Selecting the right type of anchor for your hollow wall or drywall project can seem confusing at first. With so many options available, how do you know which one is best?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the 10 most common types of hollow wall and drywall anchors, explaining what they are, what they’re best for, and how to choose the right one for your needs. Whether you’re a DIYer or a professional, you’ll learn everything you need to make an informed decision.
What are Hollow Wall and Drywall Anchors?
Before diving into the different types, let’s quickly go over what exactly hollow wall and drywall anchors are and why they’re used.
Hollow walls and drywall lack the structure and strength to securely hold screws and other fasteners on their own. If you try to screw directly into the wall, it won’t hold very well.
Anchors create a solid, reinforced mounting point in the wall by gripping the inside surface or sitting flush behind the wall. Once inserted, you can attach screws, hooks, or other hardware into the anchor’s mounting hole knowing it can handle the load.
Anchors distribute weight and stress over a larger area compared to a lone screw. They also resist pull-out much better, preventing whatever you mount from popping off the wall.
Benefits of Using Anchors in Hollow Walls and Drywall
Anchors make mounting things on hollow and drywall surfaces quick and easy. Here are some of the benefits they offer:
- Provide secure mounting points in flimsy materials
- Resist pull-out and rip-out better than screws alone
- Support heavier loads without failing
- Work for most walls – wood, metal stud, concrete, block, etc.
- Allow positioning fasteners virtually anywhere on the wall
- Quick and easy for DIY installation
Factors to Consider When Choosing Anchors
With so many anchor types available, selecting the right one can get confusing. Keep these factors in mind to make the best choice for your project:
Wall Material – Is it regular drywall, cementboard, hollow concrete block? Matching the anchor to the wall material is crucial.
Weight Support – Consider how much weight the anchor needs to handle. Some support light duty applications while others heavy loads.
Hole Size – The required hole size can be a factor. Smaller holes are easier to patch later on.
Reusability – Some anchors are single use and others can be reused repeatedly. Reusable is nice for access panels and other removable applications.
Loader Type – Does the load pull out from the wall or torque downward? Heavier downward loads require different anchors than pull-out loads.
Also consider the size of the fastener, local building codes, cost, and ease of installation for the project. Keep these aspects in mind as we dive into the different anchor types.
Overview of the 10 Most Common Hollow Wall and Drywall Anchors
Here’s a quick overview of the 10 anchor types we’ll cover:
- Toggle Bolts
- Molly Bolts
- Toggler Bolts
- E-Z Ancors
- Self-Drilling Drywall Anchors
- Hollow Wall Anchors
- Sleeve Anchors
- Lead Anchors
- Plastic Straps
- Threaded Drywall Anchors
Now let’s look at each anchor style in more detail. We’ll cover what they are, what they’re best used for, hole sizes, weight capacities, and overall pros and cons.
1. Toggle Bolts
Toggle bolts, sometimes called butterfly anchors, are some of the most heavy duty hollow wall and drywall anchors available. The toggles swing out after passage through the wall, bracing against the inside surface for incredibly secure mounting.
Here are the basics on toggle bolts:
- Heavy duty hollow wall anchor rated for medium to large loads
- Toggles pivot outward when tightened to brace inside the wall
- Ideal for mounting things like TVs, shelves, cabinets, and other medium-large loads
- Available in wing and spring-loaded versions – wings easier for hollow walls
- Come in various sizes with diameters ranging from 1/4″ to 3/8″ or more
- Require larger holes (typically 1″ to 1-1/2″) but hold very securely
- More expensive than other anchor types
Best For: Medium to heavy loads, especially in hollow drywall or plaster walls. Excellent for mounting TVs, cabinets, shelves, large mirrors, pull-up bars, and other heavy items on hollow wall surfaces.
Pros: Holds very securely in hollow walls, high weight capacities, ideal for heavy medium to large loads.
Cons: Require larger holes, more expensive, not as ideal for smaller loads.
2. Molly Bolts
Molly bolts, also called molly anchors, are similar to toggle bolts. They feature a folded metal sleeve that slides into the wall then expands outward when installing the screw.
Key facts about molly bolt anchors:
- Metal sleeve insert expands outward in hollow wall for secure hold
- Alternative to toggle bolts for medium to heavy loads
- Typically smaller diameter sizes than toggle bolts
- Require smaller holes (3/8″ to 1/2″ diameter)
- Come in light to heavy duty versions depending on sleeve thickness
- Offer high pullout strength and shear resistance
- Reusable if not overtightened
Best For: Medium loads on hollow drywall. Pictures, mirrors, floating shelves, and other uses that require good shear strength.
