Photo: Felicity Tai

What can I use if I don't have a wall anchor?

So you've got something heavy, but you don't have any wall anchors. No problem! The best way to hang things without a wall anchor is by securing the item to a stud. This can be as simple as driving a screw straight into the drywall and then into the stud, or a piece of wood can be mounted to span multiple studs.

abutterflyhouse.com - 4 Ways to Hang Things Without Wall Anchors - A Butterfly House

What is the best way to insulate a garden shed?

The most effective way to insulate shed walls and the roof Fibreglass wool. Breathable membrane. OSB board. Apr 22, 2021

Last updated Nov 5, 2022

Does firewood attract ticks?

Ticks love moist, cozy areas. So stack your firewood tightly and keep your stacked wood dry. When the wood gets wet, it creates an environment that...

Last updated Apr 17, 2018

Promotion

So you’ve got something heavy, but you don’t have any wall anchors. No problem! The best way to hang things without a wall anchor is by securing the item to a stud. This can be as simple as driving a screw straight into the drywall and then into the stud, or a piece of wood can be mounted to span multiple studs.

There are a variety of ways to do this, so keep reading!

Note: This blog contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may receive compensation (at no additional cost to you.)

Worthwhile Background Information

Behind the drywall, are a bunch of vertical pieces of wood. Those are called studs. They hold the drywall up (as well as support the weight of your house.) I once cut a giant hole in my wall, and found this. The weird window shape is abnormal, but this picture should still give you an idea of what’s back there. Look at the bottom half for what’s in a normal wall: (If you have plaster walls, it looks a bit different and you’ll want to use a different procedure, so go check out this post on hanging things from plaster walls.) In modern homes studs are located 16″ apart, while in older homes studs are 24″ apart. If you can secure your items to these studs, it will be secure. Those studs aren’t coming down! Everything except for option 1 (which is for super-light items only,) will require you find the location of the studs before starting. If you have stud finder, awesome, use that! If not, go check out this post on how to find a stud without a stud finder before you start.

Option 1: Nail in Drywall

If you just need to hang something that only weights a pound or two, then a nail in the drywall might be enough. Your item really does need to be light, though. Anything heavier than 1.5 pounds, and I’d start looking for another option. But many, if not most things I want to hang on the wall hit this weight requirement. This scarf organizer, for example, is hung with two small finishing nails:

And small picture frames usually just need a nail.

Larger, heavier frames usually requirement something stronger, though!

Option 2: Screw in Stud

The easiest way to hang something heavy without a wall anchor is simply to hit a stud when you put in a screw. I managed to do this when hanging a painting, although ironically, I didn’t realize I’d hit a stud until I was trying to stick a drywall anchor in and failing, hence the giant hole behind it.

Will Irish Spring soap keep rats away?

Irish Spring Soap has a strong fragrance that helps to repel mice. Their sharp sense of smell finds this fragrance to be too strong. Many testers...

Last updated Jun 20, 2020

What drives the value of property?

A home's value is affected by local real estate trends, the housing market, the home's condition, age, location and property size. Mar 10, 2022

Last updated Sep 5, 2019

Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

In order to make this work, you’ll need a screw that’s at least 1 1/4″ long. This will be enough to get through 5/8″ of drywall, and then get 1/2″ of screw into the stud. 1″ screws will probably work if you’re in a pinch, but I always aim for 1 1/4″.

There’s one big problem with the “screw in stud” method, though: It requires your item to be centered on a stud. If that was where you were putting your item anyway, great. But how often does that happen?

This next option gives you a bit more flexibility.

Option 3: Make a Rail

If you’re able to hit two studs, you can make a rail with a piece of wood. Then you can secure your screw(s) anywhere along the rail, since the rail will hold the weight of the object, and that is secured to the studs. The above photo is actually of a bunch of rails. I was doing something different here, but even one rail screwed in along the studs would be enough to hang heavy things off of. To install the rail, cut a piece of scrap wood long enough to span two studs. Then secure it by driving a screw through the rail, into the drywall and then into the stud. You’ll need a fairly long screw for this, since in addition to the drywall and stud, it needs to go through the rail as well. The exact length will depend on the thickness of your rail piece, but if you’re using a 3/4″ piece, you should aim for a 2″ long screw. The downside of this method is that, unless you want your rail to be visible, the width of your item needs to span two studs. Alternatively, you can make the rail the entire width of the wall, and hang multiple things from it. This is actually how Ikea’s upper cabinet system works. The rail spans the entire width of the cabinet, hitting multiple studs, then the cabinets are hung from the rail. This was from my kitchen remodel a few years ago. Anywhere you can’t see a full circle is where there is a screw. Most of those go through studs, although there are a couple that go into wall anchors. Older style homes sometimes have a picture rail system for hanging things. It’s a bit fancier with specialty molding, but it serves the same purpose.

Should I use OSB or drywall garage?

OSB is a quite tough material compared to sheetrock. It is the best option in building structures like garages because of its resistance to damage....

Last updated Mar 2, 2022

Do you need planning permission for a breeze block shed?

You must apply for householder planning permission to erect a garden building, greenhouse or shed if: the total area of ground covered will be...

Last updated Jul 10, 2022

Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

I personally don’t have pictures, but here’s an image on Houzz if you want to see what it looks like. The white trim 20″ from the ceiling? That’s the picture rail. Short of a visible rail, however, the rail system doesn’t really work if your item is less than 16″ wide (or it is 16″ wide, but the placement doesn’t work out to span two studs.) In this situation, you could make a rail with one stud and a wall anchor. However, this article is about what to do if you don’t have a wall anchor, so… I wouldn’t risk making a rail with just a stud and the drywall. If you’re not going to be able to span two studs, you’re better off going to the store and getting a wall anchor rather than take the risk.

Option 4: Make a Cleat System

This is a variation on Option 3. Instead of just making a wooden rail and sticking screws into it, you can bevel the rail: This allows you to make a corresponding piece that goes on the item you’re trying to hang:

The two pieces lock together, and create a rock-solid hanging system.

This is about as sturdy of a system as you can make, however it requires more specialized tools and more work than the Option 3 rail. I love it though, and think it looks great in my dining room: Here, I opted to make a whole wall of slat rails that have the bevel, so I can hang things from any of the rails. You don’t need a whole wall to make it work, though, the system works even if you’ve only got one rail.

Final Thoughts

Given you can get a screw into a stud (or studs,) hanging things without a drywall anchor is easy. I love hanging rails, and I’m always excited when I’m able to hang directly onto a stud. But if you can’t hit a stud, drywall anchors are still the way to go. I have a whole post on picking a wall anchor, so go check it out if that’s the route you decide to go!

abutterflyhouse.com - 4 Ways to Hang Things Without Wall Anchors - A Butterfly House

Are the Keter sheds good in wind?

While this material is already highly durable, Keter added steel reinforcement for even more sturdiness and protection. This will ensure it doesn't...

Last updated Mar 6, 2018

How big is a mini mansion?

Mini mansions are exquisite houses at least 4,000 square feet and built looking luxurious but with less expensive materials and more like a cookie-...

Last updated Nov 5, 2019

Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

Why do German windows open inwards?

Long considered to be a key measure for good respiratory hygiene, Germans often crack open windows to let nasty, stale air out and fresh, but cold,...

Last updated Sep 29, 2019

Promotion

What type of roofing should be used on low slopes?

Rubber roofs are a top choice for flat or low pitched roofing as it adheres to the roofing materials below it and, when installed correctly,...

Last updated Nov 5, 2020