Keep Your Favorite Items Secured With These Top Drywall Anchors (2024)

Because drywall is not very strong on its own, it can’t support much more than a few pounds on a regular nail or screw without potentially crumbling. For that reason, if you want to hang something from drywall but you aren’t able to drive a nail or screw into a stud, it’s best to use a drywall anchor.

There are several types of these fasteners available, but the most popular are expansion anchors, self-drilling anchors, molly bolts, and toggle bolts.As a general guideline, expansion anchors are for the lightest objects, molly bolts are for light-to-moderately heavy objects, and toggle bolts can support the most weight. Self-drilling anchors are mostly for lightweight use but don’t require drilling a pilot hole before inserting them; the other options do.

It’s crucial to check the weight capacity of any drywall anchor before installing it, as hanging more weight than it can support might lead to your artwork, television, shelves, or other objects falling off the wall.

Expansion Anchors

Best for: Lighter loads like picture frames, small shelves, towel racks, and coat hook.

Expansion drywall anchors have two parts: a plastic sleeve and a metal screw. To install them, you first will need to drill a pilot hole into the wall. Then, gently hammer the plastic sleeve into the hole until it’s flush with the wall. Next, use a screwdriver to drive the screw through the plastic sleeve. The pressure of the screw will slowly expand the sleeve behind the drywall, allowing the sleeve’s grooves and slight hooks to catch and hold the anchor securely.

Everbilt Drywall Anchor Set

This handy set of expanding drywall anchors includes four sizes of plastic anchors along with their corresponding screws, ranging from ⅞-inch up to 1.5 inches in length. You also get two drill bits to make the pilot holes required to install these anchors in either drywall or plaster walls. Note that they are suited only for use on walls or other vertical surfaces, not in the ceiling or for suspending objects from a shelf or other horizontal surface.

The shortest anchors have a 20-pound shear weight capacity, while the longest have a 25-pound shear weight capacity. Shear weight refers to the amount of weight the anchor can support if the weight is pulling straight down, such as from a picture or mirror hanging on the wall. However, the weight capacity is much lower for items that stick out from the wall, such as a shelf.

_{Max Weight Capacity: 25 pounds | Length: ⅞ inch, 1 inch, 1.25 inch, 1.5 inch | Material: Plastic, steel | Quantity: 202 pieces}

HongWay 370-Piece Drywall Anchors Kit

If you want to hang lightweight items and don’t want tosearch for studs, this 370-piece set from HongWay will do the trick. It contains five different sizes of expanding anchors with weight capacities ranging from 5 pounds to 10 pounds.

There are seven different sizes of accompanying screws and three different screw head styles: flat, round, and bugle. This allows you to choose the best option for your needs.The set does not include drill bits, so you’ll need to determine the appropriate size for the plastic sleeve you insert into the drywall. You’ll want your pilot hole to be just a bit smaller than the diameter of the sleeve; otherwise, it won’t be able to provide a secure grip once it’s expanded.

_{Max Weight Capacity: 10 pounds | Length: Not specified | Material: Plastic, steel | Quantity: 370 pieces}

Molly Bolts

Best for: Heavier items such as floating shelves, curtain rods, and medicine cabinets

Also called hollow wall anchors, molly bolts are similar to expansion anchors but typically have a metal sleeve, rather than a plastic sleeve, that expands behind the drywall. This provides more support than an expansion anchor. Like expansion anchors, you’ll need to drill a pilot hole before inserting the anchor through the drywall, but unlike expansion anchors, molly bolts often require a special tool to turn the screw and expand the “legs” that brace it behind the wall.

Akktol Heavy-Duty Molly Bolt Kit

This set of carbon-steel molly bolts includes six sizes with weight capacities ranging from 40 pounds to 65 pounds, so these are ideal for hanging heavier items like mirrors, shelves, large paintings, and similar decor. The kit also has the setting gun required for expanding the molly bolt once it’s in the wall.

You will need a power drill with an appropriately sized bit to create the pilot hole for inserting the molly bolt. The smaller sizes require a 5/16-inch bit, the medium sizes require a 7/16-inch bit, and the largest molly bolt requires a ½-inch bit. These anchors can be used on both drywall and plaster walls.

