ᐅ How can I securely mount Ikea Metod wall cabinets on drywall?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to install several Ikea Metod wall cabinets in my new kitchen. The wall is entirely made of drywall, and I am unsure how to securely and permanently fasten the cabinets there. I know that Metod cabinets usually need to support relatively heavy loads, especially when storing pots and dishes.

My questions are:
- What types of anchors or fasteners are suitable for drywall in this case?
- Are there any special mounting rails or substructures that you would recommend?
- How can I ensure that the fastening will hold long-term without risk of tearing out?

I would appreciate detailed, practical tips and recommendations for securely attaching Metod wall cabinets to drywall—ideally based on real-life experience or testing.

Thanks in advance!

For drywall, I recommend using high-quality hollow wall anchors or metal toggle bolts.

Additionally, you should preferably attach the cabinets to the studs behind the drywall whenever possible.

A mounting plate or mounting rail behind the cabinet can help distribute the load evenly.

Hello,

you are right that Metod wall cabinets, especially when fully loaded, place a significant load on the fastenings. Drywall (plasterboard) walls are usually non-load-bearing and consist of a thin plasterboard sheet with wooden or metal studs behind it (usually spaced at 60cm (24 inches)).

First, I recommend checking the exact wall construction. Are the studs made of wood or metal? This is important because the fixing method differs accordingly.

For the fastening:
- Screw the cabinets directly into the studs whenever possible. Use long chipboard screws (at least 6 x 80mm (1/4 x 3 inches)) or suitable metal construction screws.
- If the studs are not located where the cabinets need to be fixed, it’s worth installing a continuous mounting board (e.g., 18mm (3/4 inch) plywood) behind the drywall. This board is fastened to the studs and then carries the cabinets.
- As an alternative to direct fixings, heavy-duty anchors specially designed for drywall can also be useful, for example metal hollow wall anchors (like Molly bolts). However, these are usually rated for loads up to about 30 kg (66 lbs) per anchor.

A small note: The Ikea Metod mounting rail is designed to be attached to solid substrates. When you fix the cabinets to the rail, make sure the rail is securely anchored to the studs or a stable support structure.

Finally, the most important question for you: Do you know exactly where the studs are located behind your drywall? Do you perhaps already have a mounting profile or mounting board planned?

These are crucial details for the best solution.

For the secure installation of Ikea Metod wall cabinets on drywall, the following points should be considered:

- Drywall generally requires a reinforced substructure for loads over 20 kg (44 lbs).
- Direct attachment using standard screws into the drywall alone is insufficient.
- Mounting on the wall studs is essential. Use a stud finder to locate the exact positions.
- The use of heavy-duty metal toggle anchors (e.g., molly bolts or metal cavity anchors) is only effective if the load is distributed across multiple anchors.
- To distribute the load as evenly as possible, a mounting panel (multiplex plywood or OSB, at least 18 mm (0.7 inches) thick) can be fixed behind the drywall to serve as a support surface for the cabinet.

In summary: The simplest and safest solution is to attach the cabinets directly to the studs. If this is not possible, using a mounting panel is mandatory.

Please also follow the instructions in the Ikea assembly manual, which specify the minimum distances and number of fixing points required.

Filippo schrieb:
Do you know exactly where the studs are located behind your drywall? Do you perhaps already have a mounting rail or mounting board planned?

Thank you for your follow-up question. I have identified the exact positions of the wooden studs using a stud finder—they are spaced about 60 cm (24 inches) apart, as usual. Unfortunately, they are not exactly at the planned cabinet mounting points but are slightly offset.

There is currently no mounting board behind the drywall, as the wall has already been fully plastered. Retrofitting a plywood board is therefore difficult but not impossible if necessary.

So here are my considerations:
- Is it possible to mount the cabinets using a mounting rail or support rail (like those offered by Ikea for Metod) attached to an additional batten structure fixed along the studs?
- Can such a mounting board made of wooden battens serve as a substructure to distribute the load and make it effective to use anchors in drywall?

I would appreciate any technical advice that also takes into account the practical conditions (finished plaster wall, limited access to the back side).

A good approach is definitely to add a secondary framework attached along the existing wooden studs. You can do this as follows:

- First, fix battens (at least 40x60 mm (1.5x2.5 inches)) either horizontally or vertically exactly where the cabinets will be mounted.
- Drill these battens directly into the studs using long screws (at least 80 mm (3 inches)).
- Then screw the Metod mounting rail onto these battens.
- This way, you distribute the load across several solid anchor points.

It is important that this framework is flush with the drywall surface or protrudes only slightly. For a flush finish, you can shorten the battens or use small shims when mounting the cabinet.

Common mistakes:
- Mounting only with cavity anchors without a supporting framework is not secure in the long term.
- Too few fastening points lead to dangerous load concentrations.

Summary: A batten framework fixed to the studs is a practical solution that works even with finished plaster, since you mount from the outside. For secure hold, screws must be well anchored in the studs.