Best Overall
E-Z Ancor Toggle Lock Drywall Anchors
Best Bang For The Buck
Qualihome Ribbed Plastic Drywall Anchor Kit
Upgrade Pick
Toggler Snaptoggle BA Heavy-Duty Toggle Bolts
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Drywall — compile of press gypsum ( a soft sulfite mineral)—creates marvelously placid wall . Yet infix a nail or fuck into it , andit ’s likely to dilapidate , often result in the fastener working free and the hung token falling to the floor . The answer is to habituate drywall linchpin , which scatter within or behind the drywall panel , creating force per unit area that locks the anchor in plaza .
There are four eccentric of drywall anchor , distinguished mainly by how much weight they can hold . Rather than pick up a random wallboard anchor , think cautiously about the amount of bread and butter needed to hang up the intend detail on the paries . To further understand how to choose one anchorman over another , see the results of our hand - on trial . We installed several pop options and loaded them with weight to determine which ones were the easiest to instal and offer the most support . We found the best drywall anchors to be theE - Z Ancor Toggle Lock Drywall Anchorsthanks to their simple installation and impressive 100 - pound exercising weight capacity .
How We Tested the Best Drywall Anchors
There is quite literally a set hang on a secure dry wall backbone , so we want to ensure we conduct our tests as far as they could safely go .
In select which ground to examine , we drew upon our experience using andinstalling drywallanchors and determine the most crucial features they should have . Then we peck out the unlike type of anchors a DIYer would use , rounded them up , and put them through examination .
To test the wall anchors for drywall against the manufacturers ’ claims ( and each other ) , we have sex a sheet of drywall onto a heavy - duty wooden shelving whole and installed the individual lynchpin . We note how light they were to install or if there were any issues . We make a custom hook to hang from each anchor and then added weighting plate to screen the anchor ’ ability to hold the weighting they ’re rated for ( or are n’t rated for , in some typesetter’s case ) . Those that passed mystify an honor based on their strengths , and we leave those that go wrong off the tilt .
Our Top Picks
Our top dry wall anchor picks consistently excel in home utilization and are favorites among DIYers . Unless otherwise noted , have got might list are for standard ½-inch - wooden-headed drywall . To secure these linchpin are the literal heap , we do script - on testing with each of the following products .
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.8/5 ; Performance5/5 ; Value5/5
E - Z Ancor offers an interesting cross that combines the straightforward instalment of ego - drilling lynchpin with the strong suit of toggle - thunderbolt drywall anchors . Their warm alloy body swerve through the drywall without needing a predrilled hole , then the on-off switch pivots and secures in place with the included Phillips - head prison guard .
To be honest , we are n’t always big fans of ego - drilling anchors because they often bankrupt during installation . However , the E - Z Ancor drywall anchors are very heavy obligation and tidal bore through dry wall without an egress , even without a screw torpedo . Once we popped the screw propeller all the path through the backbone , the bar switch over and start to tighten , at which point it felt very secure .
E - Z Ancor rates these toggles for up to 100 punt , which is a lot of hold power from a ego - exercise anchorperson . The pack includes 10 backbone and screws . Because of the zinc plating , they are highly resistant to rust fungus and an ideal pick for use with wet - resistant wallboard in bathrooms and other moist expanse .
It is important that the user pay tending to the humble arrows on the anchor to run along them up , and we feel this is one place that the E - Z Ancor could ameliorate upon — those arrow are minuscule . However , these ground tackle held all the weight we could safely hang from them , and we liked their loanblend design .
Photo: Tom Scalisi
Get the E - Z Ancor drywall anchors atLowe’sorThe Home Depot .
Best Bang for the Buck
Our Ratings : rest of Use5/5 ; Performance4.5/5 ; Value5/5
For reliable support in light - duty situations , consider the Qualihome roast plastic drywall anchor kit . It come with 201 while ( 100 pairs of plastic anchors and screw plus a drill bit ) , so user will have plenty of anchorman on hand . The anchor stem are split , take into account them to expand ( with screw insertion ) for snug attachment .
The promotional material does n’t state the mathematical product ’s weight capacity , but we estimated the weight capacity at around 25 pound during our tests . To be on the safe side , stick to applications like hang pictures and small mirrors or attaching small-scale towel or gown hooks .
Photo: Tom Scalisi
We prize that the kit fare with a practice session bit , which is designed to work with Freemasonry or roofing tile surface as well as drywall . apparently , the lower weight capacity is an issue , but for the price , the Qualihome kit is worth consider .
Get the Qualihome drywall anchors atAmazon .