_{Max Weight Capacity: 65 pounds | Length: 0.36, 0.4, 0.56, 0.84, 1.08 inches | Material: Steel | Quantity: 30 pieces}

T.K. Excellent Heavy-Duty Hollow Wall Anchor Kit

Most hollow wall anchor kits only include mollies that have a flush opening where you can install a regular screw, but this handy set from T.K. Excellent also includes anchors with a hook at the end as well as anchors with an L-shaped end, making this a versatile option for many projects around your home. With weight capacities ranging from 25 pounds to 55 pounds, these are useful for installing curtain rods, hanging items from the ceiling, putting up artwork, or hanging shelves.

The kit includes the setting gun required to expand the molly behind the wall, but you will need your own drill and appropriately sized drill bits to make the pilot holes. You’ll also need a hammer to knock the molly into the pilot hole before expanding it with the included setting tool. You can use these hollow wall anchors on many wall materials, including drywall, plaster, wood, hollow block, and tile.

_{Max Weight Capacity: 55 pounds | Length: 32, 52, 60, 65 millimeters | Material: Steel | Quantity: 19 pieces}

Toggle Anchors

Best for: Heavy-duty tasks such as hanging light fixtures, curtain rods, or bookcases.

Toggle bolts or toggle anchors are the heaviest-duty option for drywall anchors. These fasteners consist of a screw with a spring-loaded “wing” assembly that expands behind the wall to secure the fastener. The toggle will get bigger as the bolt does, and it will be able to fit a thicker wall better as it gets longer.

E-Z Ancor Drywall Toggle Anchor

These unique toggle anchors do not require a drill for installation. Use a screwdriver to drive the anchor into the wall until it’s flush, push the included screw through the item you are hanging and into the anchor, and then continue to turn the screw with your screwdriver until the toggle bolt turns and secures against the back of the wall.

The pack includes 25 2.5-inch-long toggle bolts that hold up to 100 pounds. You can also use them to attach items to the ceiling, but you should reduce the load capacity to 50 pounds if you do so. The manufacturer does not recommend them for hanging televisions on the wall, however. You should also not use these on plaster or other alternative materials.

_{Max Weight Capacity: 100 pounds | Length: 2.5 inches | Material: Steel | Quantity: 25 pieces}

Toggler Snaptoggle 3/16-Inch Toggle Bolts

One common annoyance with traditional toggle bolts is that if you remove the screw, the “wing” portion of the fastener tends to drop down behind the wall, where you can’t reach it. However, these heavy-duty toggles solve that problem with small plastic straps that hold the anchor in place even when the bolt is removed.

These strong toggle bolts can support up to 238 pounds when installed in ½-inch drywall and a whopping 802 pounds if installed in concrete blocks. However, it’s always a good idea to go quite a bit below any anchor bolt’s capacity.Unlike the E-Z Ancor Drywall Toggle Anchor, these are perfect for hanging flat-screen televisions.

_{Max Weight Capacity: 802 pounds | Length: 2.5 inches | Material: Steel, plastic | Quantity: 10 pieces}

Self-Drilling

Best for: Easy and quick installation of light to medium-weight objects

The anchor portion of a self-drilling drywall anchor looks something like a screw with unusually large threads, but it’s those big threads that provide the extra security in the wall. You won’t need to make a pilot hole before installing these, but you might still want an electric screwdriver or drill with a screwdriver bit to drive them into the wall. Self-drilling anchors are not suitable for the heaviest objects but are useful for hanging artwork, mirrors, shelves, and similar items.

Ansoon Zinc Self-Drilling Drywall Anchors

These zinc anchors hold tight in ⅜-inch, ½-inch, or ⅝-inch drywall but are not ideal for use in plaster or any other wall material. These can support up to 50 pounds, making them a good choice for light to moderately heavy objects, such as shelves, coat hooks, artwork, towel bars, and window treatments.

One nice thing about these drywall anchors is that they can be removed and reused; that’s not true of all, or even most, drywall anchors. Of course, you will need to patch the hole that’s left behind, but as it won’t be very large, it should be a quick and easy project.

