Whether you’re moving or just redecorating your home, you’ll probably need to remove drywall anchors from your wall at some time. You can easily remove them by pulling or pushing them through the drywall.
2 Ways to Remove a Drywall Anchor
Hanging picture frames, curtain rods, and cabinets are great DIY projects made possible using a drywall anchor. Drywall anchors work by securing heavy items in place and redistributing the weight to prevent wall damage. Additionally, a drywall anchor’s design allows it to firmly hold on to a fastener, such as a screw.
Read More: How Do Drywall Anchors Work?
Similar to installing a drywall anchor, the process of removing it depends on the drywall anchor used and the tools you have on hand. You can remove a drywall anchor in two simple ways: pulling it out or pushing it into the wall.
Colin Young, a mechanical engineer, shares his preferred way to remove drywall anchors, “First, you just unscrew the screw which leaves behind the plastic expanded insert. You can then use a screwdriver and a hammer to push the anchor into the wall. It should take just 1 or 2 easy hits. The anchor leaves a small hole that is easy to patch.”
Whether you’re a homeowner who wants to remove a drywall anchor without leaving an unsightly hole or a renter who needs to revert any modifications to your apartment before moving out, continue reading to learn more information on how to remove drywall anchors.
Pulling the Drywall Anchor Out
Knowing the type of drywall anchor you’d like to remove will help you determine what method to use. You can pull plastic drywall anchors out of the wall using a screwdriver, a hammer, and needle-nose pliers.
Step 1: Choose a screwdriver that fits inside the anchor. A screwdriver that fits a #6 or #8 screw size is a good first choice for most anchors.
Step 2: Lightly tap the screwdriver in place using a hammer. This will ensure that the screwdriver is firmly gripping the head of the anchor on the drywall surface surrounding the guide or pilot hole.
Step 3: Turn the screwdriver counterclockwise to loosen the anchor from the drywall.
Step 4: If you’ve managed to pull most of the anchor out of the pilot hole, but are having trouble completely removing it, gently use needle-nose pliers to extract the anchor from the wall.
| Tools Needed | Recommended for |
| Screwdriver Hammer Needle-nose pliers | Plastic drywall anchor Self-drilling anchor Molly bolt or hollow wall anchor Toggle bolt or toggle anchor |
Pushing the Drywall Anchor Through the Wall
If pulling the anchor out of the gypsum wall doesn’t work, you can do the opposite and push it through the drywall. This method is recommended for removing sleeve anchors.
Step 1: Attach a screwdriver to the head of the screw and turn it counterclockwise until the screw is fully detached from the drywall anchor.
Step 2: With the same screwdriver, lightly tap the head of the anchor protruding from the drywall’s surface to push it into the wall. Light taps will ensure you don’t accidentally damage the drywall.
Step 3: Check if the head of the anchor is flush with the surface of the drywall by rubbing your hand across the surface. You should be able to feel a smooth surface when doing this. Additionally, you can use a utility knife to slice off the elevated surface of the drywall surrounding the pilot hole.
Step 4: Push a smaller screwdriver into the pilot hole to press the anchor deeper into the drywall until it is completely plunged.
| Tools Needed | Recommended for |
| 2 screwdrivers (one should be smaller than the other) Utility knife | Sleeve anchor |
The key to successfully removing a drywall anchor is being patient with the process to prevent damaging the wall. Once the anchor is out, you’ll want to check out our guide on patching holes in drywall.
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Main Image Credit: Lost_in_the_Midwest / Adobe Stock / License
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