Our evaluation : repose of Use5/5 ; Performance5/5 ; Value4/5
Photo: Tom Scalisi
common people who want a heavy - tariff on/off switch that wo n’t devolve back into the wall every metre they polish off a bolt will want to view Toggler Snaptoggle . This anchor features long plastic tabs that assist the exploiter align the anchor . To lock up the anchor in home , simply bind these tabs in the drilled hole and draw on the shoulder strap . 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 anchorman combos in the BA outfit can treat up to 238 pounds in ½-inch drywall . They ’re suitable for supporting TVs , enceinte paintings and mirrors , and other heavy items on drywall without issue . In some pillowcase , they can even be used to cast anchor bookshelves in place .
We have it off the Snaptoggle . They ’re the easiest expectant - duty toggle to utilise , and the fact that they do n’t fall into the bulwark when the deadbolt is removed is a huge benefit . This is a asset when hanging items like television brackets , which often require three or four toggles . We also liked that this anchor only ask a ½-inch trap , whereas another linchpin with a similar sustain content would call for a much heavy hole . Our swelled complaint is that the kit does n’t amount with bolt , so we had to steal some from another kit .
Photo: lowes.com
Get the Toggler Snaptoggle BA drywall cast anchor atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orWalmart(10 - pack ) .
Light-Duty Pick
ConFast Zinc Self-Drilling Drywall/Hollow-Wall Anchor
Our Ratings : repose of Use4/5 ; Performance4/5 ; Value4/5
ego - boring anchors are popular for their ease of installation , but credit card simulation can be prostrate to breakage during insertion . However careful a person is , it is extremely likely that some anchors will be wasted . ConFast ’s solution is offering a stronger metallic element version with a deep train of thought to provide added grip . This increased strength also means they are much more likely to be reusable .
The ConFast self - drilling drywall mainstay is zinc plated to prevent rust . They ’ll hold up to 50 pounds and can be used with various drywall heaviness . The pack has 100 anchor and screws , and they work with ⅜- , ½- , and ⅝-inch drywall .
Photo: amazon.com
We used bridge player tools to instal these anchors , as that ’s what they ’re truly design for . They thin through the wallboard well , and the tart stage did n’t break away off as is common with plastic alternatives . We lade this anchor with the rat 50 punt , and it held it without an issue . These anchors are reusable , but we found that if we tightened the nookie down too much , they did start to back out when we take the shag .
Get the ConFast wallboard ground atAmazon .
Medium-Duty Pick
Toggler SnapSkru Self-Drilling Drywall Anchors
Our Ratings : relief of Use5/5 ; Performance5/5 ; Value4.5/5
formative self - drilling mainstay are usually nothing more than a pain . But with the Toggler SnapSkru self - drilling drywall anchor , that ’s not the case . Manufactured from glass - filled nylon , Toggler SnapSkru self - practice drywall anchors are rigid enough and acute enough to screw into drywall without predrilling a hole , and they do n’t command a drill — a screwdriver will do .
DIYers will benefit from SnapSkru ’s ease of economic consumption , peculiarly their hefty belongings power . The 50 - pack of threaded anchorperson hold two sizes , regular and mini , each with 25 anchors and 25 jailor . The even anchors are rated for up to 79 pounds , while the minis view as 65 Ezra Pound in ½-inch drywall .
Photo: amazon.com
We ’re Toggler fans , but we do n’t like ego - drilling keystone , specially when they ’re credit card . To our surprise , we did like these ! They did n’t fail when installed with a screwdriver , though the power recitation ( which they are not designed for ) proved too much . We also liked that they had such a gamey weight capacity for a plastic anchorman , with the minis easy handling 65 pounds of weight .
Get the Toggler SnapSkru drywall anchors atLowe ’s .
Heavy-Duty Pick
Toggler Snaptoggle BB Heavy-Duty Toggle Bolts
Our Ratings : Ease of Use3.8/5 ; Performance5/5 ; Value4/5
When it derive to heavy - tariff hanging , be certain to believe the Toggler Snaptoggle BB heavy - tariff on-off switch deadbolt . These bolt feature the make ’s charge card tab key and zip straps , allowing drug user to exercise the yap , instal the anchorperson , and speed it into plaza for secure climbing . And , unlike wing toggles , these anchorperson continue in home when the bolt is get rid of . This allows these anchorman to be reusable time and time again .
This kit comes with ten anchor and ten ¼-20 bolt for installing them . They concord up to 265 Irish punt in ½-inch drywall or 1,080 pounds in concrete cylinder block . These anchor are suitable for TV bracket or holding standing bookshelf to the wall . They require only a ½-inch hole for installation .
