (also called self-drilling anchors and E-Z anchors) are the absolute easiest choice and one of the most effective. They have a point on the end so you can tap them into the drywall. Then just stick a screwdriver into them and screw them in the wall. An average sized threaded anchor can hold about 50 pounds.
But my favourite is the hollow wall anchor. Otherwise known as a Molly Bolt. It's more complicated to use than the threaded anchor but I like them better.
What is a Molly wall anchor?Also known as the classic "Molly Bolt" or a molly wall anchor. THESE are the only drywall (sheetrock) anchors you should use. (bit of an exaggeration but honestly if you aren't sure what to go with they are the best.) How do I know they're the best? Just ask Bessie the cow.
These are my favourite anchors. Yes there are others like screw-in anchors, toggle bolts and a bunch of other things, but these Molly wall anchors are my favourites so that's why I'm talking about them and telling you to use them too.
When you buy a box of Hollow Wall Anchors there are 3 things you need to look for on the box:
What to look for in Hollow Wall Anchors
Also make sure you own a drill. I have a couple of drills, a "vintage" electric one I found at a garage sale that's GREAT and this Ryobi cordless one, which is great when the battery actually works. If you have issues with 18V batteries suddenly not charging, read my post on how to get a seemingly dead cordless battery to take a charge.
How to use Molly Bolts To Hang Stuff on Drywall2. Take the Hollow Wall Anchor out of the package and hammer it straight into the wall. You don't have to adjust it or fiddle with it or anything. Just whack it in there.
If you look back up at the first picture I showed you you'll see that there's tiny teeth under the flat edge of the anchor. These will grip into the outside of the drywall so make sure you hammer it in good.
3. Now you get your screwdriver and start screwing the screw in. I know it looks like it's already in (and it is) but what you're doing at this moment is creating Hollow Wall Anchor magic.
As you screw the screw in, a sort of flange is being pushed out at the back of the drywall. The more you turn the screw the tighter and tighter the flange gets. Just keep turning until you can feel some good resistance. It may take a while and you might get bored.
4. Once you've screwed it in to the point that you feel the resistance of the flange (I'm not really sure that's the right word to be using) against the back of the drywall you can start unscrewing the screw. Again. Totally boring.
I recommend doing it by hand though and not with a drill because you don't have enough control over the drill and if you screw your Hollow Wall Anchor in too tightly you could end up squishing your drywall and ruining it. Just do it by hand. Super exercise for your wrist anyway which will come in handy the next time you slap someone.
And don't worry. Undoing the screw doesn't do anything to the flange. It stays rock solid. That baby's in your wall for good now.
Seriously. To remove a hollow wall anchor you have to just hammer it into the wall and fill the hole it leaves with drywall compound. Yes. I know. That's scared you even more. Calm down. Remember? I showed you how to fix a hole in drywall. It's easy.
What are the Strongest Drywall Anchors?If you use either the threaded anchor or the molly bolt you'll do just fine. They can easily hold 50 pounds.
If you want to hang something a very large, heavy picture or mirror these no stud picture hangers are the absolute BEST. They are hooks and specifically for hanging mirrors or heavy artwork and I've used 2 of them to hang the life sized portrait you see in this post. Each of these hooks will support 200 pounds.
You're still scared. You don't think you can do this. It seems ... scary and you're pretty sure you're never going to need to hang anything on your walls. Ever.
You say that now, but one day you'll be driving around the countryside, hit a cow by accident and need to hang it. Now you know how to do it and what to use.
Good job.
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