How to Anchor Furniture to a Wall: Step-by-Step Guide

To anchor furniture to a wall, attach an anti-tip kit or bracket to the piece, fasten it to the wall, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges adults to anchor TVs and furniture such as bookcases and dressers securely to the wall. Below you'll find what to secure first, a step-by-step install, and safer setups if you can't drill right now.

The Short Answer: Anchor Dressers, Bookcases, and TVs to the Wall with an Anti-Tip Kit

An anti-tip kit is the simplest fix. CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric said in February 2022 that most anti-tip-over kits cost less than $20 and can be installed in fewer than 20 minutes.

CPSC says existing furniture can be anchored with inexpensive anti-tip brackets. New furniture such as dressers is sold with anti-tip devices that should be installed right away.

CPSC also recommends anchoring all clothing storage furniture, regardless of when it was manufactured or purchased. That includes the hand-me-down dresser and the one you bought last month.

Why Anchoring Matters: What CPSC Data Shows About Tip-Overs

A few numbers explain why safety officials focus on this small chore:

• CPSC's February 2024 release estimated that 17,800 people are injured each year in furniture, TV, and appliance tip-over incidents. Children under 18 account for 44 percent of those injuries.
• In CPSC's 2000–2010 data on 135 child fatalities where furniture fell by itself or with a TV, the majority (64%) involved a chest, dresser, or bureau, whose drawers children can use to climb. This is older data, but it shows which pieces to tackle first.

There is encouraging news too. CPSC says its Anchor It! campaign contributed to a nearly 50-percent decline in tip-over-related injuries and deaths in the U.S.

Which Furniture and TVs Should You Anchor?

Use this checklist to decide where to start. Begin with the pieces a child could climb.

• Dressers, chests, and bureaus. CPSC urges anchoring dressers, and they made up the majority of child fatalities in its 2000–2010 data on falling furniture.
• Bookcases. CPSC specifically names bookcases among the furniture to anchor securely to the wall.
• TVs, even if they aren't wall mounted. CPSC advises that TVs that are not wall mounted should still be anchored to the wall.
• TV placement. CPSC advises placing televisions only on furniture designed to hold a television, such as TV stands or media centers.
• Kitchen ranges and stoves. CPSC advises making sure freestanding ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets.
• Older TVs moved to another room. CPSC advises making sure an older TV is anchored properly to the wall when you move it.

How to Install an Anti-Tip Kit: Steps

Exact hardware and techniques differ by product, so treat these steps as a general workflow and let your kit's instructions have the final word.

What you'll need: an anti-tip kit or bracket set, a stud finder, a drill or screwdriver, a pencil, a level, and the manufacturer's instructions for both the furniture and the kit. If your kit doesn't include wall anchors, consider picking up drywall anchors that are rated for the load.

1. Pick your first piece. Start with a dresser, bookcase, or TV unit from the checklist above, especially in a room where kids spend time.
2. Check your hardware and read the instructions. If the furniture came with an anti-tip device, install it right away rather than saving it for later. For an older piece, buy an inexpensive anti-tip bracket set. Read both the kit's and the furniture's instructions before you drill, and note the right screw size and where the bracket should sit.
3. Find the studs. Run a stud finder along the wall where the piece will stand, following the tool's own directions. Mark the stud locations with a pencil on the wall above where the furniture's top edge will land, so the marks stay visible after you slide it back.
4. Empty and move the piece. Take the drawers or shelf contents out so it's lighter and easier to handle, then slide it into its final spot against the wall.
5. Attach the furniture-side bracket. Fasten it to the back or top of the piece exactly where the instructions say, using the screws supplied.
6. Attach the wall-side bracket. Hold it on your mark, check that it's level, and fasten it into a stud when one lines up. A stud is the solid framing behind the wall. If none lines up, a drywall anchor is a separate fastener made for hollow wall, so choose one whose packaging lists a load rating suited to your piece.
7. Connect and tighten. Join the strap or connector and take up the slack so the furniture sits snug against the wall.
8. Test it. Give the piece a gentle tug forward. It should stay put, and the screws and straps should not shift or flex.
9. Refill and recheck. Put heavier items on lower shelves or drawers, then look over the hardware again after a few weeks.

CPSC's Anchor It! website also outlines three simple steps to install an anchoring kit correctly, so it's worth a look alongside your kit's instructions.

Quick guide by situation

Situation	What to try
Brand-new dresser	Use the included anti-tip device, following the furniture's instructions
Older bookcase or dresser	Buy a separate bracket set and follow its instructions
No stud lines up	Use a drywall anchor with a load rating suited to your piece, or ask the manufacturer which fasteners fit
Masonry or other non-drywall wall	Follow the kit's guidance on fasteners, or ask the manufacturer

Common mistakes to avoid

• Fastening the wall bracket into bare drywall with no stud or rated anchor behind it.
• Leaving the strap loose, so the piece can still lean forward.
• Skipping the tug test after installation.
• Installing the kit but leaving heavy items stacked high on top.

If you rent

This is general guidance, so defer to your kit's instructions and your lease. A simple decision path can help:

1. Read your lease and ask your landlord whether small screw holes are acceptable, and whether they prefer a certain way of handling them.
2. Before you buy, check the kit maker's guidance on which wall types the hardware suits, and choose a kit that matches your walls.
3. Install it the same way as above, using a stud where one lines up.
4. When you move out, ask your landlord how they want holes patched, or follow the patching instructions on the filler product you choose.

Check What's in the Box

On January 12, 2024, CPSC announced a recall of millions of New Age Furniture anti-tip-over kits because the plastic zip ties could become brittle or weak over time. If your furniture came with a kit, look up whether it has been recalled.

If You Can't Anchor Right Now: Lower-Risk Setups

Sometimes drilling isn't possible yet. CPSC offers interim advice for those situations, though it isn't a substitute for anchoring when you can.

• Place TVs on a sturdy, low base, push the TV back as far as possible, and keep cable cords out of reach.
• Store heavier items on lower shelves.
• Don't leave appealing items like toys and remotes where kids may be tempted to climb to reach them.
• Keep supervising. CPSC recommends adult supervision even when TVs and furniture are anchored.

Do Safety Standards Mean You Can Skip Anchoring?

No. A federal mandatory standard that went into effect in September 2023 requires clothing storage units such as dressers and armoires to meet key stability requirements, but CPSC's recommendation to anchor still applies.

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