ᐅ How do I attach Metod kitchen cabinets to drywall (plasterboard) walls?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to install IKEA Metod kitchen cabinets on a drywall partition and am wondering how to achieve a secure, stable, and long-lasting mounting. The drywall is a standard partition wall without any additional reinforcements, so it is not concrete or brick.

I am considering which anchors or mounting brackets are best suited to ensure that the kitchen cabinets, including the load from dishes, appliances, and possible additional attachments, do not slip or damage the wall.

Perhaps someone here has experience with the combination of Metod kitchen cabinets and drywall—ideally tips on the maximum load capacity and specific mounting devices to use.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello peoan5,

To securely mount Metod kitchen cabinets on drywall, it is essential to consider the structural stability of the drywall system.

- The best option is to fasten the cabinets to the existing metal studs behind the drywall panels, as these are the load-bearing elements.
- If direct fastening to the studs is not possible, special metal expansion anchors or hollow wall metal anchors designed for high loads can be used.
- Use anchors with a load capacity of at least 15–20 kg (33–44 lbs) per fixing point to ensure safety.
- Before drilling, locate the studs using a stud finder or by tapping lightly.

Additionally, I recommend reinforcing the back of the drywall at the mounting points if possible. Otherwise, consider distributing the load using longer mounting brackets or metal support beams.

This way, the mounting will be stable, and your kitchen will be securely installed.

tolokau schrieb:
The best option is to fasten to the existing metal studs behind the drywall

That sounds good, but honestly: how many DIY enthusiasts actually have the possibility to drill exactly on the studs? Drywall is delicate, and simply saying to drill there sounds almost too simple.

To be honest, I often think it’s safer not to hang furniture on drywall at all without first reinforcing the wall specifically. You see all these “secret” tricks with special anchors everywhere, but often they turn out to be unstable over time.

I claim that for drywall, the only truly reliable option is to install reinforcements behind the wall. The rest is technically possible, but in my opinion, you’re risking your property. Secure fastening is done differently!

theota schrieb:
I argue that for a drywall partition, the only truly effective solution is to install reinforcements behind the wall.

Thank you for your input, theota. I fully understand your concerns about load-bearing capacity and the risk that the fastenings might fail otherwise.

I will probably try to install reinforcements at least behind the fixtures to be on the safe side.

My drywall is about 12.5 mm (0.5 inches) thick and has standard metal studs behind it.

Are there specific materials or methods you would recommend for ideally reinforcing the wall? For example, should I screw wooden battens horizontally behind the drywall or maybe use special metal brackets?

I’m willing to put in the effort, of course — but I also want to keep it within a reasonable timeframe and budget.

peoan5 schrieb:
Are there specific materials or methods recommended for ideally reinforcing this?

Yes, reinforcement behind a drywall usually works best with wooden battens installed horizontally between the metal studs.

Proceed as follows:
- Carefully remove the drywall panels at the desired locations (about 50cm (20 inches) wide).
- Screw several 30 x 50 mm (1.2 x 2 inch) wooden battens horizontally between the metal studs to create a solid backing.
- Make sure the screws are well anchored and plan the drilling points in advance for attaching kitchen cabinets.
- Then reattach the drywall panels and apply joint compound.

This method significantly increases load-bearing capacity and allows for secure screw fixings.

Alternatively, prefabricated metal reinforcement plates are also available, but wooden battens are often more cost-effective and easier to handle.

Directly attaching fixtures to drywall without reinforcement is, in my opinion, risky, especially for kitchen cabinets.