ᐅ How to Securely Fasten an IKEA Malm Dresser?

Hello everyone, I bought an IKEA Malm dresser and I want to securely fasten it to the wall to prevent it from tipping over—especially since I have small children at home. The IKEA instructions include a safety kit, but I’m not sure if that’s enough or if there are better ways to mount the dresser more firmly and safely. Has anyone had experience with wall mounting the Malm dresser? Which anchors and screws are suitable, and what is the best way to attach it, particularly on drywall (plasterboard) walls? I would appreciate detailed tips and perhaps a step-by-step guide or advice on important things to keep in mind.

Hello Lissar42, your concern is completely justified – the Malm dresser tends to tip over if not secured properly, especially in households with children. Basically, the safety kit included by IKEA is a minimal solution. For better stability, I recommend the following approach: First, check the wall type. For concrete or brick walls, anchors like Fischer SXR or UX work well. It is important that the screws have a diameter of at least 6 mm (or larger, depending on the load) and are long enough to grip deeply into the anchor. For drywall, many use so-called hollow wall anchors or metal toggle bolts, which provide better holding power than simple plastic anchors. Please drill an 8 mm (0.3 inch) hole (depending on the type of anchor) to allow some play and avoid tension. The dresser should be secured to the wall by at least two attachment points at the top on the back.

Another point: Before attaching, be sure to check the position of any electrical wiring or plumbing inside the wall to avoid damage. It is best to use a cordless drill with torque control for mounting, so the screws are not overtightened and the anchors do not tear out.

A quick question: How stable or load-bearing is your wall? Are you dealing with drywall on metal studs or rather on wooden studs?

Thank you for the detailed response, Wyatt! The wall is actually a drywall partition with metal studs. I’m unsure whether standard anchors will hold securely, especially considering the dresser seems quite heavy when fully loaded. Do you think hollow metal anchors would be sufficient here? And how many attachment points would you recommend? IKEA’s safety system usually involves just a small metal bracket fixed with one screw at the top of the dresser and a metal strap on the wall with an anchor – is that enough? Or would it be better to use several screws at the top of the dresser?

Lissar42, when using drywall on metal studs, hollow metal anchors are indeed a recognized solution as long as the load remains moderate. For dressers like the Malm, which can exert several kilograms of weight under full load, it is advisable to install two mounting points at the top to reliably prevent tipping.

The safety kit supplied by IKEA is more of a basic solution. It usually consists of a metal bracket fixed with a screw in the upper back panel and a strap with a wall anchor. These are often simple plastic anchors, which are not ideal for holding securely in drywall.

My advice:
- Use special metal anchors designed for drywall (e.g., Molly bolts or toggle anchors).
- Distribute the mounting points to at least two positions on the dresser, for example left and right at the top, to better spread the load and minimize tipping forces.
- Before drilling, use a metal detector or stud finder to locate the metal studs – anchors hold best there.
- Screws should be at least 5x40 mm (5/16 x 1 1/2 inches), depending on the anchor’s specifications.

This will give you significantly more security than a single mounting point.

Two cavity anchors in the wall on metal studs, plus two screws at the top of the dresser.

Choose the drilling height so that the dresser sits flush against the wall. Done.

pikin schrieb:
More safety than a single fastener.

Exactly. One fixing point always carries the risk of being pulled out, while two fasteners prevent tipping or twisting.

Lissar42 schrieb:
Do you mean that cavity wall anchors are sufficient here?

Yes, but I would also recommend supplementing with expanding foam behind the dresser if there is a noticeable gap to the wall. This limits movement and distributes forces better.

One more important note: Make sure the screws used for fastening at the top aren’t too long and don’t pass through internal parts inside the dresser – otherwise, you could damage the surface.

If you want to make the dresser tip-proof, you could theoretically screw longer screws through the back panel from behind – but this requires care to avoid damage and doesn’t look very neat. The method with two spacer points at the top of the wall is usually the better choice.