Before you mount heavy items, you should know what type of drywall anchor to use. The anchor’s weight limit, the installation process, and your budget can help you decide which drywall anchor to use.
How to Choose the Right Type of Drywall Anchor
One of the highlights of being a homeowner or renter is adding decor to elevate your personal space’s visual appeal. If you plan to mount picture frames, artwork, and other heavy fixtures on your walls, it is helpful to know which type of drywall anchor you should use.
A drywall anchor helps you mount heavy items on your wall. Drywall anchors come in different shapes and sizes with unique features and varying weight limits.
Colin Young, a mechanical engineer, shares which drywall anchor every DIY should have in their tool kit, “The most reasonable to keep on hand would be expansion drywall anchors. They are affordable and come in a range of sizes.” In this article, we refer to these as “ribbed plastic drywall anchors” instead.
Read More: How Do Drywall Anchors Work?
5 Common Types of Drywall Anchors
There are 5 common types of drywall anchors you might encounter as a DIYer and choosing the right one for your project can depend on these factors:
- The anchor’s weight limit
- The wall’s surface
- Your budget
- The ease of installation
| Drywall Anchor Type | Weight Limit | Installation |
| Ribbed plastic drywall anchor | Light | Beginner |
| Self-drilling anchor | Light to medium | Beginner |
| Molly bolt | Medium | Intermediate |
| Toggle bolt | Heavy | Expert |
| Sleeve anchor | Heavy | Expert |
It is important to know how to use a drywall anchor to successfully mount mirrors, storage units, and heavy items. Most drywall anchors require pre-drilling a guide or pilot hole before they are inserted into the wall.
No matter what you want to mount on your drywall, you can save some time and effort by choosing the right anchor the first time. Continue reading to learn more about the different types of drywall anchors and find out which one is right for your next DIY project.
Tip: If you change your mind about the pilot hole’s location, it’s easy to patch and repair drywall.
Ribbed Plastic Drywall Anchor
A ribbed plastic drywall anchor looks like a wider version of a screw. It has a pointed tip, a flange on the other end, and a hollow middle where the screw will be inserted. The flange’s wide surface prevents it from slipping from the drywall.
Gypsum is the main material used in drywall, the most common wall type in homes today. While it is a durable and affordable option, knowing how much weight drywall can hold is important to prevent damaging your walls.
As the plastic drywall anchor expands while being driven into the wall, its ribbed exterior grips into the surrounding area to keep the screw in place and the flange locks it in place.
This is one of the most common and affordable types of drywall anchors, often being sold with around 100 anchors, with screws included, per pack.
Ribbed plastic drywall anchors are easy to install for beginner DIYers. However, these anchors have a lightweight capacity, holding up to 10 pounds on average.
Best for: Picture frames, clocks, small mirrors
| Common Names | Weight Limit | Average Cost | Installation |
| Plastic expansion anchor Ribbed plastic anchor Screw-in anchor | Light | Low | Beginner |
Self-drilling Anchor
Self-drilling anchors look like short screws and allow you to directly mount objects onto drywall using only a screwdriver.
As the name suggests, no pre-drilling is required, thanks to the protruding threads in the anchor’s exterior which function similarly to a drill bit.
There are two common options: plastic- or nylon-based and zinc-coated anchors. While still affordable, metal self-drilling anchors cost more than plastic ones. Given these differences, it is important to double-check the weight limit of the anchor indicated on its packaging.
Best for: Decorative wall shelves, framed small- to medium-sized artwork, coat hooks
| Common Names | Weight Limit | Average Cost | Installation |
| Self-drilling anchor Self-tapping anchor Threaded anchor | Light to medium | Low to medium | Beginner |
Molly Bolt
A molly bolt is a steel-plated anchor with an exposed metal casing. Its hollow middle expands as you insert it into the hollow wall. Molly bolts can either have a sharp point that looks like the tip of a ballpoint pen or a blunt, flat end.
Pre-drilling a pilot hole is required when using a molly bolt which gives it an intermediate level of installation difficulty. Additionally, a larger pilot hole is needed when inserting a molly bolt.
Molly bolts can be bought in a multi-pack for medium-duty jobs and some can be used on plaster walls and paneling.
Best for: Curtain rods, towel rods, large artwork, mirrors
| Common Names | Weight Limit | Average Cost | Installation |
| Molly bolt Hollow wall anchor Drive wall anchor | Medium | Low | Intermediate |
Toggle Bolt
Toggle bolts resemble traditional anchors attached to ships. Their winged metal design allows the toggle to distribute heavier weight across a limited area.
A flat-tipped bolt is attached to the toggle, allowing it to hold more weight than a molly bolt. The thicker and longer the bolt is, the more weight it can hold. Some toggle bolts can also be used on masonry.
Installing a toggle bolt may be challenging for DIYers. Aside from pre-drilling a pilot hole, you must ensure you don’t overtighten the anchor once inserted into the wall.
These metal anchors can be removed from drywall and reused. Our guide on removing drywall anchors walks you through the entire process.
Best for: TVs, sinks, bookshelves, handrails
| Common Names | Weight Limit | Average Cost | Installation |
| Toggle bolt Toggle anchor Toggle wing anchor | Heavy | Low | Expert |
Sleeve Anchor
If you’re looking for a versatile, heavy-duty anchor, consider using a sleeve anchor. Aside from drywall, you can insert sleeve anchors onto plaster walls, plywood, tiles, brick, and concrete, enabling you to mount outdoor lighting and window frames.
A metal casing holds the bolt, the sleeve anchor’s fastener, as it is inserted into drywall. Once the anchor is in place, a washer and nut firmly plant it in its location.
With three main components, the bolt, washer, and nut, the sleeve anchor has a high level of difficulty in its installation and is more expensive than other anchors.
Best for: Window frames, doors, outdoor lighting, cabinets, pantry shelves
| Common Name | Weight Limit | Average Cost | Installation |
| Sleeve anchor Sleeve expansion anchor | Heavy | High | Expert |
Note: Home Gnome may get a referral fee for matching you with pros in your area.
Main Image Credits:
Ribbed Plastic Drywall Anchor: Bronzaclose / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0
Self-drilling Anchor: Iryna Bidovska / Adobe Stock Free / License
Toggle Bolt: Tenbergen / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Sleeve Anchor: Andy Dingley / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
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