What Plasterboard Fixings Are the Best | Drywall Fixings Tested 

As a boarder line numpty, this video has made me feel like a DIY professional, overflowing with wisdom and experience. Muchas gracias

I am personally grateful for a more real world application than all the other test to fail videos I’ve seen

I am a girlie of 72, new to DIY, but needs must. This video kept me rivetted as well as informed. Now to go and buy the correct anchor for my plaster board wall. What I will need to know soon, is how to hang 2 pictures (i am an artist and work in concrete and ceramic tiles) weighing 30 kg a piece onto solid walls.

Thank you so much! This is exactly the info I need to know for my DIY job this weekend! 😊👍

Thanks for making this video. I'm new to mounting things on drywall. I now know what to stock up on. 🙂

Thanks for your time and effort making this. I have struggled with most of these fixings putting up cupboards, towel rails and curtain track as they have more horizontal force than your vertical bucket test and just ripped out after a while. Ironically, I found the Grip It ones worked well and now have a big pack of them. They adjust to different thickness of plasterboard provided they are done up tight. For a TV on a dot-and-dab plasterboard wall I found special long engineered metal fixings that are held in the brick/block wall and have a threaded front section for a bolt to hold the tv bracket.

Great video as always keep them coming learning lots from you bud

Another great video, lots of info thank you, it musy have taken quite some time to set up.

Great video, especially with the practical test/demonstration. I usually use the screw ins, but will be reassessing now. I've tried the grippits, but not had much success getting them set.

Very interesting and useful video mate. many thanks.

Great video and has really helped me in the decision making of what to use to mount my TV on the wall. 4 toggles should hold a 8.1kg tv on the wall with no problem 👍🏼

Really useful testing for the consumer, cheers 👍🏻

Really useful test. Well done. I think to be proper science with repeatable results you'd need to do at least 3 samples of each fixing. Knowing how much variation there is as well as the average failure value would be very useful. And now we need this experiment for insulated plasterboard (where the toggle fixings for example won't work due to no space to expand into). I presume some of the other clamping types will still work but they may not all expand properly to get a good grip, depending on how they work.

That was very interesting... I've been using those universal plugs for a couple of years on lots of different jobs and haven't had a failure yet. True I've never hung a bucket of water off them but bloody big pictures no problems!

Great video, which took a lot of time and effort! 😅😅 Thanks a lot! 👏👏👏

Brilliant video. Just buying my first house with dry walls, and this has given me loads of confidence re fixings and weights. Thanks for another stonking video.

I have always used the tap-in expanding fixings so impressed with their performance 👍 Have also tried the metal screw in ones but won’t be buying them in future based on your tests. Have never used the beefier expanding metal toggle type cos never really been confident about attaching big loads to plasterboard but very impressed with them - you obviously need the space behind for the toggles to expand which could be an issue if you are fixing close to battens, etc. Great video 😊

This is an excellent series of tests, thanks for posting it! Bit surprised at that Fischer universal, looks like a duo type but then again their load tables show the same kn values for plasterboard regardless of length.

Great info, thanks , keep them coming

Very nice comparison!

Awesome video, thank you

A really helpful and well thought out video, reminds me of the Skill Builder channel which is another favourite. One suggestion if you ever replicate this test is to have each fixing type centred between two uprights to fairly compare as they’ll be under the same flex and board strength. But that’s a really picky one and the video was great, keep it up!!

I moved into a 'modern' house with plasterboard stud walls a couple of years ago and found the 'tap in' spade fixings ideal for fixing shelves, mirrors etc. I've been impressed by their strength and that they are quick and easy to use. The reason I watched your video is that now I have to fit a vertical radiator (about 15kg dry) which has four small angled u shaped brackets and no floor support. I think I'll be using traditional spring clip anchors after watching your 'test' video.

Great information and presentation skills.

I recently came across new ( new to me anyway) plasterboard fixings called GeeFix, they are fairly expensive but very very good. I used them to hang a large mirror and they worked a treat. Not something a kitchen fitter would use everyday due to the cost, but for the odd heavy item much better than fixing a damaged plasterboard.

