The short answer is yes, but with significant precautions. Drilling into a stud that has an outlet on it can be safe if you take the necessary steps to avoid damaging electrical wires and maintain the structural integrity of the wall.
Yes, it is safe to drill into a wall stud as long as you use the appropriate tools and techniques. Wall studs provide solid support for attaching heavy items like shelves or cabinets. Use a stud finder to locate the center of the stud and drill with a suitable drill bit for wood or metal depending on the stud type.
Any stud may be bored or drilled, provided that the diameter of the resulting hole is no greater than 40% of the stud width, the edge of the hole is no closer than 5/8 inch to the edge of the stud, and the hole is not located in the same section as a cut or notch.
Drilling into walls is generally safe if you've ensured no electrical wires or plumbing are in the area. Use a stud finder with live wire detection, or consult building plans to identify safe spots. Avoid drilling near outlets or switches as wires commonly run vertically or horizontally from these points.
If you start in a corner and measure out 16 inches and you don't find a stud, you should find one at 24 inches. You can also try holding a flashlight against a wall and looking down the wall to see if you can tell where two pieces of drywall meet. At that intersection, you'll definitely find a stud.
Investing in professional equipment, such as a cable avoidance tool, is the safest option to avoid wires. However, if you don't have access to this, most wiring runs horizontally 6 inches or 12 inches above the receptacle, so avoid these areas. If it is possible, only drill shallow holes.
Care must be taken when drilling into the walls of a home, as hazards may lie just below the surface. Common in-wall hazards include electrical wiring, hot and cold water lines, drain pipes, and natural gas lines—the following aims to shed light on these potential hazards and how to avoid drilling into them.
There are many ways to find electrical wires in walls. Wires can also run under floors, in ceilings, horizontally through, and vertically along studs.
Yes, it is commonly done when hanging objects on a wall. You must be careful to not drill too deep if there is a chance of electrical cables in the stud.
Measure up to the installation height of the fastener and mark the wall at that point on painters tape. If you want to confirm the presence of a stud, you can drive a small finish nail into the wall at the suspected location. If a stud is present, you should feel resistance as the nail encounters the wood.
Proper Techniques for Drilling into Studs
Use a 3/4-inch spade bit for 2×4 studs. For 2×6 studs, you can use a larger bit (up to 1 inch) as there's more clearance.
Any stud may be bored or drilled, provided that the diameter of the resulting hole is no more than 60 percent of the stud width, the edge of the hole is no more than 5/8 inch (16 mm) to the edge of the stud, and the hole is not located in the same section as a cut or notch.
Using a Stud Finder
The stud finder will indicate the presence of wiring by detecting changes in density. When the stud finder detects a possible wire, mark the location on the wall and move the tool horizontally and vertically to trace the wire's path.
If you find a timber stud where you want to drill, you won't need to use a wall plug.
Once you think you're on point, one last way to confirm that you're into a stud is to predrill a hole through the drywall with a narrow drill bit (think: 1/16-inch sized bit). You'll be able to feel resistance if the bit hits a stud once it passes through the drywall.
If you suspect that an electric cable has been hit, it is absolutely necessary to repair it. You should immediately ensure that the power is switched off before touching anything. In the worst case, if the protective earth conductor has been damaged you otherwise run the risk of a fatal electric shock.
Therefore, you can pretty much guarantee that there will be a stud located immediately to either side of an outlet. However, this isn't the stud you want to drill into, as the electrical lines that feed the system are typically run directly down this stud.
To avoid breaking the stud or allowing the drill to slip, choose a medium speed setting. Drill to the appropriate depth, which should be somewhat longer than the length of the screw. Wrap a piece of tape around the drill bit at the specified depth as a visual guide to prevent over-drilling.
“One common rule is to avoid drilling around light switches and sockets, as the electrical wires can go horizontally and vertically around these fixtures,” Williams explains. “You can also get an idea of where wires and pipes run by looking in the attic and basement to see where they go up or down through framing.”
Studs are vertical 2 by 4 inch beams that support the frame of your home. You can find them behind your drywall, usually spaced 16 or 24 inches apart. Since studs are made of thick and sturdy wood or metal, they can securely hold screws better than wall materials like drywall.
There are two kinds of stud finders that can help you find wires in a wall – magnetic and electric.  A magnetic stud finder is used to detect metal nails in wall studs. Electronic stud finders produce a tiny electrical field that changes when the finder reaches a denser region in a wall.
Drywall anchors aren't required for all wall-based fastening applications. If there's a stud directly behind the wall, for instance, you probably won't need to use them. Studs offer support for screws as well as the objects with which they are used. Of course, studs don't encompass the entire space of a given wall.