It’s common and well known to everyone that drywall requires anchors to hold something on it. So, attaching something like a photo frame, canvas, mirror, clocks, etc, to your drywall needs you to install an anchor first. In this case, you’ve to make sure the right size of drill bit for that anchor is as well. Or else it will enhance the risk of mounting accessories on the wall.
And, unless you can recognize the right size of drill bit for drywall anchors, it will also create different problems like wall cracking. Therefore, knowing how to determine drill bit size for wall anchor is a must for you. Once you can recognize the right size of drill bit for the wall anchor, it will support heavy pieces of the frame and other accessories with ease. So, to identify the way how to determine the drill bit for your anchor, here you go!
Types of Drywall Anchors
Knowing the types of wall anchors is essential before you go to determine the drill bit size. While you can recognize the types, you can determine the size of the drill bit easily. And, going to choose the size of drill bit even without knowing the types of your wall anchor will never let you solve your sizing problem.
So, let us share with you different types of wall anchors. You’ll get 4 main types of wall anchors available on the market and these 4 types are:
Toggle Bolts
The toggle bolts are such wall anchors that will relieve if you’re bored of getting all the traditional anchors types. These bolts come in two different parts where one is a machine bolt and another is a toggle bolt. The toggle bolts are made with robust materials to give you a secured attachment.
So, you’ll get the toggle bolts are perfect while need to hang or attach extremely heavy accessories on your wall. It will get you a precise and strong fit at the end.
Molly Bolts
Like the toggle bolts, molly bolts will also allow you to attach heavy items. It also has got strong body construction with zinc plated steel. These are the most favorite anchors among professionals because of their outstanding performance. The professionals recognize these types of molly bolts as hollow drywall anchors for their projects. If you want to save your drywall from huge damage, the molly bolts should be your priority.
However, using the molly bolts will bring you another fantastic feature the molly bolts are extremely expansive. So, the metal sleeve can expand out of the wall to get you a good fit.
Plastic Anchor
If you want to buy the anchor with a minimum budget, the plastic anchor is right for you. It will also offer you the expansion features like molly bolts. Although the plastic anchors are affordable, they are not that durable and not that convenient for heavy accessories too. You can use these anchors while attaching lightweight items like artwork, canvas, etc, to your drywall.
Plastic anchors won’t allow you to hang items over 20 pounds of weight. But, due to its immense grip, the users rely on the plastic anchor. So, it will snug and fit inside perfectly while screwing them. So, plastic anchors aren’t trifling too.
Self-Drilling Anchor
Self-drilling anchors are the most trouble-free anchors for your drywall. If you are a bit lazy like me and don’t want to drill the wall beforehand, the self-drilling anchor can be a perfect and easy solution for you.
The self-drilling anchor is easy to apply and it will require no pre-drilling movements. You can rely on the self-drilling anchor even when attaching heavy items.
How to Determine Drill Bit Size for Wall Anchor?
There are some tricks to determine the right size of drill bits. Let’s see what these are:
- You can determine the right size drill bit depending on the screw size and plug color of the drywall.
- Pick up the size of the drill bit that comes a bit smaller than your selected anchor. It will allow you to get a perfect fit inside your predrilled holes.
- Choose the drill bit size with sufficient length so that it can reach the last limit of the hole. Many times, the drill bit stops getting inside due to its short length. So, check it carefully.
- If you get stuck or it stops getting in the hole anyway, it means the drill size isn’t accurate yet. In that case, stop creating pressure on it to push inside, it will then crack the wall.
- Try another small-size drill and notice whether it can go through easily and smoothly.
- Next, you’ve to drill lead holes and proceed.
More Specific Factors to Determine the Drill Bit Size for Drywall Anchors
If you want to be more specific about your drill bit size identification, let’s have a few more key factors:
Choose the size according to the anchors’ type, for instance:
- If your anchor type is a toggle bolt, choose the drill bit size at 5/16″ drill bit.
- For both the molly and plastic drywall anchor, the suggested drill bit size will be 1/2″
- And, still, if you fail to determine the accurate size of the drill bit for your drywall anchor, here is a handy chart for your quick identification:
| Screw Size | Wall Plug Color | Drill Bit Size |
| 6-10 | Red | 6 |
| 4-8 | Yellow | 5 |
| 10-14 | Brown | 7 |
| 14-18 | Blue | 10 |
According to the above considerations along with a chart, you can determine your drill bit size trouble-free now. So, it’s not a big deal anymore to go for the right size of drill bit for wall anchors.
How to Install Drywall Anchors?
When finished determining the right size of drill bit, you must have a clear knowledge of how you can install your drywall perfectly. Because you should go through some specific concerns to install a drywall anchor that will prevent wall damage.
Mark the Accurate Spot
Your first step is to decide where you need to drill, for example, whether it is a stud or drywall cavity. Also, you’ve to be sure whether the drilling surface is free of obstructions. It means you have to check if there’s any exterior wall block. And, if so, you’ve to change that place for anchor installation. Then it will be easier for you to run your installation process.
Prepare the Anchors
Get ready with the anchors that you’ve selected according to their types. Get the holes ready and start pressing the anchors into the holes. You’ve to go according to the types of anchors.
If it’s plastic or molly anchors, you have to slide them strongly to fix them as they won’t give you any signal while reaching the place. But, if it toggles bolts, you’ll hear a sound of snap while the anchor is reached.
Use Hammer While Stuck
You can use a hammer and tap the anchors gently if find them stuck. The anchors will reach their corners perfectly.
Attach the Screws
Now gently attach the screws so that they won’t slip away. You’ve to be extra careful about the screw’s slippage situation.
To Wrap Up
Now you know how to determine drill bit size for wall anchors so well. Before you go to decide on the right drill bit size, you must decide on the types of anchors. And, if you want to decide on the right types of anchors, you have to determine the thickness of your drywall and also the types of accessories you want to attach.
If the accessories are heavy, choose the plastic anchors and vice versa. And, this way you can determine the drill bit size quickly and easily.
