ᐅ Which screws are ideal for mounting IKEA BESTA units on different types of walls?

Hello everyone, I am planning to mount an IKEA Besta shelf unit on different types of walls and am wondering which screws are best suited for this. I have solid concrete walls, brick walls, and drywall (plasterboard) walls. My main concern is that the mounting is secure and long-lasting, without the furniture being damaged or falling due to screws that are too weak or improperly chosen. Can anyone recommend which screws are ideal for each type of wall, including the appropriate anchors or fixings? I would also appreciate tips on common mistakes when installing and what to pay special attention to.

For concrete walls, always use expansion anchors with appropriate Spax screws for a secure hold. For brick walls, cavity anchors or universal wall plugs with screws are suitable. For drywall, be sure to use special drywall anchors, such as toggle bolts or metal cavity anchors, otherwise nothing will hold firmly.

As additional information: For solid walls, such as concrete or solid brick, 6 mm (¼ inch) expansion anchors or even chemical anchors are recommended if a particularly high load is expected. For brick walls, the choice of anchor strongly depends on the porosity. Cavity anchors are ideal for perforated bricks. The screw length is also important: it should penetrate at least 50 mm (2 inches) into the masonry. For drywall, only special cavity or toggle anchors should be used, as screws alone do not hold in the material. The best screws are usually galvanized to prevent corrosion.

Hello, I have personal experience with BESTA shelves on different types of walls. Generally speaking: For concrete walls, you tend to use heavy-duty plastic expansion anchors and stainless steel screws, such as Spax.

For brick walls, test the brick density first. If the bricks are porous, longer anchors help to reach the stronger mortar layer behind the brick. Alternatively, use special cavity anchors or micro-cylindrical anchors.

For drywall: Never use regular anchors alone. The anchors need to be wide and spread behind the drywall panel (toggle bolts, metal cavity anchors). Otherwise, the shelf won’t hold under load.

During installation: Make sure the screws are tight but not over-tightened. Over-tightening can damage the material and reduce holding strength.

If you want to integrate heavy items into the BESTA system, consider planning additional locking supports or braces if necessary.

A brief guide for properly mounting IKEA BESTA units to different wall types:

- Concrete: Use high-quality expansion anchors (6-8 mm) and galvanized screws (approximately 60-80 mm long, depending on wall thickness).
- Brick: Depending on the type of brick, use long universal anchors or hollow wall anchors with appropriate screws. Important: anchor depth should be at least 50 mm (2 inches).
- Drywall (plasterboard): Use toggle bolts or metal hollow wall anchors, typically combined with screws around 50 mm (2 inches) long.

Common mistakes:
- Using screws that are too short or too thin.
- Not checking if the anchors are suitable for the wall material.
- Over-tightening screws, which reduces the effectiveness of the anchors.

Additionally, I always recommend checking the wall construction before installation using a tape measure and the tapping method (knock test) to select the correct type of anchor.