How far apart should shelf brackets be?

Bracket spacing depends on the weight the shelf carries. For light items like ornaments, 600mm centres is fine. For books and moderate loads, use 450mm centres. For heavy items such as tools or records, reduce spacing to 300mm centres. These spacings apply to standard 18mm MDF, pine and plywood shelves.

What fixings do I use for shelves on a dot and dab wall?

Dot and dab (dry-lined) walls have a gap between the plasterboard and masonry, so standard wall plugs won't work — they just spin in the void. Use spring toggles (also called gravity toggles or butterfly toggles) which open behind the plasterboard and spread the load. For heavier shelves, use the longest toggle available or fix through to the masonry behind with longer fixings.

How do I find studs in a stud wall for shelf brackets?

Use an electronic stud finder, or tap along the wall listening for a solid sound versus a hollow sound. Studs are typically at 400mm or 600mm centres. You can also look for a line of nail heads under the paint or plaster. Once you find one stud, measure across at 400mm or 600mm intervals to find the next. Always screw shelf brackets directly into studs for maximum load-bearing capacity.

What size brackets do I need for my shelves?

Bracket size should match or be slightly smaller than the shelf depth. For a 200mm deep shelf, use 200mm brackets. The bracket should support at least 75% of the shelf depth. Undersized brackets cause the shelf to sag and can fail under load.

How much weight can a shelf hold?

Weight capacity depends on shelf material, thickness, bracket spacing and fixing type. As a guide, an 18mm MDF shelf at 450mm bracket centres can hold about 20-25kg per linear metre. Pine holds more (~30kg/m) and oak even more (~40kg/m). Reducing bracket spacing to 300mm roughly doubles the capacity. The wall fixings are often the weakest point — always fix into solid masonry or studs.

Can I put shelves on a plasterboard wall without studs?

Yes, but with limitations. Use spring toggles or hollow wall anchors rated for the expected load. For lightweight shelves holding ornaments, plasterboard fixings can support around 5-10kg per fixing point. For heavier loads, always try to hit at least some studs, or use a batten fixed across multiple studs and mount your brackets to that.

Shelving Calculator — How Many Brackets and Fixings Do I Need for Shelves?

How We Calculate This

This calculator works out the number of shelf brackets, wall fixings and wall plugs needed for your shelving project. It adjusts bracket spacing based on the expected load and recommends the correct fixing type for your wall construction.

Bracket spacing

Light items (ornaments, pictures): 600mm centres.
Books and moderate weight: 450mm centres.
Heavy items (tools, equipment): 300mm centres.

Brackets are placed approximately 50mm from each end of the shelf, with intermediate brackets evenly spaced. The formula is:

Brackets per shelf = 2 (end brackets) + ceil((shelf length - 100mm) / spacing) - 1

Fixings by wall type

Brick/block: 2× No.10 screws + brown wall plugs per bracket
Stud wall: 2× No.10 screws directly into timber stud (no plugs)
Dot and dab: 2× spring toggles per bracket (open behind plasterboard)

Bracket sizing

The bracket size should match the shelf depth. A 200mm shelf uses a 200mm bracket. This ensures the shelf is properly supported across its full depth.

Standards

Shelving fixings should be appropriate for the wall type and expected load. For walls in domestic properties, refer to the fixing manufacturer's load ratings. Shelves in commercial or public buildings may need to comply with BS 6399 (loading).

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Verify with your supplier.