By Bob Beacham and Glenda Taylor and Tom Scalisi | Updated May 5, 2023 9:17 AM
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Drywall—composed of compressed gypsum (a soft sulfite mineral)—creates wonderfully smooth walls. Yet insert a nail or screw into it, and it’s likely to crumble, often resulting in the fastener working loose and the hung item falling to the floor. The solution is to use drywall anchors, which spread within or behind the drywall panel, creating pressure that locks the anchor in place.
There are four types of drywall anchors, distinguished mainly by how much weight they can hold. Rather than picking up a random drywall anchor, think carefully about the amount of support needed to hang the intended item on the wall. To further understand how to choose one anchor over another, see the results of our hands-on tests. We installed several popular drywall anchors and loaded them with weight to determine which ones were the easiest to install and offered the most support.
There is quite literally a lot hanging on a good drywall anchor, so we wanted to make sure we took our tests as far as they could safely go.
In choosing which anchors to test, we drew upon our experience using and installing drywall anchors and determined the most important features they should have. Then we picked out the different types of anchors a DIYer would use, rounded them up, and put them through testing.
To test the drywall anchors against the manufacturers’ claims (and each other), we screwed a sheet of drywall onto a heavy-duty wooden shelving unit and installed the individual anchors. We noted how easy they were to install or if there were any issues. We created a custom hook to hang from each anchor and then added weight plates to test the anchors’ ability to hold the weight they’re rated for (or aren’t rated for, in some cases). Those that passed got an award based on their strengths, and we left those that failed off the list.
Our top drywall anchor picks consistently excel in home use and are favorites among DIYers. Unless otherwise noted, holding powers listed are for standard ½-inch-thick drywall. To ensure these anchors are the real deal, we performed hands-on testing with each of the following products.
E-Z Ancor offers an interesting hybrid that combines the straightforward installation of self-drilling anchors with the strength of toggle-bolt drywall anchors. Their strong metal body cuts through the drywall without needing a predrilled hole, then the toggle pivots and secures in place with the included Phillips-head screw.
To be honest, we aren’t always big fans of self-drilling anchors because they often break during installation. However, the E-Z Ancor drywall anchors are very heavy duty and bore through drywall without an issue, even without a screw gun. Once we popped the screw all the way through the anchor, the bar flipped over and started to tighten, at which point it felt very secure.
E-Z Ancor rates these toggles for up to 100 pounds, which is a lot of holding power from a self-drilling anchor. The pack includes 10 anchors and screws. Because of the zinc plating, they are highly resistant to rust and an ideal choice for use with moisture-resistant drywall in bathrooms and other damp areas.
It is important that the user pay attention to the small arrows on the anchor to line them up, and we felt this is one place that the E-Z Ancor could improve upon—those arrows are small. However, these anchors held all the weight we could safely hang from them, and we liked their hybrid design.
Get the E-Z Ancor drywall anchors at Lowe’s or The Home Depot.
For reliable support in light-duty situations, consider the Qualihome ribbed plastic drywall anchor kit. It comes with 201 pieces (100 pairs of plastic anchors and screws plus a drill bit), so users will have plenty of anchors on hand. The anchor shanks are split, allowing them to expand (with screw insertion) for snug attachment.
The packaging doesn’t state the product’s weight capacity, but we estimated the weight capacity at around 25 pounds during our tests. To be on the safe side, stick to applications like hanging pictures and small mirrors or attaching small towel or robe hooks.
We appreciate that the kit comes with a drill bit, which is designed to work with masonry or tile surfaces as well as drywall. Obviously, the lower weight capacity is an issue, but for the price, the Qualihome kit is worth considering.
Get the Qualihome drywall anchor at Amazon.
Folks who want a heavy-duty toggle that won’t fall back into the wall every time they remove a bolt will want to consider Toggler Snaptoggle. This anchor features long plastic tabs that help the user align the anchor. To lock the anchor in place, simply hold these tabs in the drilled hole and pull on the straps. The user can then break the tabs off, and the anchor remains in place for multiple uses.
Each of the 3/16-24 bolts and anchor combos in the BA kit can handle up to 238 pounds in ½-inch drywall. They’re suitable for supporting TVs, large paintings and mirrors, and other heavy items on drywall without issue. In some cases, they can even be used to anchor bookshelves in place.
We loved the Snaptoggle. They’re the easiest heavy-duty toggle to use, and the fact that they don’t fall into the wall when the bolt is removed is a huge benefit. This is a plus when hanging items like TV brackets, which often require three or four toggles. We also liked that this anchor only requires a ½-inch hole, whereas another anchor with a similar holding capacity would require a much larger hole. Our biggest complaint is that the kit doesn’t come with bolts, so we had to steal some from another kit.
Get the Toggler Snaptoggle BA drywall anchors at Amazon or Lowe’s.
