Floating Shelf Installation Instructions: 3 to 8 Inch Deep Shelves

These instructions cover our 7/8 inch thick floating shelves from 3 to 8 inches deep, including the thin oak and mahogany shelves, rounded corner and cord hole versions, key hook shelves, vinyl record shelves, and the small thick shelves in 6 to 10 inch lengths. Every one of them mounts the same way: hidden brackets screw to the wall, and the shelf slides over them.

Prefer a printout? Download the PDF version of these instructions.

What is in the box

• Your shelf, with the hidden brackets already seated in the back
• Mounting screws
• Drywall anchors

Tools you need

• Drill
• 5/16 inch drill bit (for the drywall anchors)
• Level
• Pencil

The included anchors take a #8 to #10 screw, 1 inch long, which is what ships in the box.

Before you start

The brackets ship pressed into the shelf and can be snug. To pull one out, grip it at its center and pull straight back. If you cannot get a grip by hand, a screwdriver or needle-nose pliers on the bracket itself will do it. Do not pry at the edge of the shelf, which can mark the wood.

Pick your spot on the wall and decide on the height. For most rooms, eye level or a few inches above the piece of furniture below it looks right.

Installation steps

1. Mark the first bracket. Pull each bracket about halfway out of the shelf so the screw holes are exposed. Hold the shelf against the wall where you want it, check it with the level, and pencil through the holes of one bracket onto the wall.
2. Drill and set the anchors. Set the shelf down. Drill at your marks with the 5/16 inch bit, then push a drywall anchor into each hole until it sits flush with the wall. If a hole lands on a wall stud, skip the anchor and drive the screw straight into the stud.
3. Attach the first bracket. Pull that bracket fully out of the shelf and screw it to the wall through the anchors. Snug the screws but leave a little play for now.
4. Level and mark the rest. Slide the shelf back onto the mounted bracket, with the other brackets still halfway out. Set the level on top of the shelf, adjust until it reads level, and pencil the remaining bracket holes. Take the shelf off, drill and anchor those marks, and screw the remaining brackets to the wall the same way.
5. Mount the shelf. Slide the shelf all the way onto the brackets until the back sits flat against the wall. Check it with the level one more time.

Adjusting after installation

If the shelf is a hair off level, there is no need to redrill. Loosen the bracket screws a quarter turn, shift the bracket, and retighten. The shelf lifts straight off the brackets at any time, so moving it later means backing out the screws and starting the steps again on the new wall.

How much weight can it hold

Thin shelves are built for display: frames, plants, books in short stacks, small speakers. The rating for your exact size is listed on its product page. Heavier loads belong on our thick 1 1/2 inch shelves, which mount into wall studs.

Other installation guides

Guides for our other products: thick floating shelves, corner shelves, small shelves and propagation shelves, shelves with wood brackets, shelves with steel J brackets, deep shelves with L brackets, picture ledge, coat racks, disc hat rack, subway clock, corner shelf with reversible bracket. If anything is unclear, email support@nookwoodworking.com and we will walk you through it.