ᐅ Which screws do I need for wall mounting the IKEA BESTA?

I am planning to mount my IKEA BESTÅ shelving unit on a wall, but I am unsure which screws and anchors would be best to use. The wall is a standard concrete wall. Since IKEA usually only includes basic materials meant for drywall or simpler walls, I want to make sure I don’t use screws that are too short or too long, which could affect stability or appearance.

Specifically, I am looking for advice on the appropriate screw length, diameter, and type (e.g., chipboard screws, universal screws, etc.) that are suitable for securely attaching the BESTÅ to a concrete wall. I am also interested in which anchors are recommended to support the weight and provide a long-term secure hold.

Perhaps there are people here who have done this several times and can share their experience on exactly what I should buy. Thanks in advance!

Lowell1 schrieb:
I’m planning to attach my IKEA BESTÅ shelving unit to a wall, but I’m unsure which screws and anchors are best to use.

I think this topic is often made more complicated than it needs to be. Of course, you shouldn’t just use anything, but for a concrete wall, in most cases a good universal anchor with appropriate screws—e.g., 6mm diameter, 60-70mm (2.4-2.8 inch) length—is usually sufficient.

The fear that the shelf will fall off the wall because the screws are “not the right ones” is often unfounded—of course, if you use cheap products, that can cause problems. Ultimately, it comes down to the quality of the anchors and the weight being supported, not to brands or unusual types of screws.

My advice: buy what is sold as universal anchors with matching screws for concrete at typical hardware stores, and if you want to be extra safe, use M6 screws with 60-80mm (2.4-3.1 inch) length. That’s it.

Lowell1 schrieb:
Since IKEA usually only includes the basic materials for drywall or simpler walls

This is an important point because the included parts are often only suitable for certain wall types. For mounting the IKEA BESTÅ on a concrete wall, the following approach is generally recommended:

- Use high-quality plastic or nylon anchors suitable for concrete (e.g., Fischer UX or similar)
- Screws should typically be about 60 to 80 mm (2.4 to 3.1 inches) long, depending on the anchor length
- Screw diameter approximately 5 to 6 mm (about 0.2 to 0.24 inches), usually M5 or M6
- Galvanized chipboard screws or multi-purpose screws with an appropriate head work best to ensure a secure fit and good hold

It is also important to fully insert the anchor into the drilled hole and avoid overtightening the screw to prevent damage to the BESTÅ material.

I would also recommend pre-drilling the wall with a rotary hammer to facilitate the installation of the anchors. For load-bearing capacity, it is crucial that the anchors are properly seated in solid concrete.

If the shelf will be heavily loaded, using heavy-duty anchors or even metal expansion anchors is worthwhile.

laume schrieb:
Use high-quality plastic or nylon anchors suitable for concrete (e.g., Fischer UX or similar)

I would like to clarify this point further.

For wall mounting an IKEA BESTÅ on concrete walls, I recommend:

- Anchors: nylon wedge anchors or UX anchors made of high-quality plastic, specifically designed for concrete
- Screws: M6 or M5, with a length of 60–80 mm (2.4–3.1 inches) depending on the anchor length. Chipboard screws are less suitable; instead, use galvanized wood screws or universal screws with metric threads

It is also important to consider the following:

- Use at least a 6-mm (0.24 inch) drill bit when making holes, matching the anchor size
- Clean the holes after drilling (remove dust) for better grip
- Screw in so that the BESTÅ is neither too loose nor tightened with excessive torque to avoid damage to the back panel

For heavy loads, additional reinforcement is recommended, such as an extra wall anchor screw or distributing the load over multiple fixing points.

This ensures that the shelving unit is securely and permanently fixed to a concrete wall.