Shelf Brackets | Visible and Floating Shelf Brackets (2024)

FAQs

What is the rule for shelf brackets? ›

For light to medium loads, shelving brackets should be spaced no more than 24 inches apart. For longer wire shelving, attach a bracket at least every 48 inches. For heavier loads, increase the size of your brackets and decrease the space between them.

Different types of shelf brackets are used for various shelves and purposes so depending on your usage, the answer might be separate. Although, typically heavy duty brackets are the strongest; these are ideal for holding heavy objects in the garage for example.

Aksel Medium Duty DIY Floating Shelf Bracket: Shelves equal to or less than 10” deep—choose a wood slab at least 1.5” thick. Aksel Heavy Duty DIY Floating Shelf Bracket: Shelves equal to or less than 14” deep—choose a wood slab at least 1.75” thick.

As a result, you can use these wall brackets for supporting deep floating shelves. Our heavy duty floating shelf brackets can support bedside tables and even sink basins, making them truly versatile and reliable.

A: We recommend 4 brackets for a 72 inch shelf. 2 large brackets hold a 36 inch shelf that is 10 inches deep very well, and you will be happy with how 4 can hold a shelf this size.

You should fit shelf brackets with the longer arm against the wall and the shorter one under the shelf. Remember, the length of the longer arm will show you how closely you can fit the shelves on top of each other.

For every stud your bracket is attached to, your floating shelf can hold 50lbs. That means if you've got a three-foot shelf attached to two studs, your shelf can safely hold 100 lbs. If you've got a two-foot shelf attached to two studs, the same goes — it can hold 100 lbs.

Ensure shelves are properly sized to the brackets used — the front edges of shelves should not overhang the lips on the end of the bracket and the ends of shelves should not overhang end brackets by more than eight inches.

The size of the shelf will determine the length of the bracket necessary to support it. The bracket should be at least 2/3 the length of the shelf to support it. For example, if your shelf is 36 inches long, then a 24-inch bracket will be sufficient.

There are some sites that will tell you it's okay to install floating shelves without hitting the studs. That is possible, but I highly recommend you don't do this. Without studs you'll need to rely on additional shelf support such as drywall anchors or toggle bolts to hold up the weight of the shelf.

Why do my floating shelves lean forward? ›

If your floating shelf is tilting—that is, if the front of the shelf appears lower than the back of the shelf, that points to a lack of strong supports. You could be using incorrect brackets, or the shelf might not have been installed properly.

Three shelves in a perfect row will create a sense of order but offset them and you could have something more inventive. The rule of thumb for spacing is 12 inches between each shelf but bump that up to 15 or 18 inches and you enhance that sense of exposure and accessibility.

TLDR: A floating shelf can hold 45-50 pounds for every wall stud that your floating shelf bracket is attached to. For instance, a 3' shelf that's attached to two wall studs can safely support ~100 pounds. Likewise, a 2' shelf bracket attached to two wall studs can easily support the same ~100 pounds.

If your shelves are heavy or you plan on using them to hold a heavy object, installing the shelving into studs will provide optimal holding power. Of course, a stud is not necessary for all shelving systems. Depending on the product, you can support from 50 to 350 pounds without anchoring directly into a support beam.

You can use a “shim.” You may need to try several applications before you find something that gets your shelf level. Folded gift cards, cardboard, and thin pieces of scrap wood all will work well for this. Tape or screw your shim into your shelf and try re-hanging the shelf.

Studs are typically spaced 16 to 24 inches apart on center. Depending on how wide your shelf is you will want to get at least 2 brackets on two wall studs. It is recommended to space your brackets out evenly and mount each one to a wall stud.

Shelves for heavy loads should have their support brackets held by long screws going well into each of the wall studs at 16-inch intervals. Keep overhangs at each shelf end to 8 inches or less. Lighter loads can be held by supports screwed into every other stud at 32-inch intervals.

Shelving. Styling shelves can sometimes be a challenge, but using the rule of three makes it much easier. Begin by placing three items on each shelf, then stand back and decide what, if anything, needs adjusted. Layering or stacking two items melds them together, and they become one item.

Ensure shelves are properly sized to the brackets used — the front edges of shelves should not overhang the lips on the end of the bracket and the ends of shelves should not overhang end brackets by more than eight inches.