ᐅ Which anchors and screws are suitable for different wall types when installing Ikea BESTA units?

Hello everyone,

I am currently planning to install an Ikea Besta cabinet and am wondering which types of anchors and screws are best suited for different wall types. It is especially important to me that the mounting is secure, as the Besta is often quite heavy and may be subjected to some load.

Specifically:
- Which types of anchors are suitable for drywall (plasterboard)?
- What is recommended for solid brick walls?
- And what about concrete walls?

I would also like to know if the screws provided by Ikea are always appropriate or if it’s better to use your own screws and anchors.

I appreciate any tips and recommendations, including advice on screw lengths and thicknesses for each wall type. Thanks in advance!

Interesting question, but I think it’s best not to rely too much on Ikea instructions, especially when it comes to fastenings. Ikea screws are usually standard, designed mainly for wooden support surfaces.

For drywall (plasterboard) walls, I definitely recommend cavity anchors, such as spring toggle bolts or toggle anchors that expand behind the panel and can bear considerable load. The plastic wall plugs included often aren’t suitable because they can crumble easily or don’t hold well enough.

For solid brick walls, traditional expansion anchors or nylon plugs combined with appropriate screws work well. The length of the anchor is important to ensure a deep hold within the material. Some also recommend chemical anchors, but in my opinion, that is overkill for regular furniture.

Concrete walls require hammer-in anchors or stainless steel anchors. There’s less room for flexibility here: just hammer or drill in and then use large screws.

In summary: generic sets from hardware stores are often a better choice than the small Ikea sets, which are more of a temporary solution.

GALEO4 schrieb:
For drywall, I definitely recommend cavity anchors, such as spring toggle bolts or toggle bolts that expand behind the panel and can support significant loads.

That is correct and important. To be precise:

- For drywall, spring toggle bolts (also known as toggle anchors) are the preferred choice because they distribute the load well behind the panel. Alternatively, metal anchors without expansion function can be used if there are load-bearing elements behind.

- For brick walls, nylon expansion anchors of the appropriate size are suitable, with at least 8 mm diameter and screws of 5-6 mm diameter. The anchor length should be at least 50 mm (2 inches); if possible, drill deeper.

- Concrete walls require hammer anchors (e.g., zinc-plated or stainless steel), used with the appropriate masonry drill bit. Hex-head screws are preferred due to better torque.

Ikea original screws are often sufficient for wood or metal studs, but not for all wall types. For walls, always consider proper anchors and screws to ensure safety.

jadaka schrieb:
Which types of anchors are suitable for drywall (plasterboard)?

There are some really good anchors for plasterboard! The toggle anchors that toril mentioned are very practical and can hold a lot of weight.

For brick walls, you can usually rely on nylon expansion plugs—they’re a classic choice and rarely cause problems. For concrete, I recommend a good hammer anchor, which will definitely be happy with the drill.

And yes, the screws that come with IKEA furniture are okay, but for wall mounting it’s better to use separate anchors. You don’t want the cabinet to wobble at the slightest touch 😉

toril schrieb:
Ikea original screws are often sufficient for wood or metal studs, but not for all wall types.

Exactly!

I think many people underestimate the risk of using the supplied screws, especially with drywall. Failure is almost guaranteed if the appropriate anchors are not used. For heavy BESTA units, it’s definitely best to use proven hollow wall anchors—not just with drywall, but also with other wall types, as standard anchors can be too weak.

One more tip: always check the wall type before purchasing and choose the fastening method accordingly. Trying to save money again by using unreliable screws often ends in disaster.

What do you think?