This guide on how to hang pegboards will walk you through the process of installing one of these hanging panels.
A pegboard is an incredibly useful organizational tool that should be in every home, garage, and even office space.
It’s a cost-effective way to hang your tools so you can see and get to them easily, but installing a pegboard can be tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing.
We’ll go over all the steps such as from choosing the right kind of board to using the appropriate hardware and hanging it in the best spot possible. Keep reading!
1. Decide on the location
The best place to install your pegboard is in an area where it won’t get bumped or used, such as the wall behind your desk.
You’ll need screws and drywall anchors for this project. Start by measuring the height of the pegboard on the wall where you want it installed and mark that height on the wall with a pencil.
If you are using a metal pegboard, measure its length and width, add 2 inches to each measurement and mark that size on the wall with your pencil.
If you’re using a plastic pegboard, measure its length and width, then divide those measurements by 4 (because it will be installed in four rows) before marking them on the wall.
For example, if your pegboard measures 12 inches wide and 24 inches long, you would make marks 3 feet up from the floor.
Once all markings are made, use a level to ensure that they are straight across from one another.
Screw one anchor into each mark made and make sure they are straight with one another before tightening them down.
Measure 1 inch down from where the top two marks intersected and screw in another anchor about 1 inch away from the first anchor for stability.
Repeat this process at every intersection until all necessary anchors have been screwed in.
2. Measure your space
Measure your space and think about where you want the pegboard. You’ll need to decide how many sections and what size they should be.
If you’re going for a full-wall installation, measure out where you want the sections, making sure that they’re far enough away from each other so that there’s room for all of them.
From there, measure the height of each section and make sure it’s proportional to its width.
Repeat this process with however many sections you want. For a small project, two or three will work just fine.
For larger projects, you may have to add more sections. Once all the measurements are done and everything is ready to go, get started by cutting down lengths of plywood in order to fit in the gaps between each board.
You can use a circular saw if you don’t feel confident cutting down lengths manually or even use an angle grinder with a wire wheel attachment if things are too tough!
3. Pick a material
Most pegboards are made of wood and can be screwed into your wall. It may also be possible that your pegboard is metal.
If it is, you will want to use screws or bolts with washers so they don’t go all the way through the board and into the drywall behind it.
You’ll also need some anchors if your pegboard doesn’t have pre-drilled holes for mounting. If your board has a back, you’ll want to attach it so that the screws don’t poke out when you’re done with installation.
The best way to do this is by nailing or screwing through the back of the board into studs in the wall, but you can also use drywall anchors if studs aren’t an option.
4. Buy your supplies
Make sure you have all the tools required before you get started. You’ll need a pegboard, screws, screwdriver, hammer, leveler, drill and drill bit (or hole saw), paint or primer, and brushes.
If your pegboard is wider than 4′, you’ll also need to buy some drywall anchors and screws. For best results when painting the board, don’t forget to lay down a drop cloth first.
It’s also important to remember that for projects like this, it pays off in the end if you’re willing to put in a little time now on preparation so that when it’s done, everything will look great!
The first thing I do when prepping for this type of project is making sure I’m prepared with all my supplies ready to go.
5. Layout your board
Take the pegboard and measure it against the wall. Make sure there is at least an inch of space between the bottom of the board and the floor.
Place a level at one end of your board and carefully mark where you need to make holes in your wall.
Use a drill bit that’s 3/4 inch deep for drywall, or 1 1/4 inches for concrete walls, which are thicker than drywall.
6. Cut your holes
Drill two holes per side, about 2 inches from each edge on both sides. It’s important that you drill through studs so that it doesn’t fall out of the wall when you hang them up with screws or nails. Measure twice and then cut your pegboard to size.
Make sure the hole is big enough for your pegboard hooks and then glue it in place. The next step is to hammer in the wire hooks onto your board at evenly spaced intervals and then screw them into place with more wood putty once they’re all hammered in securely.
Finally, attach your board to your walls by poking holes where you want the hooks to go and poking them into place.
You can use a nail gun if you have one available or just use simple drywall anchors. Just make sure they are screwed in tightly before putting any weight on them!
7. Mount it up
Find the studs on your wall. Using a stud finder, locate the studs in your wall and mark them with masking tape or painter’s tape.
Now measure the height of your pegboard and mark that height up on the wall. Take your drill, put on safety goggles, and start drilling holes where you marked.
To make sure that you’re drilling through the drywall only and not into something behind it, put some masking tape over each of the holes before you drill.
Drill all the way through until you can see light coming out from behind it (it will be dark because there is no light coming in from behind).
Now take off all of your masking tapes so that nothing is blocking any of your holes.
8. Screw in your hooks and get organizing!
Pegboards are easy enough to put up on your wall, but it can be frustrating when you’re trying to hang them.
Follow these steps and you’ll have a pegboard up in no time.
- Measure the space where the pegboard will be hung, as well as the width of the board..
- Cut the hooks with diagonal ends off if you want one long row on your board, or leave them on if you want two rows and stagger them so they don’t line up perfectly next to each other.
- Determine the desired height by either marking it on the board’s top edge, then measuring down from that point, or determining how high you want it based on what items you plan to store there. Use a leveler to make sure it is straight and mark the spot with painter’s tape before drilling pilot holes into your walls at that height.
- Drill pilot holes into your walls at the desired height using an anchor-type drill bit if there isn’t pre-existing hardware nearby (don’t worry about getting paint all over everything). Pre-drill again using a screwdriver bit after you’ve attached the board because screws do not always go in smoothly without some help from pre-drilling first!
Conclusion
There you have it! Now you can hang up all of your most commonly used tools and never worry about misplacing them again.
Whether you’re in the garage, shed, or basement, the pegboard will keep everything at your fingertips.
Finally, be sure to measure twice before cutting any holes, and don’t forget the screws!
Also, check out “how to hang records on wall” and “stick on wall tiles“.