Self-drilling anchors are popular for their ease of installation, but plastic models can be prone to breakage during insertion. However careful a person is, it is highly probable that some anchors will be wasted. ConFast’s solution is offering a stronger metal version with a deep thread to provide added grip. This increased strength also means they are much more likely to be reusable.
The ConFast self-drilling drywall anchor is zinc plated to prevent rust. They’ll hold up to 50 pounds and can be used with various drywall thicknesses. The pack has 100 anchors and screws, and they work with ⅜-, ½-, and ⅝-inch drywall.
We used hand tools to install these anchors, as that’s what they’re truly designed for. They cut through the drywall well, and the sharp points didn’t break off as is common with plastic alternatives. We loaded this anchor with the rated 50 pounds, and it held it without an issue. These anchors are reusable, but we found that if we tightened the screws down too much, they did start to back out when we removed the screws.
Get the ConFast drywall anchors at Amazon.
Plastic self-drilling anchors are usually nothing more than a pain. But with the Toggler SnapSkru self-drilling drywall anchors, that’s not the case. Manufactured from glass-filled nylon, Toggler SnapSkru self-drilling drywall anchors are rigid enough and sharp enough to screw into drywall without predrilling a hole, and they don’t require a drill—a screwdriver will do.
DIYers will benefit from SnapSkru’s ease of use, particularly their hefty holding power. The 50-pack of threaded anchors contains two sizes, regular and mini, each with 25 anchors and 25 screws. The regular anchors are rated for up to 79 pounds, while the minis hold 65 pounds in ½-inch drywall.
We’re Toggler fans, but we don’t like self-drilling anchors, especially when they’re plastic. To our surprise, we did like these! They didn’t fail when installed with a screwdriver, though the power drill (which they are not designed for) proved too much. We also liked that they had such a high weight capacity for a plastic anchor, with the minis easily handling 65 pounds of weight.
Get the Toggler SnapSkru drywall anchors at Lowe’s.
When it comes to heavy-duty hanging, be sure to consider the Toggler Snaptoggle BB heavy-duty toggle bolts. These bolts feature the brand’s plastic tab and zip straps, allowing users to drill the hole, install the anchor, and zip it into place for secure mounting. And, unlike winged toggles, these anchors stay in place when the bolt is removed. This allows these anchors to be reusable time and time again.
This kit comes with ten anchors and ten ¼-20 bolts for installing them. They hold up to 265 pounds in ½-inch drywall or 1,080 pounds in concrete block. These anchors are suitable for TV brackets or holding standing bookshelves to the wall. They require only a ½-inch hole for installation.
These toggles were one of our favorites on the list. First, they come with bolts, so we didn’t have to steal any. Also, we liked that they’re held in place rather than falling behind the wall, making it easier to install items with multiple bolts rather than trying to align each anchor at once. They also required a much smaller hole than an anchor of similar capacity. It’s important to note, however, that if the anchor isn’t sitting flush against the wall, threading the bolt into the anchor is difficult.
Get the Toggler Snaptoggle BB drywall anchors at Amazon.
Hillman 370054 Round Head Machine Screw Toggle Bolts
The Hillman 370054 toggle bolts didn’t malfunction during testing, but they’re a pain to use. To install a toggle, we had to drill a hole, thread the bolt, toggle through the item being hung, and then install the toggle into the hole. When we removed the bolts, the toggle fell, making them impossible to reuse.
Also, the weight-rating information for the Hillman 370054 toggle bolt is confusing. Some sources say that they hold 85 pounds, others state 55 pounds, while still others claim only 40 pounds. And somehow no clarifying information is available from Hillman. We unknowingly overloaded ours with 100 pounds in testing, but who knows if that’s safe?
Overall, there are too many options that are easier to use and that provide accurate weight ratings to consider this a worthy anchor for our best-of list.
There are four main types of drywall anchors (also called hollow-wall anchors), and each has its pros and cons. It’s important to understand how each type performs to choose the right one for the job. Ease of installation, strength, and cost each has an impact, and each of these is discussed in the following section.
True to their name, expansion anchors spread to create a tight bond with the wall and are designed to hold lightweight items. The anchor’s shank (tapered end) is split in half. To install, drill a pilot hole in the wall, fit the anchor into the hole, and use a hammer to lightly tap the anchor head flush with the wall. Then insert a screw into the anchor, and the split ends of the shank will spread and expand to put pressure on the inside of the drywall and hold the anchor securely.
Also called “self-drilling drywall anchors” or “self-tapping anchors,” threaded drywall anchors are made of hard nylon or metal and can hold heavier items. They feature sharp, pointed shanks that can be screwed into the wall without a predrilled hole by using a screwdriver or a screw gun. Once the anchor is in the wall, the screw is inserted. With nylon versions, this forces the sides of the anchor to flare and wedge the anchor tightly against the drywall. Metal versions rely on a deeper thread for grip.
