How to Choose a Wall Anchor: 3 Best Drywall Anchors

Choosing the best dry wall anchors for your project is the key to hanging art properly an keeping what you hang on the wall where it should be. This is a look at the how to choose a wall anchor and the 3 best wall anchors for various projects around the house.

From hanging cabinets or simple art work, knowing how to choose the correct wall anchor will save you time and money every time.

Please note, drilling into a stud is always best, but if there is no stud, then here is what you should use.

How to Choose a Wall Anchor #1: Best Wall Anchor for Cabinets

Toggle bolts are always the answer here. If you are hanging heavy cabinets and you actually intend to put dishes in them, the use toggle bolts. I must really stress here that I would make every attempt to hit some studs in the wall.

Studs are the best way to hang cabinets, but the occasional toggle bolt in the drywall will not hurt your stability. Use a stud finder first and rill holes in your cabinet where they align with the studs, you can use one toggle bolt per cabinet but after that you are getting into cabinets falling off the wall territory.

How to Choose a Wall Anchor #2: Light to Medium Art Work

OK, after stressing the stud before you will be glad to know you can hand medium weight artwork on the wall using a traditional wall anchor or the toggle bolt. If you use a wall anchor, the plastic kind, be sure to read the instruction on the package.

You package will tell you what size hole to make in the wall to insert the anchor into. Always follow this.

Lately I have been using a fun product that is a wall anchor that screws into the wall. It is awesome. They look like big plastic screws, so you cannot miss them. Again, read the package. Follow their instructions always.

These work great for holding a tall bookcase to the wall in a child's bedroom as well.

How to Choose a Wall Anchor #3: Accent Shelves and light Frames

OK, so you simply need to hang something that weights about 5 pounds or less. If it is a small shelf, then use the plastic wall anchor or the toggle bolt is you feel like it. The plastic screw in wall anchor is also perfect for this.

You will not be putting a ton of pressure eon the piece, so extreme measures are not needed here.

Please note, if you are hanging a small piece of art, and then use the picture hanging hooks sold at the home improvement store. They make a small hole in the wall and you can skip the dry wall anchor for this.