Photo: amazon.com
These toggles were one of our favorite on the list . First , they fall with bolt , so we did n’t have to slip any . Also , we liked that they ’re support in position rather than falling behind the wall , making it easier to establish items with multiple bolts rather than seek to align each anchorman at once . They also required a much smaller hole than an anchor of similar electrical capacity . It ’s important to remark , however , that if the anchor is n’t sitting moneyed against the wall , threading the bolt into the anchor is difficult .
Get the Toggler Snaptoggle BB drywall anchors atAmazon .
ALSO TESTED
Hillman 370054 Round Head Machine Screw Toggle Bolts
The Hillman 370054 toggle bolt did n’t malfunction during testing , but they ’re a pain sensation to apply . To establish a toggle , we had to practice a hole , thread the bolt , toggle through the item being advert , and then add the toggle into the fix . When we removed the bolts , the toggle fall , making them impossible to recycle . Also , the weight - rating entropy for the Hillman 370054 toggle thunderbolt is confusing . Some source say that they hold 85 pounds , others state 55 pounds , while still others claim only 40 pounds . And somehow no clear up information is usable from Hillman . We inadvertently overloaded ours with 100 pound in examination , but who knows if that ’s safe ? Overall , there are too many options that are easy to apply and that provide exact exercising weight ratings to study this a worthy anchor for our best - of list .
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing Drywall Anchors
Choosing the right type of drywall anchorperson is a central factor in ensuring the token being supplement is secure , but some other thing also impact the decision .
Types of Drywall Anchors
There are four chief types of dry wall anchors ( also called hollow - bulwark anchor ) , and each has its pros and convict . It ’s important to understand how each type perform to choose the right one for the problem . Ease ofinstallation , military posture , and cost each has an encroachment , and each of these is discussed in the following section .
True to their name , expansion keystone spread to create a stiff bond with the paries and are designed to hold lightweight items . The anchorman ’s cannon ( tapered conclusion ) is split in half . To install , exercise a pilot kettle of fish in the paries , fit the anchorman into the hole , and use a hammer to thinly tap the anchor head flush with the wall . Then insert a screw into the anchor , and the split ends of the shank will circulate and expand to put pressure on the inside of the drywall and concur the anchor firmly .
Expansion anchor are :
Photo: lowes.com
Also called “ self - drilling wallboard anchors ” or “ ego - tapping anchors , ” threaded dry wall anchors are made of hard nylon or metal and can hold heavier items . They feature astute , pointed shanks that can be screwed into the bulwark without a predrilled maw by using a screwdriver or ascrew hit man . Once the linchpin is in the rampart , the ass is inserted . With nylon interlingual rendition , this ram the sides of the anchor to flare and stick the anchor tightly against the wallboard . metallic element variation rely on a deeper thread for grip .
Threaded wallboard anchors are :
Known as “ molly bolt ” or but “ mollies , ” these metal arm - type empty wall anchors offer average - weight unit holding power but offer a unique feature of speech in that user can murder the screw and reinsert it if necessary in the future .
Photo: amazon.com
Here ’s how it works : A pilot hole is exercise into the wallboard , and then the anchor is inserted into the kettle of fish . The bottom of the anchor ’s header features sharp metal tip that thrust the drywall surface . When the fucking is enter in the anchor , each twist of the screw force the shank of the anchor to squeeze ( lengthwise ) while it expands sidewise . When correctly enclose , the turnkey can be removed from the mainstay ( which remains firmly in the wall ) and reinserted . This make it handy if DIYers replace particular such as toilet paper holders in the same spot .
These anchors :
When users postulate heavy - duty holding power , they will require to opt for toggle switch anchors , which come in various sizing , innovation , and stuff , including alloy and charge card .
Traditional metal toggle bolts are the strongest of the caboodle , but they ’re not the simple to install because they command drilling a trap approximately three time wide than the diam of the bolt ( necessary to insert the anchor ) . With these , the anchor features one or two bars ( or wing ) that fold unconditional against the bolt of lightning during insertion . Once inserted , a quick eddy of the bolt relax the wings , causing them to flare outwards . As the bolt is tightened with a screwdriver , the flank take out inward to form a substantial perpendicular gallus along the back side of the dry wall . The facility challenge is keep the bolt centered in the hole while tighten it . It takes some practice and patience for users to get it right , but once they do , they ’ll be impressed by the secure holding power . There ’s more likelihood of the rampart itself failing before the toggle thunderbolt does .
wing plastic anchors ( the new kids on the stoppage ) feature of speech plastic “ wing ” that fold tightly together so the anchor can be inserted into a predrilled mess . Once the anchor is in place , a wand ( include with the lynchpin ) is pushed through the mess to expand the wings on the back side . A fuck is then slip in , which draws the wings snugly against the back of the drywall .
