ᐅ How can I securely mount BILLY shelves on drywall (also known as plasterboard or gypsum board)?

Hello everyone, I’m planning to install BILLY shelves from IKEA in my living room, but I’m having issues because the walls are made of drywall.

My question is: How can I securely and permanently mount BILLY shelves on drywall so that they remain stable under load and do not cause damage to the wall?

I know that standard wall anchors are often not sufficient, so I’m looking for specific solutions or recommended mounting methods.

Thanks in advance for your tips and advice!

For drywall, cavity anchors or metal anchors are the best choice.

The simplest are toggle anchors, which spread out behind the panel. This ensures the shelf is held securely.

RIDAN schrieb:
For drywall, cavity anchors or metal anchors are the best choice.

Thanks for the tip! Are there specific brands or types you would recommend? And what kind of load capacity can you generally expect from these anchors? I don’t want the shelf to suddenly fall down under the weight of books.

To securely mount BILLY shelves on drywall, it is important to use the right anchors, as simple plastic anchors often fail.

There are several types of expansion anchors for drywall—such as toggle bolts, metal anchors, and hollow wall anchors with folding wings. These distribute the load behind the drywall panel and prevent the screws from pulling out.

Metal anchors with a pull-out strength of at least 20 kg (44 lbs) per anchor are recommended for standard drywall thickness (12.5 mm (0.5 inches)).

If possible, you should also try to fasten the screws into the wall studs, as this provides the best load-bearing capacity.

For heavy shelves, it can also be worthwhile to install wall reinforcement in the form of additional wooden supports behind the drywall surface, if feasible.

Hey, you can definitely do this, no worries! 😃

I installed my BILLY shelves using metal anchors from Fischer – they hold really securely, even with books inside!

Make a good plan, drill the holes precisely, and then get started. I love it when everything is firmly in place; it just feels much better that way! 🙂

LEVI41 schrieb:
If possible, you should also try to anchor the screws into the wooden studs of the wall

That sounds interesting. Unfortunately, I don’t know the exact wall structure behind my drywall. Is there an easy way to find out if wooden studs are present and where they are?

Or is it sufficient to rely only on anchors if I can’t precisely locate the studs?