Pros: Strong grip, smaller holes than toggle bolts, good for shear loads.
Cons: Not as heavy duty as toggles, holes can be tricky to drill neatly.
3. Toggler Brand Toggle Bolts
Toggler brand toggle bolts offer an advanced spring-loaded version that is extremely quick and easy to install. Just drill the hole, insert anchor, and turn the screw – the toggle pops out automatically as you tighten.
Toggler anchor features:
- Spring-loaded toggle wings deploy automatically
- No need to pre-flip the toggles manually
- Wide variety of types and sizes available
- Plastic models for light loads, metal for heavy loads
- Require typical toggle bolt hole sizes
- Offer good load capacity and holding power
- Quick and easy installation, especially compared to normal toggle bolts
Best For: Quick, easy installation of an advanced toggle bolt anchor. Good for both light and heavy loads.
Pros: Very fast and easy to install, reliable grip strength, models for all load types.
Cons: More expensive than basic toggles but can be worth it for the installation convenience.
4. E-Z Ancors
E-Z Ancors, also called E-Z anchors, provide an inexpensive plastic anchor option suitable for light to medium loads on drywall and hollow walls.
Here are the main features:
- Low-cost plastic drywall anchor
- Narrow profile allows small hole sizes (1/4″ to 3/16″)
- Spur ridges grip drywall for decent pullout strength
- Mushroom stop limits screw insertion depth
- For light to medium duty applications – pictures, light shelving, etc.
- Not suitable for heavy loads or shear strength
Best For: Light loads like pictures, decorations, curtain rods and other applications needing basic pullout resistance.
Pros: Inexpensive, quick installation, small drill hole sizes.
Cons: Low weight capacity, plastic isn’t as strong as metal.
5. Self-Drilling Drywall Anchors
Self-drilling anchors, as the name suggests, combine the anchor and screw into one fastener. The tip drills into the wall as you turn the screw. Wings then flip out to grip the backside.
Features of self-drilling anchors:
- Combines anchor and screw into one piece
- Drills own hole and sets anchor automatically
- Wings deploy outward for resistance to pullout
- Quick, easy installation
- Ideal for basic drywall anchoring applications
- Various sizes available, typically 1/4″ to 3/16″ diameters
- Not recommended for heavy loads
Best For: Light duty drywall and hollow wall applications. Especially useful in hard-to-drill spots or for rapid installation.
Pros: Very fast installation, anchors and drills hole in one step.
Cons: Not for heavy loads, limited pullout strength.
6. Hollow Wall Anchors
Hollow wall anchors, sometimes called wall grippers, use ratcheting arms that clamp against interior wall surfaces when the screw tightens. The gripping arms brace the anchor for decent pullout resistance.
Features of hollow wall anchors:
- Metal (or plastic) body with pivoting gripping arms
- Arms ratchet outward when turning screw to grip wall
- Creates solid backing point in hollow drywall or other panels
- Come in various sizes for different screw diameters
- Best suited for light to medium loads
- Offer basic pullout strength but not large shear resistance
Best For: General purpose anchoring for things like lightweight pictures, mirrors, door chimes, small shelves, and other light to medium loads.
Pros: Simple, inexpensive, easy to install, small hole size.
Cons: Not suitable for heavy loads or large shear stresses. Gripping strength can be limited.
7. Sleeve Anchors
Sleeve anchors, also called threaded drywall anchors, feature an external threaded metal shell with an expander plug inside. Tightening the inner screw forces the plug outward against the inside of the hole for solid mounting.
Sleeve anchor specs:
- External threaded metal sleeve
- Screw forces inner expander plug outward
- Creates strong threaded grip ideal for studs
- Used often in drywall but works in wood/metal studs too
- Available in a wide range of sizes
- Offers high pullout and shear strength
- More heavy duty than hollow wall anchors
Best For: Medium to heavy loads needing good shear and pullout resistance. Ideal for attaching to wall studs but also works well in thick drywall.
Pros: Strong threaded grip, good shear strength, varieties for heavy loads.
Cons: Not for ultra light duty uses, requires drill and precise hole sizing.
8. Lead Anchors
Lead anchors are a popular low-cost drywall fastener composed of malleable lead. They work by crushing into an undersized hole to create strong friction and mechanical locking.
Here are the characteristics of lead anchors:
- Made from soft malleable lead alloy
- Crushes and locks into undersized hole
- Creates strong drywall grip from friction/compression
- No expansion like toggle or molly bolts
- Cheap and readily available
- For light duty use only – pictures, shelves, etc.
- Come in various sizes matched to specific screw diameters
Best For: Light duty drywall anchoring applications. A good low-cost anchor choice for things like pictures and decorations.