Known as “molly bolts” or simply “mollies,” these metal sleeve-type hollow wall anchors provide medium-weight holding power but offer a unique feature in that users can remove the screw and reinsert it if necessary in the future.
Here’s how it works: A pilot hole is drilled into the drywall, and then the anchor is inserted into the hole. The underside of the anchor’s head features sharp metal tips that pierce the drywall surface. When the screw is inserted in the anchor, each twist of the screw forces the shank of the anchor to compress (lengthwise) while it expands sideways. When correctly inserted, the screw can be removed from the anchor (which remains securely in the wall) and reinserted. This makes it handy if DIYers replace items such as toilet paper holders in the same spot.
When users need heavy-duty holding power, they will want to opt for toggle anchors, which come in various sizes, designs, and materials, including metal and plastic.
Traditional metal toggle bolts are the strongest of the bunch, but they’re not the simplest to install because they require drilling a hole approximately three times wider than the diameter of the bolt (necessary to insert the anchor). With these, the anchor features one or two bars (or wings) that fold flat against the bolt during insertion. Once inserted, a quick twist of the bolt loosens the wings, causing them to flare outward. As the bolt is tightened with a screwdriver, the wings draw inward to form a strong perpendicular brace along the back side of the drywall. The installation challenge is keeping the bolt centered in the hole while tightening it. It takes some practice and patience for users to get it right, but once they do, they’ll be impressed by the strong holding power. There’s more likelihood of the wall itself failing before the toggle bolt does.
Winged plastic anchors (the new kids on the block) feature plastic “wings” that fold tightly together so the anchor can be inserted into a predrilled hole. Once the anchor is in place, a wand (included with the anchor) is pushed through the hole to expand the wings on the back side. A screw is then inserted, which draws the wings snugly against the back of the drywall.
Choosing the right type of drywall anchor is a key factor in ensuring the item being affixed is secure, but some other things also impact the decision.
Drywall anchors come in various designs and sizes, each with different holding power, a measure of the maximum weight they can support. Although manufacturers are not required to list their anchors’ holding power, many do, either on the package or in the included literature. Some basic drywall anchor types are associated with a range of holding power. For an in-depth discussion of holding power, please see the A Word About Weight Capacities section below. Always use an anchor with a holding power that meets or exceeds the weight of the item to be hung.
Drywall anchors can be purchased separately from the screws they hold in place. However it’s wise for consumers to buy anchors that come packaged with the screws to ensure they’re the correct size. If purchasing anchors and screws separately is preferred, DIYers can find the required screw size on the package. If the type of anchor selected requires a predrilled pilot hole (sometimes recommended with self-drilling drywall anchors), the corresponding drill-bit size is often listed on the package.
Most drywall anchors are rated for shear strength, which is the vertical weight that pulls the anchor straight down. This measurement is useful in scenarios like hanging a picture, mirror, or even an armless TV bracket. In these situations, gravity pulls the weight downward, and the anchors are able to perform close to their weight rating.
However, when using anchors to install floating shelves, swinging TV brackets, and other items that stick out from the wall, it’s important to consider leverage. An anchor may be rated for 50 pounds, but 20 pounds of weight on the end of an 8-inch shelf will produce 160 inch-pounds of torque, which will likely break that 50-pound anchor.
Considering such calculations can be a bit of a trip back to high school geometry class, but it’s important to recognize that leverage impacts weight rating. For this reason, it’s better to go with an anchor rated for much more than the object’s weight.
There is a lot of useful information in the article above to help consumers choose the best drywall anchors for a variety of different tasks. That said, during our research we came across several general questions that cropped up frequently. For convenience, we have covered those here.
How someone installs drywall anchors depends on the type. Self-drilling anchors are the easiest to use because they create their own hole. Others need a hole to be drilled prior to installation. The drill bit for this may be provided with the fixings, but that’s not always the case.
The weight a drywall anchor can hold varies enormously. Lightweight plastic drywall anchors can support 10 or 15 pounds, whereas the strongest bolts can support more than 200 pounds. However, it is generally recommended that only a quarter of the maximum weight is used per anchor. Sometimes two or more drywall anchors should be used (for shelves, for example), so DIYers will want to do some math to find a fixing with the appropriate capacity.
No. DIYers would create too large a hole, thus ruining the grip or breaking the drywall. Users can give self-drilling types a light tap with a wooden or rubber mallet to get the point embedded up to where the thread starts. They can also tap in expansion-type drywall anchors, but only after the correctly sized hole has been drilled.
How consumers remove drywall anchors depends on the anchor type.
Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.
Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.
Tom Scalisi is a full-time DIY and construction writer for many of the largest websites in the industry, including BobVila.com, This Old House, Family Handyman, and Forbes. He also owns and operates a pest control blog, RiddaBugs.com. He spent years working in industrial building maintenance, installing thousands of hollow wall anchors over time.
Additional research provided by Bob Beacham and Glenda Taylor.
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