How to hang something heavy on the wall

Key points

• Heavy objects can be secured to plaster or drywall by fastening them directly into a wall stud, which provides support for heavier loads.
• Studs can be located by knocking on the wall, checking for nails along the baseboard, or using a stud finder; a pilot hole and wood screw are then used to secure the object.
• When no stud is available in drywall, toggle bolts or anchors can be used, with the appropriate size determined by the object’s weight and wall thickness; metal toggle bolts can typically hold 25 to 50 pounds on plaster.
• Brick and masonry walls can support heavier loads than plaster or drywall, and polyethylene expansion anchors installed into mortar can be used to hang heavy objects.

Hanging that heavy picture or mirror on the wall may seem a daunting task. But if you're willing to take on the challenge, you'll find much of what you need to know right here.

If your walls are made of plaster or drywall, one option is to affix the object to a spot on the wall directly into what's called a stud. According to Family Handyman, studs are boards that are framing elements to support walls. They can also help support the weight of heavy objects

Make sure to check for studs in the walls prior to hanging something. BobVila.com suggests these three strategies for finding a stud:

1. Knock on the wall. When a stud is behind that spot, the sound will be a more solid thump.
2. Check for nails along your baseboard. They're typically placed on the stud line.
3. Use a stud finder, which you can buy at your local hardware store.

Place your item over a stud using a 3-inch wood screw on a plaster wall and a 2½-inch wood screw on drywall, BobVila.com recommends.

Unlike drywall screws, wood screws are not threaded all the way to the top, so they are a better option for drilling into wood, according to Family Handyman. You'll need to use your drill with a multipurpose drill bit to create a pilot hole that will allow you to insert a screw or nail. Then use the drill to affix the wood screw.

Use a toggle bolt or anchor to hang the piece on areas with no studs, This Old House says. The weight of the piece, and the thickness of the wall, will dictate the toggle size. The typical metal toggle bolt can hold 25 to 50 pounds on plaster, according This Old House. A plastic one can hold 10 to 25 pounds.

Install a toggle bolt by using two pieces of painter's tape to create an X over the spot you want to hang the object, BobVila.com recommends. Drill a hole in that spot and fold the bolt's wings into the sides while the bolt is inserted into the wall. Then, just use your fingers to tighten the bolt and secure with a screwdriver.