When hanging a dry erase board on drywall, it’s essential to make sure any screws you drive into the wall are anchored unless driven into a wall stud. Wall anchors will allow the screws to handle the weight of large dry erase boards. Screws in drywall should be anchored even if you use brackets to keep your dry erase board in place. For twice the holding power, use toggle bolts instead of standard screws. To avoid putting holes in your wall, use adhesive strips to hang a small dry erase board.
Anchored Screws
Any time you hang a dry erase board on drywall, it’s essential to anchor any screws that are not being driven into wall studs. Unanchored screws will tear out of your wall, bringing your dry erase board down and damaging your wall.
- Use wall anchors any time screws are being driven into drywall that is not backed by a wall stud.
- You can drive unanchored screws into drywall if the screw will bite into a wall stud.
- Wall studs are spaced 16–24 inches apart, making it likely you will need to anchor screws.
Because wall studs are typically spaced 16–24 inches apart, it may not be possible to drive screws into studs to secure the board. This is where anchored screws come in. Here’s how to easily hang a whiteboard using screws:
Check What Hanging System Your Board Uses
Does your dry erase board have hanging mounts on the back? If so, it’s a perfect candidate for hanging with anchored screws. If there are no brackets on your dry erase board, you can drill holes through the frame, then hang it with screws. However, we recommend hanging boards of this type with brackets. Scroll down to find out how to use L-clip brackets to hang your dry erase board.
Pick a Place for Your Board
Choose a location to hang your board. Since you will be anchoring your drywall screws, there’s no need to use a stud finder or adjust where you want to hang your board to drive screws into studs.
Mark Screw Holes
Once you have decided on the ideal position of your dry erase board, use a pencil to mark where the positions where you will drive the screws into the wall. Measure carefully to ensure that the holes will line up with the mounting brackets on the board. Additionally, make sure the marked holes are level.
Drive in Self-Tapping Wall Anchors
Use a drill to drive these self-tapping drywall anchors into your wall at the places you marked. Self-tapping anchors are a great choice for drywall because they eliminate the need to drill a hole in the drywall before setting the anchor. However, you can use the pilot hole method if you do not have self-tapping anchors.
Drive Screws Into Anchors
Once your plastic wall anchors are in place, drive the included screws into the anchors. Make sure to leave ¼ inch of the screw protruding from the wall if you will be hanging the dry erase board directly on the screws via mounts on the back of the board.
Hang Your Board
With your screws in place, hang your board. It’s a good idea to double-check measurements and make sure the anchors and screws are level at each step. This will ensure your dry erase board is level once you hang it.
L-Clip Brackets
L-clip brackets are one of the best ways to hang a dry erase board that has no built-in hanging mounts or pre-drilled holes. This complete whiteboard hanging kit includes plastic wall anchors, screws, and L-clip brackets. To hang a board with L-clips, follow these steps:
Choose the Position of Your Dry Erase Board
Pick a spot for your dry erase board. You can do this by measuring the distance from the floor or ceiling, or holding your dry erase board up to the wall. Once you know where the board will hang, it’s simple to proceed.
Mark Where the Top and Bottom of the Board Will Be
Use a pencil to mark a straight line where the lower edge of the board will be once it is installed on the wall. Then, do the same for the top of the board.
Make Marks for the Individual Brackets
Along the lines you drew representing the upper and lower edge of the board, mark locations where each bracket will be attached to the wall. At a minimum, you should have one bracket every 24 inches along both the top and bottom of the board. Mark the future bracket positions with a pencil.
Set Your Wall Anchors
Insert a wall anchor at each point where you will install a bracket. If you are using self-tapping anchors, use a drill to drive them into the drywall. If you are not using self-tapping anchors, drill a pilot hole using a drill bit slightly smaller than the anchor. Then, use a hammer to tap the anchor into place.
Attach the Bottom Brackets to the Wall
WIth the anchors in place, install the L-clips along the lower line you made on your wall. Drive screws into the anchors to attach them firmly. Ensure the clips are level and straight, to form a shelf the dry erase board will rest on.
Loosely Attach Top Brackets
Attach the upper row of brackets to the wall with screws driven into the wall anchors. Unlike the bottom brackets, do not fully tighten the screws. You should install the top brackets loosely enough to be adjusted to precisely fit the whiteboard once it is in place.
Secure Whiteboard to Bottom Brackets
Lift your whiteboard into place and set it on the lower brackets. Then, use the smaller screws included in the bracket kit to attach the bottom edge of the whiteboard to the brackets.
Adjust and Tighten Top Brackets
With the whiteboard firmly secured to the lower brackets, adjust the upper brackets to the proper height and tighten the screws that secure the brackets to the wall anchors.
Secure the Whiteboard to the Top Brackets
With the top brackets in the correct position, drive the smaller screws through the upper brackets and into the upper edge of the whiteboard to secure it. Now, your dry-erase board is fully installed.
Toggle Bolts
If you are hanging an especially large or heavy dry-erase board, such as a glass dry-erase board, consider using these toggle bolts instead of anchored screws. While an anchored screw can hold up to 25 pounds, a toggle bolt can hold 50 pounds, making it the best heavy-duty option. To install a toggle bolt:
- Mark the places in your wall where bolts must be inserted.
- Drill pilot holes at the marked locations.
- Insert the folded toggle bolt into the pilot hole until the fastener unfolds and braces against the back of the drywall.
- Tighten the bolt.
You can use toggle bolts in place of screws whether you are hanging the dry erase board directly from the bolts or are securing brackets to your wall. Toggle bolts are versatile and far less likely to tear out of drywall than screws.
- Includes 3 sizes of toggle bolts: 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 inches.
- Smooth surface for a seamless installation.
- High-quality for long-term use.
Adhesive Strips
Command Strips are the best way to hang a bulletin board without drilling holes or pounding nails into your wall. However, they have their limitations. Even heavy-duty adhesive strips can only hold a dry erase board that weighs up to 16 pounds. If you have a larger board, use a different method of hanging it. If you are using these Command Strips, follow these steps to hang your board.
- Before hanging, draw a level line where you wish to hang your board.
- Place Command Strips on the back of the board, on all sides of the frame and at the corners.
- Peel the protective film off the Command Strips.
- Press the board firmly to the wall, making sure it lines up with the level line you drew.
- Once the board is firmly in place, your job is complete.
Command Strips and similar adhesive products are an excellent choice when hanging a dry erase board on drywall. The adhesive will bond firmly, ensuring your board remains in place. However, it is not good to use these products when hanging a dry erase board on a concrete wall.
How Do You Hang a Whiteboard on Drywall?
The best methods for hanging whiteboards on drywall are:
- Anchor screws in the wall prior to hanging the board on its built-in mounts.
- If your board does not have built-in hanging mounts, use L-clips to secure the dry erase board to the wall.
- When hanging heavy boards, such as glass whiteboards, use toggle bolts instead of anchored screws. They will support more weight without pulling out of drywall.
- Use adhesive strips to hang boards weighing up to 16 pounds.
With these methods, you will prevent damage to your wall while still being able to hang large, small, or heavy boards securely on drywall surfaces.
