ᐅ How do I mount BILLY shelves on drywall (gypsum board)?

Hello everyone,

I am currently planning to mount several Billy shelves on a wall made of drywall panels. My specific question is: How can I securely fasten the shelves to drywall so that they won’t come loose even under heavier loads?

I already have some drywall anchors in mind, but I’m unsure which type of fastener is really suitable—especially when the shelves are loaded. Also, should I definitely try to locate the wall stud behind the drywall, or are appropriate anchors sufficient even if I only hit the drywall?

I would appreciate any advice on types of anchors, fastening techniques, or experiences with BILLY shelves on these kinds of walls.

Best regards!

It is best to use special drywall anchors, such as toggle bolts or metal anchors. These expand behind the drywall panel and hold securely. Screw into the anchors, then attach the shelves.

Hello keoshantan,

First of all, it’s important to note that the load capacity of your fastening depends greatly on whether you are using only the surface (i.e., just the drywall) or if you can screw into the wall stud behind it. Drywall alone does not support much weight – typically, standard anchors are only suitable for light loads.

For BILLY shelves filled with books or similar items, I recommend locating the mounting points with a stud finder to find the metal studs or wooden battens behind the drywall. There you can screw directly into the framing with appropriate screws, which is much safer.

If that is not possible, use metal toggle anchors of the proper size (at least 10 mm (0.4 inches) in diameter). Choose a drill bit size that is not too large, insert the anchor carefully, and tighten the screw slowly so the expansion mechanism can engage correctly.

Sometimes, hollow-wall metal anchors with long spreading arms can also help.

Can you say how much weight per shelf you expect? This is important for selecting the right fasteners.

Palenar schrieb:
Can you tell me how much weight you expect per shelf? That’s important for the selection.

Thank you for the detailed response. The shelves will mainly be filled with books, so quite a bit of weight. I estimate around 20 to 30 kg (44 to 66 lbs) per shelf board, with each shelf unit having 5 boards. Ideally, the supports should be able to carry this load long-term without causing any issues to the wall behind.

If you cannot screw into the stud framework, definitely use metal anchors or toggle bolts. Plastic anchors are too weak for your weight.

My experience: Tilt anchors are essential for these types of shelves; otherwise, the shelf will fall off the wall after just a few months at the latest. It is also important that the screws are long enough and that the anchors hold firmly.