ᐅ How can you securely fasten Ikea Pax wardrobes to drywall (gypsum board) walls?

Hello everyone,

I am planning to install an Ikea Pax wardrobe at home. However, the wall where the wardrobe will be mounted is made of drywall. My question is: How can an Ikea Pax wardrobe be securely and stably fixed to a drywall so that it is truly load-bearing and tilt-resistant?

I understand that simply screwing directly into the drywall is not sufficient, so I am interested in which mounting methods, types of anchors, or reinforcements you would recommend. Are there any specific installation considerations to keep in mind to ensure the wardrobe does not eventually fall off the wall?

Thank you in advance for detailed advice!

For securely mounting an Ikea Pax wardrobe on drywall, the following applies: Standard drywall panels do not provide sufficient load-bearing capacity for heavy furniture, so using anchors installed only in the drywall is not enough.

- It is crucial that the mounting screws engage the underlying structural elements, usually the wooden or metal studs.
- To ensure this, you should first locate the studs using a stud finder.
- The mounting holes for the Pax wardrobe screws must be positioned exactly where the studs are, or alternatively, a wooden batten can be screwed to the wall, fastened to the studs, and the wardrobe attached to this batten.

Use high-quality wood screws with a diameter of at least 5 mm (0.2 inches) and a length that securely holds in the stud (at least 60 mm (2.4 inches) inside the stud).

Special drywall anchors alone are not strong enough to support this load.

I also recommend securing the wardrobe against tipping by using the included wall anchors and, depending on the weight, additional floor fastenings.

gekira schrieb:
For securely attaching an Ikea Pax wardrobe to drywall, the following applies: Standard drywall panels do not provide sufficient load-bearing capacity for heavy furniture, so simply using anchors in the drywall alone is not enough.

I fully agree with this, but I would like to add a more detailed approach in case the wall studs are difficult to locate or are positioned unfavorably:

- Step 1: Thoroughly check the wall’s condition, ideally using a stud finder or an endoscope to analyze the exact structure behind the drywall.
- Step 2: If the studs are not located at positions suitable for mounting the wardrobe, you can screw a reinforcing plywood board about 18 mm (3/4 inch) thick onto the drywall. This board should be attached directly to the studs.
- Step 3: Then fasten the wardrobe to this reinforcing board. This better distributes the load and ensures stability.
- Step 4: Be sure to use high-quality screws, for example, Spax screws with a minimum length of 80 mm (3 inches).
- Step 5: For high loads, wardrobes should additionally be secured with brackets to the ceiling or floor, if possible.

Please also make sure to remove all heavy items from the wardrobe before installation to reduce weight while driving in the screws.

Could you please provide the width and height of your Pax wardrobe and confirm whether the drywall is mounted directly on wooden studs?

I would like to address an aspect that often receives too little attention: the actual effectiveness of the included Pax wall fasteners.

pekeli schrieb:
How can an Ikea Pax wardrobe be securely and stably mounted to a drywall surface so that it is truly load-bearing and tip-resistant?

Ikea supplies fasteners that are primarily designed for solid walls or at least load-bearing substructures. Those small plastic anchors often recommended simply do not hold adequately in drywall.

For true security, you need to fasten directly into the wall studs or use alternatives such as a wooden back panel on the wardrobe for mounting.

I would also recommend distributing the wardrobe’s weight as evenly as possible and possibly securing the base with fasteners (e.g., small floor brackets). Only this way can the risk of tipping be effectively minimized.

I would be interested to know whether pekeli’s drywall is constructed with metal or wood studs, as this makes a significant difference. Metal studs require different screws than wood studs.

gekira schrieb:
The mounting holes for the screws of the Pax wardrobe must be exactly where the wall studs are located

Exactly, locate the studs using a stud finder.

- Screw directly into the studs there.
- If the studs are inconveniently placed, attach a wooden batten by screwing it to the studs, and then fix the wardrobe to the batten.
- Do not use hollow wall anchors directly in drywall.

This is completely sufficient as long as the screws are driven deep enough.