I wanted to hang a large mirror in my hallway. The stud finder found nothing useful — the studs were spaced weirdly and the mirror needed to be centered. I hung it with regular plastic anchors. Three days later, it was on the floor. The mirror survived. My confidence did not.

Hanging heavy items on drywall without studs is possible. You just need the right anchor for the weight. Here is what holds.

Toggle bolts: the heavy lifter

For anything over 30 pounds — large mirrors, floating shelves, heavy art — use toggle bolts. Drill a hole through the drywall, insert the toggle, and when you tighten the bolt, spring-loaded wings open behind the drywall, spreading the weight across a much larger surface area. A single toggle bolt in half-inch drywall can hold 50 to 100 pounds.

These are what I used for the mirror. It is still on the wall two years later.

Molly bolts for medium loads

For 20 to 50 pounds, molly bolts are another good option. You drill a hole, insert the molly, and as you tighten the screw, the metal sleeve expands behind the drywall like a little umbrella. The key with mollies is to use the setting tool or a drill to expand them fully before mounting your item.

Monkey hooks for pictures

These are the simplest option for framed pictures and mirrors up to about 50 pounds. A monkey hook is a curved metal wire you push through the drywall by hand — no drilling. The curved end hooks behind the drywall from the inside. They leave a pinhole when removed. I have used them for everything from framed posters to a 30-pound mirror without a single failure.

What does not work

Those cheap ribbed plastic anchors that come in the package with picture hooks? Those are for lightweight items only — under 20 pounds, and honestly I would not trust them past 10. If you can bend the anchor with your fingers, it is not holding your heavy mirror.