How to Anchor Furniture & TVs So They Can't Tip Over: Studs, Plaster, Concrete & Steel Studs

Safety guide

Why this matters

A tall dresser, bookcase or TV stand can tip over when a child pulls out drawers to climb them or reaches for something on top. Flat-screen TVs set on a stand are top-heavy and easy to pull down. Tip-overs send thousands of children to emergency rooms every year in the US, and they happen fast. Newer dressers sold in the US have to meet a federal stability standard, but that doesn't make a wall anchor unnecessary, and most older furniture was never tested at all.

There's a local reason, too. The Wasatch Back sits near the Wasatch Fault, and a strong earthquake would shake loose furniture over. Anchoring tall pieces is one of the cheapest things you can do to get a home ready. And in rentals, you can't control who's staying. A bunk room full of kids at a ski cabin is exactly where a tip-over happens.

This guide covers what to anchor, how to anchor into each type of wall and what to watch for. Always follow the furniture or TV maker's instructions, and use the anti-tip hardware that came with it as a starting point.

1. What to anchor

Dressers, chests and wardrobes, especially tall ones and anything a child could climb
Bookcases, display cabinets and shelving units
TV stands and media consoles, plus the TV itself if it isn't wall-mounted
Tall mirrors leaning on the floor, gun safes and heavy cabinets in garages and shops
Ski and gear racks, coat racks and anything freestanding in a mudroom

A wall-mounted TV is the best answer for most homes. If the TV stays on a stand, strap both the TV and the stand to the wall.

2. Wood studs: the best case

Most homes built in the last 50 years have wood studs, usually 16 inches apart, sometimes 24. Find a stud with a stud finder and confirm it with a small nail or a magnet that picks up the drywall screws. Drive a screw at least an inch and a half into the stud. Plastic drywall anchors alone are not enough to hold a tipping dresser, even though many anti-tip kits include them.

If the stud doesn't line up with the furniture, mount a short wood cleat across two studs and fasten the strap to that. Baseboards push furniture away from the wall, so straps need some slack built in or a spacer block behind the top of the piece.

3. Old plaster walls

Older homes in Park City's Old Town, downtown Heber and Coalville often have plaster over wood lath. Plaster is hard and brittle, so drill with a sharp bit and steady pressure, without the hammer setting, to keep from cracking it. Find the studs behind the lath. A strong magnet that catches the lath nails usually works better than a stud finder. Screw into the stud, not just the lath. Old plaster and paint can contain lead or asbestos, so avoid sanding or making lots of dust, and test first if you're unsure.

4. Concrete and block basement walls

Walk-out basements and older foundations in Kamas, Jeremy Ranch and Heber often have bare or furred-out concrete walls. On bare concrete, use masonry screws or sleeve anchors in holes drilled with a hammer drill and masonry bit. On concrete block, aim for the solid parts of the block, or use anchors made for hollow block. If the concrete is covered with furring strips and drywall, anchor into the furring strip or through it into the concrete. Check for heated floor tubing or wiring before you drill near the bottom of a wall.

5. Steel studs in condos and townhomes

Many newer condos and townhomes in Park City, Kimball Junction, Hideout and Heber use light-gauge steel studs. Wood screws don't hold well in thin steel. Use toggle bolts or anchors made for metal studs, sized for the load. Steel studs are also common on fire-rated shared walls between units. Small anchor holes are fine there, but don't cut large openings, and check your HOA rules.

6. Log walls and stone

Log cabins up the Mirror Lake Highway and around Samak and Woodland are easy to anchor into, since a lag screw into a solid log holds well. The catch is that log walls settle and shrink for years, so leave room for movement and avoid tying furniture to both a log wall and a framed wall. On stone and rock fireplaces, anchor into the mortar joints or the solid stone with masonry anchors, never into loose stone.

7. TVs

A TV on a stand should be strapped to the wall or to the stand, and the stand anchored to the wall. A wall-mounted TV should be on a mount rated for its weight, with lag screws in studs or the right anchors for masonry or steel. See our pages on TV mounting in Park City, Heber City and Kamas. Running power behind the wall or adding an outlet for a TV is a job for an electrician.

8. Rentals and bunk rooms

Ski cabins and nightly rentals see furniture pulled, climbed and rearranged by guests every week. A good routine:

Anchor every dresser, bookcase and TV stand at setup, and check the anchors at each pre-season walk-through
Tighten bunk beds, guard rails and ladders, and make sure bunk beds aren't placed where kids can climb onto other furniture
Replace any strap a guest has unhooked, and use straps that don't come apart easily
Mount the TV rather than leaving it on a stand in kids' rooms and bunk rooms

Our ski-season rental checklist covers the rest of a pre-season walk-through. If you rent your home, ask your landlord before drilling. Many will agree, since it protects their property too.

Setting up beds and dressers for visitors? See our holiday guest-ready home checklist.

When to call a pro

Electrician: new outlets behind a wall-mounted TV, in-wall power kits and any wiring
General contractor or structural engineer: blocking inside finished walls for very heavy pieces, and anything that involves cutting into a fire-rated shared wall
Asbestos or lead testing: before drilling lots of holes or sanding old plaster, textured ceilings or painted trim in older homes
Us: anchoring dressers, bookcases, wardrobes and TV stands into studs, plaster, concrete, steel studs and logs, mounting TVs, tightening bunk beds and rental pre-season checks

Where we help

Call or text (435) 321-2591 Message us on Instagram

Anchoring furniture FAQ

Do I need to anchor furniture if I don't have kids?

It is still a good idea. Visiting kids, rental guests and an earthquake can all tip furniture. The Wasatch Back sits near the Wasatch Fault, and anchoring tall pieces is a simple way to prepare.

Are the plastic anchors that came with my dresser enough?

Not by themselves. Plastic drywall anchors can pull out under a tipping dresser. Fasten the strap into a wood stud, a cleat across studs, or anchors made for your wall type.

How do I anchor furniture to a concrete basement wall?

Use masonry screws or sleeve anchors in holes drilled with a hammer drill and masonry bit. On drywall over furring strips, anchor into the strip or through it into the concrete.

What anchors work with steel studs in my condo?

Toggle bolts or anchors made for metal studs, sized for the load. Wood screws do not hold well in thin steel. Don't cut large openings in fire-rated shared walls.

Can you anchor all the furniture at my cabin or rental?

Yes. Call or text (435) 321-2591, or message @kamasvalleyhandyman on Instagram, with your town and photos of the rooms. We anchor dressers, bookcases and TV stands, and mount TVs.

We focus on general handyman work and are not a licensed electrical, plumbing or general contracting company. For jobs that need a licensed trade, we'll tell you upfront and point you in the right direction.

Anchoring furniture and TVs so they can't tip over