Brilliant..many thanks

Amazing video, thank you!

really great video thanks. One thing I would like to add (apologies if already commented on) is that it doesn't take into account the leverage / cantilever effect. So for example if you mount a wide shelf the force applied because of the cantilever is much greater. I wonder what the figures would be if you mounted a shelf bracket of 30 cm from the wall, and then hung the bucket from the end of the bracket. I'm guessing much lower. Obviously a fixing of this type would normally have 2 or more fixings also. These fixings are great for something heavy that is flush to the wall, I recently hung a heavy electric radiator to my garden room stud wall with hollow wall anchors no problem, and the same principle applies for heavy TV's for example, but for shelves that come out from the wall a long way the forces would be completely different. Anyway top man! Paul

I really loved your vid. Must have taken an age to set up and film, but very well worth it. Not hugely scientific, and of course certain fixing suit certain jobs. But me being a dumb blond at anything DIY this test has proved really quite interesting, and have made some notes from it for the next time I pop down to Screwfix. Thanks again for taking the time to do the vid :)

I enjoyed that! 👍🏻👌🏻

Great video really helpful.

Great practical test using two to mount a hook and load it as you would in real application. Compare to a lot of other you tube tests that only test one by itself.

I have a picture hanging business in Australia and only use about 3 types of fixings. Anything over 20kg's I make my own brackets. Thanks for the video, it was interesting.

Very helpful. I was scared to mount my 17kg bathroom cabinet. Thanks bro

Good video but I would have liked to see you using the setting tool to compress the first wall anchors and showing us what they looked like from the back like you did the second one

Ive been using Fischer duo plugs for the last few years in a lot of scenarios, in fact I even put up a lightweight picture holder today in my daughters room.. However its easy to see how the spring toggle are clearly superior

Great content thanks

First off great 👍 video ...I find those grip it fixings are really good but are let down by the plastic pivot you turn to deploy the wings behind the board as they break and snap making removal difficult

I was always sceptical about the tap-in fittings, but their sheer convenience has won me over - ideal for heavier picrure frames etc.

Good test, gave ya a thumbs up

Really impressed.

Spot on.

TLDR: use snap toggles (the kinds that looks like a metal bar with a zip tie attached to it) for heavy stuff like a television, use stab-in/tap-in for light loads such as picture frames. With any toggle style anchor/fixing, it's less a question of how much the anchor can hold, but more a question of how much your wall can hold. They are stronger than your drywall/plasterboard/sheetrock. With other anchors, the questions is about how well they can hold onto the material. That's true for just about any of the true toggle style anchors such as the old school toggle bolt you used before the tap in one, the more modern snap toggles, or self drilling toggles (I don't like the self drilling toggles, but not because of a lack of holding power. I find the mechanism doesn't always engage and the threads that the screw drive into sometimes strip). snap toggles are my favorite of the bunch because they are mechanically very simple unlike the self drilling toggles, but they don't fall into the wall cavity when removed, like old school toggle bolts tend to. The Grip-it anchors aren't worth it at all imo, they're complex, require a giant hole to be drilled, and just like toggles it's dependent on your wall strength. Just use toggles and don't bother with them. As for the smaller anchors, stab in anchors leave very little damage if you need to remove them, and they hold a lot of weight for such an easy to use and non-damaging anchor, those are my preferred type of anchors for lighter loads like photos or brackets for small shelves with multiple screws

I like the tap ins because when the wife changes her mind there’s less damage to cover.😄

Need to try "bull fix" wall plugs, best I've used for some time

Absolutely superb test mate🤘 my only criticism is that those 4th Fischer universal plugs were not tightened properly. Possibly could hold even heavier weight that all ✌️

As you can tell by this like fifth comment. i've been binge watching your videos all day lol. A general explainer on different types of wall plugs would be great.

Going to put a TV up in a day or so about 15kg and was going to go for the screw in type but will be going for the hollow ones you used at the start of the video now. 31kg from only 2 so I will be using at least 4 or 6 and hopefully get a stud in the middle.

Love the content

Have two buckets to pour water from one to the other 😂 good vid, thanks.

Cheers, really helpful

loved your video - many thanks. do you think the results would be similar when used on a ceiling?

Like the grippits

Thanks for making this video - really practical. Somethimg to note, exerting any force to a fixing located at the edge of any structure will most likely fail, compared to if the fixing was placed in the centre. Eccentricity.

Great video and very useful test. In my experience the Grip it’s are a poor fixing. Not only do other cheaper fixings hold better but the initial hole required is far too big especially if you with to move things afterwards.

