Load ratings & wall guide
What the load figure on a listing means, why it depends on your wall, and which kind of fixing belongs on which surface.
Last updated 22 September 2026
Load figures on this site are the supplier's stated maximum under the wall condition shown with them. They are not a guarantee for your wall. We do not fit items or give structural advice. If you are unsure what your wall is made of or what it can hold, ask a qualified tradesperson. Nothing we sell is intended for overhead or safety-critical use.
How to read a listing
Every product that carries weight shows two things side by side:
- Supplier-stated load — for example “5 kg per hook” or “12 kg across the rail”.
- Wall or surface — the condition that figure applies to, for example “solid brick, block or concrete, using the screws and wall plugs supplied”.
Read them together. A hook stated at 5 kg in solid brick may hold far less fixed into plasterboard with the same plugs. For shelves, the figure assumes the weight is spread evenly along the shelf, not stacked at one end.
The four walls you are most likely to have
Solid brick
Dense and strong. Most supplier figures on this site are stated for solid masonry with the plugs and screws supplied.
Concrete block
Dense block behaves much like brick. Lightweight or aerated block is softer and generally holds less; check the fixing's own instructions.
Plasterboard (drywall)
A hollow wall. Plugs meant for solid walls will not hold properly. Use cavity fixings rated for the board, such as our self-drill plasterboard fixings or metal cavity anchors. Solid-wall load figures do not apply.
Glazed tile and glass
The surfaces adhesive bases are made for: clean, smooth and non-porous. Adhesive load figures apply to these surfaces only.
Adhesive hooks, bars and strips
- Only for clean, smooth, non-porous surfaces: glazed tile, glass, mirror, sealed metal, or glossy sealed cabinet sides.
- Not for wallpaper, textured or porous surfaces, bare plaster, or paint less than 7 days old.
- Leave 24 hours after fitting before hanging anything.
- Removing an adhesive base can lift paint or mark the surface. Pads cannot be reused once removed.
- Do not hang anything above a bed, a cot, a sofa or anywhere a fall could hurt someone, and do not hang valuable or irreplaceable items from adhesive products.
Over-door organisers
These hook over the top of a door and need no fixings. They fit doors 3 to 5 cm thick and need a small gap between the top of the door and the frame. Measure both before ordering. Loading them heavily can stop a door closing properly.
Things we will not tell you
We will not tell you that a particular wall in your home will hold a particular weight. We cannot see it, and a wrong answer could hurt someone. Follow the instructions supplied with each item and, if in doubt, get the advice of someone who can look at the wall.