Shelf Brackets Screwfix (2024)

FAQs

How much of a shelf should be supported by bracket? ›

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.

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.

How Big Do Shelf Brackets Need to Be? Shelf brackets can range from various sizes, from as little as 5 inches deep – for shelves holding books, to 24 inches for desktops and other large spaces. Typically it's a good idea to use brackets that are 1 inch shorter than the depth of the shelves.

It very much depends on how long the shelf is, and how much weight the shelf is required to hold. However anything up to 140cm in length will only need 2 brackets. Anything over 140cm we tend to suggest 3 metal brackets just to be sure. The longer the shelf, the more weight and more items to hold.

The best rule to follow is this, keep the floating shelf bracket back bar 1/2" thinner than your shelf is thick. For example, if you are floating a 2” thick shelf, the ideal shelf bracket should have a flat back bar that is 1-1/2” wide.

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.

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.

Start by deciding where you want your brackets, these are normally 5 to 10 cm from the edge of the shelf depending the on the size of the shelf. If you're putting up a long shelf it is worth considering using more than 2 brackets so that the shelf can support the weight and does not sag in the middle.

Limit shelf overhangs to no more than 12 inches. Masonry walls require inserting either expansion shields or lead anchors. Again, space the brackets every 16 inches for heavy loads and every 32 inches for lighter loads.

How many brackets do I need for a 72 inch shelf? ›

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.

When installing wood brackets for a shelf, the minimum depth should be at least 2/3 the depth of the shelf. For example, if your shelf depth is 12 inches then chose a wood bracket that is at least 8 inches deep.

Easy to Install: Unlike traditional shelving units that require complex assembly, floating shelves are relatively easy to install with a few basic tools. Since they don't rely on visible brackets, they're left with a seamless, professional-looking installation with minimal effort.

Single layer shelving made of particleboard should have a thickness of ⅝ inch. The recommended span for this would be 24 inches. If you have a thicker particleboard of ¾ inch then you can span wall supports by 28 inches.

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.

In general, you can use a 1:2 ratio of bracket to shelf length. So for a 36-inch shelf, you will need an 18-inch bracket. However, the minimum length for any shelf is 18 inches as the bracket must be able to straddle 2 studs minimum.

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. Tools for the job: A pipe, cable and stud detector.