How Much Weight Can A Toggle Bolt Hold?
An anchor refers to a fastener used to attach one object to another object or stationary location in circumstances where other devices such as screws or nails may not be effective. A toggle bolt is a kind of hollow-wall anchor.
Hollow-Wall Anchors
Hollow-wall anchors are fasteners that do not attach properly to solid objects or materials. Hollow-wall anchors spread within the hollow area of the wall, thus preventing the anchor from being pulled free through the original installation hole.
Toggle Bolt
Toggle bolt anchors consist of a toggle and screw. The top end of the toggle consists of a loaded wing nut, designed to expand upon insertion into a hole. The body of the toggle acts as a standard machine screw, a cylinder-shaped fastener with a helical ridge that enables the bolt to hold together objects. Toggle bolts are often used to hang an object, such as a plant, from a ceiling.
Weight Support
The strength of the toggle bolt is determined by the length and diameter of its screw body. A 1/8-inch toggle screw, for example, is able to hold a 50-pound object on half-inch drywall. A 3/8-inch toggle is capable of supporting 100 pounds.
References
- Contractor School Online: Construction Glossary: Toggle Bolt
- "Marie's Home Improvement Guide"; Marie Leonard; 2009