Great idea and I known it sounds laborious but you should change the sheet each time. Some of the tears that you did are close to the wood holders whilst others are in the middle and not to mention all the holes now in the board have compromised the test. But still found very useful thanks

Try the Tap-In fixing but put it in horizontally, it might hold more weight. I've used them for ages and they're great. We can get them in a box of 200 for around €8.

very useful cheers

Love the video, i am just about to fix a slightly heavybathroom cabinet to a plasterboard stud walls, the stud is not positioned to help, so i 'm edging towards the toggle clips

Great video really helped me make my choice. Impressive weight lifting too😅

This is a great video. Always love plasterboard fixings comparisons. Just to add to your list, snaptoggle is a great choice of fixing, I use a lot to fit heavy tvs, about £1 each. The only draw back, I guess with any toggle type fixings is it need 50mm cavity to work. Also I find that it don’t work with insulations. But they claim it holds over 100kg each. Which I am not a believer of. Duo power my second favourite Correct me if I am wrong - I think if you divided the results in half would be more fair as you did use 2 fixings for it. Theoretically, they should have held up whatever they claims x2

Wish I’d watched this video earlier today. Only a few hours ago I used the metal self drilling fixings for a bathroom cabinet and now I’m having to refill the wall and start again

I use the grip it fixings for wall hanging TV's and I have hung some big TV's. I like that they use a machined bolt as opposed to a screw and have never failed me. The drawback is there is a lot more repair needed if you need to remove them. For pictures I use the tap it fixings, they are so easy, reliable and make no mess.

Fischer pro duos every time for me 👍

As I expected, the metal spring toggle performed the best, holding 49 kg. I've used these a lot in my house, and friends houses, for fixing heavy curtain rails. Some say the metal wall anchor, sometimes called a molly bolt, is the best, but in your test it did well (holding 36 kg) but not as well as the spring toggle (which held 49 kg). I guess this stands to reason as with the spring toggle you have the load spread out over a larger surface area, the longer the toggle giving greater surface area

Thanks

Really interesting video open my eyes 👀 as I always used the Metal screw type for as long as I can remember used them for my clients no issues over the years I was going to try the Gripit fixings but now I’m not sure 🤔 what to do as I’ve saw a Screwfix video and the plumber used the brown Gripit fixings it was 2 x Brown Gripit on the radiators and then stood on top of the radiator so your video showed the Gripit Brown fixing didn’t hold the weight as it stated on the packet Hmmm 🤔 what to do do I stay with the Metal self drilling into the plaster board !! Great video by the way thank you for honest display of various fixings

tbf it really doesnt matter the design, all that matters is surface area, hence why you would beat that record from the toggles by using toggles but facing them sideways as opposed to vertically like you had them. it just has more surface area of plasterboard it is trying to pull through.

The Gripit is a newly discovered anchor in my world. The last one you demonstrated failed essentially just as you began the test. The failure appeared immediately upon releasing the weight. As did the others in a way. Keeping adding weight after the bumping out was appearing was where they proved they were done. An interesting test, but still not a real world condition. But it did accurately give a good indication of how these products would work. Moral of the story is never come anywhere near the promised strength.

Used 4x Blue Grip-it fixings for my 50" TV bracket....been up over 2 years without any issues

I always use the 10mm Fischer plugs (no2 in the video) for wallmounting tvs and I’ve never had any issues at all over the last 15 years.

disappointed at the lack of Geefix fixings and a lack of variety in the fixings in general but all in all, the video and experiment was well done.

Very helpful video. Thank you, can you please what should I use to hang kitchen cabinets on plasterboard wall please ?

Top man.

Take the weight with a pinch of salt , due to the length of the chain and bucket from the fixing point acting like levwrage , it probably shows less as what they can hold . If the weight was at the fixing point they would probably fair better . But great video 👍

Still prefer butterfly bolts as the load is spread over wider area. When hanging a radiator on plasterboard also use adhesive on the rear of the brackets to further spread the load and risk of slippage when little Johnnie decides to sit or jump on the radiator!!

Surely you forgot to add the 20kg weight back in for the Gripit Blue? Be interesting to see how these fare when used vertically, as for a ceiling mount of something like a heavy light fixture.

