How to Install Drywall Anchors for Towel Bars | Level & Secure Mount

For the full breakdown, see our best Drywall Anchors for Towel Bars guide.

Hanging a towel bar so it stays put through years of yanks and damp towels comes down to one thing: how well you seat the anchors. The common route is drilling into drywall with plastic toggle or screw-in anchors included with the kit, then attaching the mounting plates and sliding the bar into place. Get the preparation right and the whole job takes about thirty minutes.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather the hardware that came with your towel bar kit plus a few tools. The mounting plates and anchors are specific to your model, so use what’s in the box rather than swapping in random hardware from a drawer. You’ll also want a drill, a level, and a pencil.

The critical detail is the drill bit. Moen’s instruction sheets for several towel bar models specify exact hole sizes for their toggle anchors — some kits require a 5/16-inch hole, while others call for 1/4-inch. The drilled hole must match the anchor type in your kit; drilling too wide lets the anchor spin, and too narrow makes it impossible to seat flush. Check your model’s instructions before picking a bit.

Step-by-Step Installation: Mark, Drill, and Seat

Start by holding the mounting plates against the wall where you want the bar and marking the screw locations through the plate holes. Use a level at this step — a bar that looks straight from a distance will look crooked the moment you hang a towel on it.

Once marked, drill your holes at the marked spots. For toggle anchors, push the anchor through the hole until the wings open against the back of the drywall, then tighten the screw until the anchor pulls snug against the wall. For screw-in drywall anchors, lightly tap the anchor flush with the wall surface, then drive the screw in until the mounting plate is held tight. Moen’s instructions note that pins or anchors should be inserted and lightly tapped flush — not hammered with force, which can crush the surrounding drywall and ruin the hold.

Fasten the mounting plates or brackets over the anchors, then slide the towel bar ends onto the posts. The final step is easy to skip but essential: tighten the set screws or decorative caps underneath each bar end. This locks the bar in place and prevents it from sliding or spinning when you grab a towel. Without this step, even perfectly seated anchors will leave you with a bar that shifts.

Stud vs. Drywall: Which Mount Point Do You Have?

Towel bars attach either into a wall stud or into drywall with anchors. If you find a stud at one of your marked locations, many manufacturer instructions say to skip the anchor there and drive the screw directly into the stud — the wood gives a far stronger grip than any drywall anchor. When only part of the bar lines up with a stud, mount that side directly and use the anchor on the other side as instructed.

If you’re drilling into drywall without a stud, the anchor’s load rating matters. The installation method stays the same, but the anchor itself must be rated to support the weight of your bar and towels. Most quality kit-supplied anchors handle standard towel bar loads, but for heavier bars, confirm the rating before installation.

Common Mistakes That Loosen a Towel Bar

• Skipping the level. Marking holes without leveling the plates is the most common cause of a crooked bar.
• Drilling the wrong hole size. The bit must match your anchor type exactly — 5/16-inch or 1/4-inch depending on the kit.
• Hammering anchors too hard. Instructions call for light tapping to seat anchors flush; excessive force crushes drywall and weakens the grip.
• Anchoring where a stud exists. If a stud is present, screw directly into it per the product instructions instead of using an anchor.
• Forgetting the final set screws. The bar is not secure until the posts are set and the screws or caps are tightened.

These steps cover standard wall-mounted towel bars with plastic toggle or screw-in anchors. Exact procedures vary by model and hardware style, so always default to the instruction sheet that came with your kit. When the anchors and holes are matched and the final screws are snug, the bar will hold through daily use without pulling loose.