Thick Floating Shelf Installation Instructions

These instructions cover our thick floating shelves in oak, mahogany, maple, and poplar, including the rounded corner, grommet hole, double curve, front lip, and plate display versions, plus the clearance thick boards. A steel bracket screws into your wall studs and the shelf slides over it, so nothing shows but wood.

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

What is in the box

• Your shelf, with the steel bracket seated in the back
• Screws

Tools you need

• Drill
• Level
• Pencil
• Stud finder

Preparation

1. Remove the bracket. Lift the bracket out of the shelf on both ends at the same time. If it is snug, pry gently with two screwdrivers, or tap it out with a hammer, or lift it with pliers.

Bracket installation

2. Position the bracket. Decide where the shelf goes. Use a level to draw a horizontal line where the top of the bracket will sit, and mark the wall at the center of the bracket.
3. Locate and mark the studs. Find the studs with a stud finder and mark their edges. Studs are usually 16 inches apart. For the best support, install the shelf into at least two studs.
4. Align the bracket. Hold the bracket on the wall so its center lines up with your center mark and its top sits on the horizontal line from step 2.
5. Secure the bracket. Drive the screws through the bracket into the studs, starting with the bottom holes, until each screw sits snug against the bracket base. Then drive the top holes. Use 2 to 4 screws per stud, mostly at the top of the bracket. On walls other than drywall, you may need to pre-drill with a 3/32 inch bit.

Shelf placement

6. Attach the shelf. Slide the shelf onto the bracket. It should fit snugly and may need a bit of force.
7. Adjust and secure. If the shelf will not slide all the way on, lay a towel over it and tap it gently with a rubber mallet or a piece of wood. Wiggling the shelf side to side helps it seat.

Installation tips

• Leveling. If the shelf is not level once it is on, place shims behind the bracket to bring it level.
• Stability. If the shelf can move up and down, wrap electrical tape around the ends of the bracket rods for a tighter fit.
• No studs where you need them? Use drywall anchors such as toggle bolts.

How much weight can it hold

Mounted into studs, our thick shelves carry roughly 45 to 50 pounds per stud, and a longer shelf crossing more studs holds proportionally more. The rating for your exact size is listed on its product page.

Other installation guides

Guides for our other products: 3 to 8 inch deep 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.