How to Mount Shelves Without Drywall Anchors

The better the fasteners, the more weight the shelf can handle.

If you are going to hang shelves on drywall and if you expect to place any amount of weight on the shelves, you must securely fasten the mounting brackets to the drywall. Often using plastic drywall anchors will not supply enough support to keep the screws from pulling out of the drywall. If you want to ensure your shelves cannot pull out of the drywall, forgo using plastic drywall anchors and opt for heavy-duty toggle bolts.

Things You'll Need

• Level
• Drill
• Drill bit set
• Toggle bolts
• Screwdriver

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Instructions

1. Place the shelf against the drywall and level it with a level. Mark the mounting holes for the brackets onto the shelf.

2. Select the largest toggle bolts that will fit through the mounting holes on the mounting brackets. Inspect the side of the collapsible toggle nut for the correct size of the drill bit required for the pilot hole.

3. Secure the correct drill bit to the hand drill and drill a pilot hole at each marked location.

4. Remove the toggle nuts from the toggle bolts. Slide the toggle bolts into the holes on the mounting brackets and then thread the collapsible toggle nuts onto the bolts. The nuts must collapse over the bolt and not away from the bolt.

5. Collapse the toggle nut with your fingers and slide the nuts into the wall. Hold the shelf against the wall and turn the bolt clockwise with a screwdriver. As you turn the bolt, the toggle nut grips against the back of the wall and secures the shelf to the wall.

References

• West Lake Hardware: How do I install a toggle bolt?
• Hammer Zone: Installing A Couple Of Towel Bars; Bruce W. Maki