Toggle thunderbolt have :
Weight Limit
Drywall anchors come in various designs and size , each with unlike holding top executive , a measuring rod of the maximum weight they can support . Although manufacturers are not required to lean their anchors ’ holding power , many do , either on the package or in the include literature . Some basic drywall ground tackle case are associated with a orbit of holding power . For an in - depth word of holding big businessman , please see theA Word About Weight Capacitiessection below . Always employ an anchor with a hold up ability that meets or exceeds the weight of the particular to be hung .
Screw and Bit Size
Drywall anchors can be purchase separately from the screws they carry in berth . However it ’s impudent for consumer to grease one’s palms anchors that come box with the shag to see to it they ’re the right size . If buying anchor anddrywall screwsseparately is preferred , DIYers can find the ask shag size on the package . If the type of lynchpin pick out requires a predrilled cowcatcher hole ( sometimes recommended with self - drilling drywall anchors ) , the corresponding practice - bite size is often listed on the package .
A Word About Weight Capacities
Most drywall anchors are rated for shear potency , which is the vertical system of weights that pull the ground tackle straight down . This measurement is utilitarian in scenario like hanging a picture , mirror , or even an armless TV bracket . In these situations , gravity commit the weighting down , and the anchors are able to perform close to their weight rating .
However , when using anchors to install floating shelves , swinging idiot box bracket , and other items that stick out from the rampart , it ’s important to see purchase . An anchor may be rat for 50 dog pound , but 20 pounds of system of weights on the end of an 8 - inch shelf will produce 160 in - pounds of torsion , which will likely break that 50 - pound anchor .
Considering such calculation can be a bit of a tripper back to eminent school geometry class , but it ’s important to accredit that leverage impacts weight unit military rank . For this reason , it ’s better to go with an anchorperson rated for much more than the object ’s system of weights .
FAQs
There is a hatful of useful info in the article above to help consumers choose the effective wallboard anchors for a kind of different project . That say , during our inquiry we came across several oecumenical questions that cropped up frequently . For appliance , we have covered those here .
How someoneinstalls drywall anchorsdepends on the case . ego - oil production anchors are the soft to use because they create their own hole . Others ask 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 charge card drywall keystone can put up 10 or 15 pounds , whereas the strongest bolts can abide more than 200 Egyptian pound . However , it is generally recommended that only a quarter of the maximal weight is used per anchor . Sometimes two or more drywall backbone should be used ( for shelves , for instance ) , so DIYers will need to do some math to find a neutering with the appropriate capacitance .
No . DIYers would create too orotund a golf hole , thus ruin the traveling bag or breaking the wallboard . substance abuser can give ego - drilling types a low-cal hydrant with a wooden or rubber mallet to get the point embed up to where the thread set forth . They can also tap in enlargement - character drywall anchor , but only after the correctly sized hole has been drill .
How consumersremove wallboard anchorsdepends on the lynchpin type . – Self - boring charge plate wall anchors can be screwed back out again . The bang-up hole is easy to fill . – Ribbed plastic anchor can be removed by tuck a screw and using plyers to draw the combining out . Users might also use a monotone - blade screwdriver for additional purchase . Bear in mind the kettle of fish pass on behind can be a little ragged . – Molly bolts can sometimes be removed by tuck the bolt halfway , then tapping with a hammer to straighten out the flared part in the rampart . This is n’t always successful , and it may be easier to knock the whole mend through into the wall dental caries , where it will do no hurt . – With toggle bolts , users just back out the jailor and let the fly mainstay fall at bottom .
Certain types of wallboard anchor are reusable , so long as they are made from perdurable material and are taken out carefully to avoid breakage . in general , screw - ins and toggle bolt will be reclaimable , while credit card and self - drilling will be single use only .
This depends on the size of it andtype of the screwyou will be using for that wallboard anchor . It ’s all about the diameter of your screw , and you want to use an anchor that ’s slightly smaller than the screw ’s diam so that it gets a soused adhesive friction on it as it go in .
When drilling a pilot hole for your drywall anchors , see the packaging to see what size of drill snatch you demand to make the ideal hole size of it for that anchorman . When installing the anchors , you want to verify they are flush with the paries . It should n’t protrude out from the wall , nor should it be deeper than the surface of the bulwark .
Meet the Tester
Tom Scalisi is a full - clip DIY and mental synthesis author for many of the large websites in the diligence , include BobVila.com , This Old House , Family Handyman , and Forbes . He also owns and work a pest control blog , RiddaBugs.com . He spent years working in industrial building sustenance , set up thousands of vacuous wall anchors over time .
Additional research provide by Bob Beacham and Glenda Taylor .
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