Showerthought: I just found out how much weight a standard drywall anchor can really hold

I was hanging a new bathroom cabinet in my place last weekend and got curious. I looked it up in an old hardware manual I have, and the numbers blew my mind. A basic plastic expansion anchor in half inch drywall is only rated for about 25 pounds! I had no idea it was that low. I was about to use them for a cabinet that probably weighs 40 pounds empty, which is a disaster waiting to happen. I ended up having to find a stud and use proper lag bolts instead, which took way longer. It makes me wonder how many things I've hung wrong over the years. Has anyone else been shocked by the real weight limits for basic hardware?

2 comments

2 Comments

sams253d ago

You said a basic anchor is only rated for 25 pounds? That's crazy. I've used those little plastic ones for heavy mirrors and shelves for years. I had a big wooden shelf full of books that's been up for ages, and now I'm scared to even look at it. How is that number so low when they sell them for hanging all sorts of stuff?

sagelane3d ago

Notice how a lot of stuff we buy is rated way under what it seems to handle in real life. Like those cheap extension cords that say not for major appliances, but everyone uses them for space heaters anyway. The numbers on the package are for perfect conditions and maybe to keep them from getting sued. Your shelf is probably fine because the wall itself helps, but it does make you second guess everything you've ever hung up, doesn't it?