Wall plugs, commonly referred to as "Rawlplugs" or "rawl plugs" after the company that invented them, are small plastic fittings capable of gripping and holding screws when installed in hard walls. These plugs can be used in walls made of various materials but work especially well in walls made from materials that do not expand, like plasterboard, brick, or cement.
Consider the weight of the object.
The weight of the object you wish to hang will determine the screw gauge you'll need, and the screw gauge will determine the correct wall plug.
- The gauge of a screw is the diameter of the non-threaded portion. Larger numbers indicate a larger diameter.[2]
- As a general rule, the heavier the object is, the larger screw gauge you'll need.
- If the object comes packaged with manufacturer's instructions, review those instructions for advice on the proper screw gauge.
- If no instructions are available, use the following notes as a general guide:
- Standard kitchen cupboards may need size 10 (5.0 mm) screws.
- Internal doors may need size 8 (4.0 mm) screws.
- A shelf measuring 1 yard (0.91 m) (1 m) in length may require size 8 (4.0 mm) screws.
- A 12-inch (30.5-cm) by 8-inch (20-cm) picture frame may need size 6 (3.5 mm) screws.
- When in doubt, use screw that might be too large instead of using one that might be too small.
Match the wall plug to the screw.
The correct wall plug size will primarily depend upon the screw gauge being used.
- More precisely, the wall plug size will change based on the drill bit used to create the hole.
- As a general rule:
- Yellow plugs fit into 5.0 mm holes and work best with screw sizes 3 and 4, but can be used for screw sizes 3 through 8.
- Red plugs fit into 6.0 mm holes and work best with screw sizes 6 and 8, but can be used for screw sizes 6 through 10.
- Brown plugs fit into 7.0 mm holes and work best with screw sizes 8 through 12, but can be used for screw sizes 8 through 14.
- Blue plugs fit into 10.0 mm holes and work best with screw size 14, but can be used for screw sizes 14 through 18.
- Note that not every brand follows the same color guidelines. Check the package or the wall plug itself for information concerning hole size before you begin working with any set of plugs.
Examine the wall.
Determine whether the wall is solid or hollow before purchasing wall plugs for it.
- Solid walls will need the standard bullet-shaped wall plug.
- Hollow walls will need wall plugs with wings, also known as plasterboard plugs.
Choosing the Correct Plug