Winged plastic anchors are used for medium-duty applications and require pilot holes as well. These anchors can typically handle heavy loads and a wide variety of hangings, from steel to wood as well as concrete. The threads cut deep into the material, providing a secure hold and pull-out resistant grip. Drywall—comprised of compressed gypsum (a soft sulfite mineral)—creates wonderfully smooth walls. Other considerations matter, too. Able to hold between five and 25 pounds, depending on brand and size (larger anchors hold more weight).

Our top drywall anchor picks consistently excel in home use and are favorites among DIYers.

Plastic expansion anchors are made to hold a screw, expanding inside the wall as the screw is driven into them.

Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The more heavily "ribbed" anchors will give the greatest gripping strength regardless of the wall material. Cost $.25 to $.40 per anchor, depending on brand and size. Drywall anchors are also fairly deep, to counteract the weight of whatever you're fastening to the wall. Unless noted differently, holding powers listed are for standard, 1/2” thick drywall.

These anchors are also sometimes known as Molly bolts, and their maximum holding load is about 50 pounds. They use a standard, threaded hole and are available in at least four types depending on the manufacturer: swivel hole, fixed hole, multiple groove, and single groove.

Not suitable for use on ceiling drywall as downward pressure could cause the anchor to slip out.

Still, if your home's walls are made of drywall (also known as Sheetrock, plasterboard, or wallboard), you can't just grab a hammer and nails and hope it'll all work out OK. You'll need heavy-duty wall anchors to hold your new mirror or artwork securely in place on your wall material. Additionally, basic drywall anchor types are associated with a range of holding power (see individual anchor descriptions below). Best for: Towel bars, coat hooks, and other items that weigh up to 100 pounds. Before you pick up any old drywall anchor, think carefully about the amount of support you need for the item you intend to hang on the wall. They look like a jacket with ribs for your screw, and they're often packaged with the accompanying screw inside. THREADED DRYWALL ANCHORS.

Hollow wall anchors, on the other hand, are not as comfortable with solid materials as the expansion types. As with other anchors, installation is simple. Drill a hole to the recommended size of the nut. How Home Sellers Can Make a Bundle in the ‘Best’ Winter Sales Season in Years.

Plastic expansion anchors are the most commonly used anchor type. A special tool is used to expand the wings after the anchor has been inserted. As the bolt is tightened with a screwdriver, the wings draw inward to form a strong perpendicular brace along the backside of the drywall. They ensure that the wall can support whatever is intended to hang on it and other loads, regardless of how heavy the hanging is or the material the accessory is made of. Hang your picture, and enjoy your handiwork! Toggle bolts are the traditional anchor method. Traditional metal toggle bolts are the strongest of the bunch, but they’re not the simplest to install because they require drilling a hole that’s approximately three times wider than the diameter of the bolt (necessary to insert the anchor). Then screw in the screw until it is very tight. These types of anchors also expand as the screw is tightened and driven into the cavity. It looks like Cookies are disabled in your browser. For this type of hardware, there are four main types, largely distinguished by the weight they are capable of holding. These handy items help us hang everything from picture frames to small appliances, but picking the right type can be confusing.

Sassano also recommends hitting your hardware store for better anchors than the ones you find packaged in most shelving kits. The adhesive is typically epoxy-based, and these anchors work with rebar and both threaded and smooth dowels. The anchor won't function properly unless this is done, even though it might feel strong when it's screwed in. The solution is to use drywall anchors, which are designed to spread within or behind the drywall panel, creating pressure that locks the anchor in place.

If the type of anchor you select requires a pre-drilled pilot hole, you will also find the corresponding drill bit size on the package. The Different Types of Hollow Wall and Drywall Anchors, 7 Types of Electrical Conduit—EMT, PVC, RMC, and More, Learn Expert Tips for Hanging Drywall Like a Pro, How the Pros Deal With Banging Plumbing Pipes, Get the Ideal Flat Surface You Need for Installing Floor Tiles, Simple Steps for Building Office Partition Walls, How to Properly Support Rebar When Pouring Concrete, Hydraulic or Water-Stop Cement Can Be Very Useful in Some Applications, Pros and Cons of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC), Classic Brick Veneer Siding Installs Is Just Like Real Brick, How to Buy the Right Nails for Construction Projects, Choose the Right Door Hinge for Your Application, Here's How to Installing Fiber Cement Siding, Features Vs. Benefits in Marketing and Why It Matters in Home Business, The Balance Small Business is part of the. They offer twice as much strength as regular plastic expansion anchors. Manufactured from glass-filled nylon, TOGGLER SnapSkru Self-Drilling Drywall Anchors are rigid enough and sharp enough to screw into drywall without a pre-drilled hole. The three basic styles of wedge anchors are fully threaded, partially threaded, and the full-bodied wedge anchor.

They require a pilot hole, and the wings that lock into place behind drywall provide strong holding power. Anchors that are self-drilling look like small screws, and due to the threading on the anchor, can be screwed into the wall without requiring a predrilled hole.

If you’re looking to get some … These are considered the strongest option. Do-it-yourselfers love their ease of use and in particular, their hefty holding power. These anchors can be plastic, nylon, or zinc-coated. They're designed to spread open once they're anchored, thus their name. They're either sleeve anchors, drive anchors, internally threaded, externally threaded, hollow wall anchors, screws, or they're masonry screw and pin fasteners. You must drill a hole for the anchor first, and the size of the hole should be a very close match to the size of the anchor itself. Have a holding power of 25 to 55 pounds., depending on size. Make sure the head is flush to the wall, and then insert the provided screw into the center of the anchor and attach your object. Best for: Lightweight items such as picture frames that weigh less than 15 pounds. To understand more about each type—and to see our top recommendations—keep reading. Winged plastic anchors (the new kids on the block) feature plastic “wings” that fold tightly together so the anchor can be inserted into a pre-drilled hole. It comes with 201 pieces (100 pairs of anchors and screws), so you’ll have plenty of anchors on hand. 8 Myths About Renting You Should Stop Believing Immediately, 6 Ways Home Buyers Mess Up Getting a Mortgage, 6 Reasons You Should Never Buy or Sell a Home Without an Agent, Difference Between Agent, Broker & REALTOR, Real Estate Agents Reveal the Toughest Home Buyers They’ve Ever Met, The 5 Maintenance Skills All Homeowners Should Know, Click for complete coronavirus coverage from realtor.com, How to Install Gutters to Protect Your Home From Water Damage, How to Declutter Your Closet Without Losing Your Mind (or Shorts), 6 Baby Registry Items Parents and Their Kids Hate, The Open Road Is Calling: Here's How To Convert a Van Into a Tiny Home, James Van Der Beek Vacates Beverly Hills Home in Favor of a Huge Texas Spread, A Frank Lloyd Wright Protege’s Dream Design in Milwaukee Is Listed for $1.4M, 9 Home-Buying Costs Veterans and Active Military Should Keep in Mind, Wow!