How to hang a heavy shelf or TV

• Time1 to 3 hours
• DifficultyModerate
• People2 for a TV

You will need

• A shelf bracket or TV bracket rated for the load, from brackets and shelving
• Fixings to suit your wall, from wall plugs and anchors, and suitable screws
• A drill or combi drill from power tools, with masonry or wood drill bits in the size the fixings need
• Spirit level, tape measure and pencil from measuring and levelling
• Cable, pipe and stud detector
• Screwdriver set, eye protection and a dust mask
• A helper for TVs and long shelves

Step 1: Work out the load

Add up the weight of everything the wall will hold. For a TV, that is the TV plus the bracket. For a shelf, it is the shelf, the brackets and the heaviest likely contents: a shelf of books is far heavier than it looks. Check the bracket's maximum load rating and the fixings' rated loads, and choose a combination with a comfortable margin. Load ratings assume the fixings are installed correctly in sound material.

For TV brackets, also check the VESA pattern: the spacing of the threaded holes on the back of the TV, given in millimetres (for example 200 x 200). The bracket must support that pattern, and the TV's size range and weight. Tilting and swing-arm brackets put more leverage on the wall when extended, so solid fixing matters even more.

Step 2: Identify the wall and find studs

The wall type decides how you fix. Solid brick, block and concrete give the strongest fixing for heavy loads. In plasterboard stud walls, the strongest option is to screw into the timber or metal studs. Use a stud detector, then confirm with a small test hole. If you are unsure of your wall type, our guide which wall plug for which wall explains how to tell.

• Solid masonry: plastic plugs suited to the load, frame fixings or masonry screws, depending on bracket design.
• Plasterboard over studs: long wood screws into the studs. Choose a bracket whose fixing holes line up with the studs, or fix a timber batten across the studs first.
• Plasterboard with no studs where you need them: heavy-duty cavity fixings specifically rated for the load. For TVs, fixing into studs or masonry is strongly preferred.
• Dot-and-dab plasterboard on masonry: the board has a gap behind it. Use fixings long enough to reach the masonry, and avoid crushing the board as you tighten.

Step 3: Scan for cables and pipes

Use a detector over the whole area where you will drill, plus a margin. Electrical cables often run vertically above and below sockets and switches, and horizontally between them, but they are not always where you expect. Avoid drilling directly above or below sockets, switches and fused spurs, and be cautious near radiators and kitchens where pipes are common.

Step 4: Mark out and level

1. Decide the height. For a TV, the centre of the screen is often placed around seated eye level, but personal preference and room layout matter.
2. Hold the bracket or a paper template against the wall and use a spirit level to mark the fixing holes.
3. For shelves with separate brackets, mark the first bracket, then use a level across the full width to mark the others.
4. Check your marks again for level and position against the stud or masonry locations.

Step 5: Drill and fix

1. Use the drill bit size given on the fixing pack. Drill through plaster on normal rotation, and only use hammer action once in masonry.
2. Drill to the correct depth; a piece of masking tape on the bit makes a handy depth marker.
3. Vacuum dust from the holes, insert plugs flush with the wall, and fix the bracket. Tighten firmly but do not overtighten, as this can strip plugs or crack plaster.
4. Check the bracket is level and secure. Give it a firm pull test before loading it.

Step 6: Mount the TV or shelf

1. Attach the TV arms or plate to the back of the TV, lying it face down on a soft surface, using the bolts supplied with the bracket at the correct length. Bolts that are too long can damage the TV.
2. With a helper, lift the TV onto the wall bracket and engage the safety locks or screws.
3. For shelves, fit the shelf and secure it to the brackets, then load it gradually.
4. Route TV cables neatly. Running cables inside a wall or adding a new socket behind the TV is electrical work and should be done by a qualified electrician.

For help choosing fixings, see screw types and sizes explained.