Pros: Simple, cheap, easy to use, small hole sizes.
Cons: Limited strength, not recommended for heavy loads.
9. Plastic Straps
Plastic strap anchors provide light duty drywall mounting using tension rather than compression. They feature a large plastic patch that adheres to the wall and is attached to the item via embedded plastic straps.
Features of plastic strap anchors:
- Plastic patch sticks to wall, item attached with straps
- Straps extend out providing resistance through tension
- Typically used to hang lightweight items from drywall
- Common for hanging small decorative items
- Very easy to use but limited strength
- Many styles from hooks to small racks available
Best For: Very light loads like photos, lightweight shelving, small decorations, keys, and other low-stress items.
Pros: Super easy to install, uses adhesive patch instead of fasteners.
Cons: Only suitable for very light loads under a few pounds.
10. Threaded Drywall Inserts
Threaded drywall inserts provide a heavy duty threaded anchor point. Plastic or metal inserts press-fit into undersized holes, then accept a machine screw for secure fastening.
Features of threaded inserts:
- Pressed into undersized hole for tight friction fit
- Internal machine screw threads allow bolted attachment
- Excellent shear strength and pullout resistance
- Reusable metal versions available
- Require precision drilling and installation
- Offer very strong threaded mounting points
Best For: Heavy loads requiring removable access like junction boxes, large fixtures, or mounting points needing frequent access.
Pros: Very strong threaded attachment, great for reuse/access.
Cons: More difficult installation, requires precise drilling.
Key Considerations When Selecting Anchors
Now that you know the main anchor types available, here are some key factors to keep in mind when selecting the best anchors for your project:
- Weight Bearing Strength – Match the anchor to the load you need to support. Toggle bolts and sleeve anchors support heavier loads than lightweight options like plastic straps.
- Shear Strength – Some anchors excel at resisting shear loads better than pull-out loads. Toggler bolts and threaded inserts provide excellent shear strength.
- Hole Size – The required hole diameter ranges from very small for plastic straps to 1-1/2″ for some toggle bolts. Smaller holes are preferable when possible.
- Material Compatibility – Make sure the anchor suits the composition of your walls. Some work better for concrete, others for hollow drywall panels.
- Reusability – Threaded inserts and some sleeve anchors allow removable and repeat fastening. This is useful for access panels and other applications needing to attach/detach frequently.
- Cost – Plastic and lead anchors are cheap options for light duty uses. Heavier toggles and threaded inserts cost more but handle greater loads.
Pick an anchor matching the demands of your specific job. With the right selection, you can securely fasten almost anything to hollow and drywall surfaces.
How to Install Hollow Wall and Drywall Anchors
We’ve covered the main anchor types available, now let’s briefly go over the typical installation process. Here are the basic steps:
- Measure and Mark – Determine your mounting locations and use a pencil to mark holes. Account for the size of anchor needed.
- Drill Holes – Use a drill bit matching the anchor diameter to bore holes perpendicular to the surface. Hollow wall bits help give clean holes.
- Insert Anchor – Place your selected anchor into the hole. Ensure it sits flush or extends properly.
- Tighten Screw – Insert screw into the anchor’s hole and tighten. Turning the screw sets and expands the anchor.
- Attach Item – Once the anchor is seated firmly, the mounted item can be attached to the protruding screw.
Always follow manufacturer instructions for proper sizing, drilling, and installation steps. Use care to not overtighten screws and damage the anchors or surrounding material.
Hollow Wall and Drywall Anchor Tips
Here are some helpful tips for working with hollow wall and drywall anchors:
- When possible, try to hit wall studs instead of using anchors. Stud mounting provides more strength.
- For heavy items, use multiple anchors distributed across the mounting area. This distributes force for better support.
- Start with small pilot holes then increase drill bit size gradually to get clean openings. Rushing can cause excessive material damage.
- Prioritize toggle bolts for large loads. They offer some of the best weight capacities.
- For rapid installation in drywall, self-drilling anchors are quick and easy.
- Always follow the recommended drill size and screw length for whichever anchor you use. Proper sizing is key.
- Consider threaded inserts for applications needing very frequent access. They allow repeated screw insertion/removal.
- Don’t overload plastic strap or lightweight anchors. Only use them for items well below their ratings.
- When drilling near electrical lines, sockets, or plumbing, use care. Avoid contact with any hidden systems.
That covers the essentials on the most popular hollow wall and drywall anchor types and how to choose between them. Equipped with this knowledge, you can take on any drywall fastening project with confidence. Just remember to assess the demands of your specific application and select an anchor rated for those