_{Max Weight Capacity: 50 pounds | Length: 1.25 inches | Material: Zinc, steel | Quantity: 50 pieces}

E-Z Ancor Self-Drilling Drywall Anchor

These anchors are something of a mix between a self-drilling and an expansion drywall anchor. They consist of two parts: A plastic sleeve that you screw into the wall without having first to make a pilot hole, and a steel screw that you drive through the sleeve. As the screw tightens in the sleeve, it splits the plastic, creating a slightly “winged” backing behind the drywall.

The design provides very good support, as you can use these anchors to hang items weighing up to 75 pounds. While only for use in drywall, these are very useful for hanging a wide range of objects, including shelves, closet hanging bars, and heavy artwork. However, the manufacturer does not recommend them for hanging flat-screen televisions.

_{Max Weight Capacity: 75 pounds | Length: 1.25 inches | Material: Steel | Quantity: 50 pieces}

What to Look For in a Drywall Anchor

Anchor Type Suitable for Your Project

Before fetching a drywall anchor, consider the material of your wall. While most homes built within the past few decades have used drywall, older homes may have plaster walls. Some anchors can also be used on plaster, but not all of them, so make sure your anchor is suited to alternative wall materials before installing it. The Everbilt Drywall Anchor Set can be used in drywall and plaster.

If you need to hang something from the ceiling, such as a smoke alarm, a bike rack, or a hanging plant, then you’ll need to make sure that the drywall anchor is okay for this purpose. Not all of these fasteners are for use in the ceiling, and if they are, be aware that the weight capacity when installed in a ceiling can be lower than when used in a wall. The E-Z Ancor Drywall Toggle Anchor is one option that can be used both on the wall and in the ceiling.

Weight Capacity To Support Your Items

The different styles of drywall anchors have different weight capacities. It’s important to realize that you cannot double up on the anchors to increase the weight capacity. For example, if you are hanging a mirror that weighs 30 pounds, you can’t use two anchors with 15-pound weight capacities; doing so is likely to lead to the failure of the fasteners and a broken mirror on your floor.

It’s also important to choose a drywall anchor with a weight capacity considerably greater than the actual weight of the object you’ll be hanging. For your 30-pound mirror, you might want to use an anchor with a 40-pound or even 50-pound capacity, like these Zinc Self-Drilling Drywall Anchors.

Remember that the stated weight capacity is under ideal circ*mstances. The actual capacity can be quite a bit lower if you are hanging cabinets or other items that stick out several inches from the wall or shelves or other objects where the weight might not be evenly distributed along the length of the object.

Size and Length for Your Wall Thickness

Most drywall anchors, like the Ansoon Zinc Self-Drilling Anchors, can be used in ½-inch and ⅝-inch drywall.Drywall is most often ½-inch thick. However, in ceilings or other areas where extra sturdiness or sound reduction is desired, ⅝-inch thick drywall is used.

Drywall anchors come with screws that are sized to fit the anchor sleeve with additional length to fit through the object you are fastening to the wall. Of course, the thicker or heavier the object, the longer the screw needs to be for stability. Generally, you can swap out the screws that come with the anchor for longer screws if necessary. Some drywall anchor kits, including the Everbilt Drywall Anchor Set, include screws of various lengths so you can use the one best suited to your needs.

Ease of Removal if Needed

Removing drywall anchors is not always easy. Often, your best option is to remove the screw and push the anchor sleeve further into the drywall, then fill in the hole with a bit of spackle. With toggle bolts, such as the E-Z Ancor Drywall Toggle Anchor, you can remove the screw and allow the winged portion of the toggle to fall behind the wall. However, you can sometimes remove expansion anchors by unscrewing the screw a bit and then grasping the screw and anchor sleeve with a plier while pulling steadily.

Why Trust The Spruce

Michelle Ullman is a commerce writer for The Spruce who specializes in home improvement products, including tools and landscaping supplies. For this roundup, she considered dozens of drywall anchors of various types, evaluating each for ease of use, sturdiness, weight capacity, versatility for various types of wall materials, and overall value. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, like drywall anchors but also in using them to carry out various DIY projects around the house and yard.