ᐅ BILLY Shelf Screws and Wall Plugs: Which Sizes Are Ideal?

Hello everyone,

I plan to mount an IKEA BILLY bookcase on the wall and am currently facing the challenge of choosing the right screws and wall anchors. Since the method of fixing varies depending on the wall material, I would like to know: What screw and anchor sizes are ideal for the BILLY bookcase, especially when mounting it on concrete, plaster, or drywall (e.g., gypsum board) walls?

It would also be helpful to get an assessment of the load capacity to ensure the bookcase is securely fixed to the wall and won’t be damaged due to insufficient fastening. Does anyone have specific recommendations or experience? Thanks in advance!

For concrete walls, I use 6 mm (1/4 inch) anchors with matching 6x50 mm (1/4x2 inch) screws. For drywall, 6x40 mm (1/4x1 1/2 inch) cavity anchors work well. Gypsum walls usually require stronger expansion anchors, about 8 mm (5/16 inch). Screw length should always be at least 50 mm (2 inches).

Quick question: At what minimum depth are the anchors installed? Just mentioning the anchor length can be misleading. You should also take wall thickness and the load-bearing capacity of the wall surface into account. Recommendations for 6 mm anchors in drywall often assume that the weight does not exceed 10–15 kg (22–33 lbs). This may not be sufficient for heavier loads.

Thanks for the feedback! Regarding the load: I plan to load the BILLY shelf with about 30-35 kg (66-77 lbs) in total, including books and decorations. The wall consists of 12.5 mm (0.5 inch) drywall on a timber stud frame. I assume this makes choosing the right anchors a bit more complicated? Should I rather use specific hollow wall anchors or distribute the fastening across the studs?

For 30-35 kg (66-77 lbs) on drywall, I recommend using metal hollow wall anchors with a minimum diameter of 8 mm (0.3 inches). Alternatively, screw directly into the studs using long screws, for example 6x70 mm (0.24x2.8 inches), to ensure optimal load-bearing capacity.

For drywall, it is best to use 8mm metal hollow wall anchors and 6x50 to 6x70mm (6x2 to 6x2.75 inches) screws. Make sure the screws properly engage the anchor and the anchor fully expands. Otherwise, it won’t hold.