Threaded Drywall Anchors are the easiest to use as they are self-starting anchors that only need a Philip's head screwdriver to install. With their pointed tip, all you have to do is mark your wall where you want the anchor to be inserted and screw it in.
Drywall Anchor Types for Heavier Items
Molly bolts can hold up to 75 pounds per pair on drywall, plaster and other hollow walls. Expansion anchors can hold up to 100 pounds per pair on concrete, brick and masonry walls. Self-drilling anchors can hold up to 150 pounds per pair on drywall, plaster and other hollow walls.
Toggle bolt
These are considered the strongest option. Metal toggle anchors are also the only wall anchors recommended for concrete or plaster walls.
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 larger the resistance area, the stronger the pull/shear force can be. So yes, a molly bolts work better than toggle bolts in this situation as it's a clean hole that is totally filled with the bolt being put through.
Threaded Drywall Anchors are the easiest to use as they are self-starting anchors that only need a Philip's head screwdriver to install. With their pointed tip, all you have to do is mark your wall where you want the anchor to be inserted and screw it in.
While plastic anchors and molly bolts can typically hold weights up to 50 pounds, properly installed toggle bolts can often support much more. Check the specifications of a particular toggle bolt for maximum weights, as the bolt's size affects how much weight it can hold once installed.
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.
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.
1 | Fluke Anchor
Danforth, or fluke-style anchors, are the top choice for most recreational boats with overall lengths of 30' or less. Fluke anchors provide sufficient holding power considering their small size. By design, they fold flat and are easy to stow in storage compartments.
Installing fasteners in studs is the best option, but if a stud isn't available, the right anchor can also provide support. Learn how to use different types of drywall anchors.
Larger sizes permit reasonably heavy objects, such as shelving, flatscreen-TV mounts or central-heating radiators, to be attached to drywall in locations where there is no stud behind the drywall. For heavy objects, multiple molly bolts may be required.
Mounting a TV with drywall anchors or bolts is a great option if you can't drill into a stud. You'll need to use a hollow wall anchor that looks similar to a regular screw, with a butterfly toggle at the end. Once they're placed in the wall, they'll attach to the back.
The holding strength of a screw in drywall is very close to nothing. Anyone can easily tear a screw out of drywall with just their bare fingers. If you need to mount something to a wall, you either need to hit a stud or you need to use a hollow wall anchor.
Insert the tip of the anchor into the wall. Use a screwdriver to get the anchor flush with the wall. Use a screwdriver to twist in the screw. You'll hear a click once the screw is inserted far enough into the wall.
The dull-tipped un-pointed anchors require you to drill a pilot hole into the drywall. Pointed tip styles don't need a pilot hole; you can just tap these into place with a hammer.
Some types of drywall anchors, like metal ones, are reusable. Others, such as plastic expansion anchors, only work once. Generally, you should check product labels if you want reliable multi-use anchors. Yet even then, anchors that are normally good for several uses may not work based on the circumstances.
Toggle bolts are not only easier and more reliable, they typically hold more weight—depending on how thick your drywall is, you can find toggle bolts that will hold hundreds of pounds of weight. The free plastic anchors you get with your kit won't come close—they typically hold about 15-20 pounds.
Toggler SNAPTOGGLE (Best Overall)
This anchor held strong at 180 lbs., and we couldn't turn the turnbuckle any more.
Hollow wall anchors are used for medium-duty applications, such as hanging light decorative shelves.