Flat mounted hooks and anchors may be able to hold up to 50 pounds, while drywall screws can hold about 20 pounds of weight. To support up to 100 pounds on drywall, make sure to find the wall studs, then mount the object using metal anchors and screws. Screws should penetrate wood studs at least 1.5 inches.
It's more secure than a wire and you'll never have to worry about the piece becoming unlevel. It does take a bit more precision when laying out your wall mounted hardware though. 100 lbs is not really out of the ordinary. There are drywall anchors with the capacity to support a 100 lb mirror.
Use a drywall anchor or anchor hook. There are all kinds of different anchors, some will hold up to 300 pounds by distributing the force across the surface of the drywall.
For pictures over 20 pounds, avoid using plastic wall anchors, because they may not withstand the weight. You can use different types of metal wall anchors to support heavier frames. For example, a Toggle Bolt or Molly Bolt can hold 30 pounds or more.
Mark the shelf's location and screw holes on the wall. Drill pilot holes in your wall for each of the screws. For a drywall anchor, push the anchor into the pilot hole. Screw the shelf in through the middle of the anchor to secure it.
While drywall alone can hold about 1.6 pounds to 2 pounds per square foot, mounting an object to the stud with the proper hardware allows the drywall to support up to 100 pounds.
Exactly how much weight drywall can hold depends on where and how the weight is mounted. A thin nail in hollow drywall will leave even a light picture frame on the floor, but use the right hardware and technique, and your vertical drywall might be able to hold as much as 100 pounds.
Kristi Kohut, artist and founder of Hapi Art justifies 57: “The 57 inches rule is a terrific standard to use when hanging art. This means that the center of the artwork should be 57 inches from the ground and helps to align the art to eye level.
Drywall Anchor Types for Heavier Items
Toggle bolts can hold up to 50 pounds per pair, making them ideal for mounting large shelves, cabinets and other heavier items.
Screws Help Hold the Weight on Drywall
Using several screws that are #4 or larger into a wall stud can hold up to 100 pounds or more. You want to make sure they can go at least 1 inch into the stud to be secure. If you are hanging a shelf that will have books on it, this is the perfect hardware.
Even though drywall can support a TV up to 100 lbs., it's still brittle and the mount can require additional support.
Toggle bolts and molly bolts are ideal for hanging heavy objects on drywall without studs. These anchors expand behind the wall, distributing weight over a larger area. This makes them good choices for items like shelving units where the weight is not localized.
1. The 2/3 rule. If you are going to hang one or more paintings over a piece of furniture, a sofa, or a headboard, don't forget that the object in question should be at least 2/3 the size of the item you are placing it next to. Or, to put it another way, it should never exceed its length.
9. In summary, the formula for hanging art is: Nail height = (Art height / 2) – (distance from top to mounting hardware) + 60 10.
Step 2: Choose the right anchor
Plastic drywall anchors are suitable for hanging lightweight items such as pictures on drywall, while metal and toggle anchors are better for heavier items such as shelves.
The short answer is – it depends. Picture hooks do not necessarily require a stud in order to be functional and useful. The best rule of thumb to apply is that heavy items (think: mirror, heavy frame etc.) will require a hook that is anchored to a stud.
Most outlets and light switches will have a stud on the right or left side. The trim in your home, such as baseboards, crown molding, and other decorative finishing is usually nailed to a stud.
Mounting Plates
Along with these drywall anchors, consider using a mounting plate or cleat made from metal or plywood. Mounting plates are placed behind the TV and screwed into the wall using any of the anchor screws above. The base of your TV wall mount can then be screwed into the mounting plate.