Best ever are geefix 👍👍👍👍 no other plasterboard fixing comes close

Thank you

I have the problem with insufficient space behind the plasterboard for some of these to expand properly, so the gripit ones are a good solution.

On the last section you should have filmed the back of the wall to show if the grip it fixing "wings" actually spread out behind the plasterboard , to me they looked like they are not deep enough to go through and spread out . Interesting tests though .

I've got heavy duty metal shelving to fix to plasterboard walls. Not to hold weight up but just to keep properly upright, as if they slope too much to oneside there's a risk of collapse. What's the best option?

Ive got a TV bracket to put up. Its a fixed , flush bracket but the holes are only 200mm apart. I think the best compromise i can do is one side goes into a stud and the other 2 i use gripit blue.

I cann't believe the fixings that were selected. There are a lot of fitting that are better than all the ones selected.

Thanks that was an interesting set of tests I haven’t seen that done before, It reminded me that the plasterboard has a limit much lower breaking point than the fitting itself, it made sense subject to that limit spreading the load over a wider area eg in the spring clamps could handle a heavier load and if hanging heavy objects then you need support behind the plasterboard. A neighbour had a tall radiator fitted in her hall and just like your video fell off the wall during the day while she was out at work, in falling broke one of the valves, unlike your video the water kept flowing. How should you fit a heavy radiator to the wall? plainly to the brickwork behind the plasterboard, yet there is a cavity. Should you remove some plasterboard, pad out the gap with timber and screw the timber to the brickwork then make good the plasterboard and attach the rad through the plasterboard into the timber. Or is there a better way?

Not a bad test. I wouldn't call it gospel but it's a good rough guide. Nice one.

Any suggestions about what to use to anchor something onto a Kingspan surface? Our old farmhouse has had kingspan applied on the stone walls to provide some insulation, but is a problem as I need to wall mount a TV

How about cutting a 1 inch square in the plaster board, insert a 1 and a half or 2 inch long by 1/2inch thick by 1 inch wide piece of wood with adhesive on it. Leave it to dry for 30 mins then glue and insert the square you took out, put a skim of filler on it. Then you've got the strongest mounting you could have for practically zero cost.

the old ones are always the best

Thought the grip-its would do a lot better of a job! Always doubted the spring fixings too but might be using them for my TV from now on!!

I think you forgot to add the 20kg weight in your total for the blue grip it. I discovered Grip it last year whilst installing a new radiator in my bathroom. One side of the wall was fine for my bracket but the other side was breaking with normal plasterboard plugs. I drilled the original radiator bracket to add 2 screws. 4 blue grip it in total on that side. That radiator would probably resist an earthquake! I think the test depends on how the weight of the object/piece of furniture spreads. In the example of a radiator the bracket will even out the weight rather well. Thanks for the comparison video.

Interesting results, not rating the Grip-It series despite their Dragons Den appearance (which didn't go so well under scrutiny either). Always used the Nylon Plasterboard plugs myself in small and large sizes, then Toggle Cavity fixings for super heavy stuff. What about Fisher DuoPower Red plugs? Universal go to plug and easily holds a good weight even on plasterboard. Be nice to see a review on the two common sizes using your setup.

I usually find at least one upright and if the item is heavy i often cut out the plasterboard and fit a 3 x 3 horizontal wooden batten between uprights anf screw diagonally Then i dont need plugs The plasterboard is always going to fail witht any weight

Universal wall fixings FTW

With the hollow wall anchors....did you use the little gun to put them in?

Currently looking for fixings for aquapanel cement board. Will be using adhesive also. Problem is my house built in 80s, builders were too lazy to put studwork in partition wall, it's three plasterboard stuck together, so no cavity either. Its 12.5mm one side, 19mm in the middle and 12.5mm the other side. Aquapanel manufacturer says it's not designed for fixing like that but I haven't got much choice. No way of taking it all down and rebuilding either. Any suggestions?

Any of these any good for double layer of plasterboard or when a lath and plaster ceiling has been overboarded?

Silly question but if i hung something with 4 fittings, would the weight they carry x by 4? Assume it would

I’ve bought the grip it fixings to hang a tv, I’m not sure they are good enough now though??

What’s best to use to hang a 5kg mirror on a very thick plasterboard wall? The problem I have is the small diameter of the screw needed but the length not being enough to pass through into the hollow cavity behind the plasterboard.