How Much Weight a Floating Shelf Bracket Can Hold

If you’re looking to add a few brackets or floating shelves to your home, it’s important to know the different weight capacities that exist for each of your options. This will allow you to choose a floating shelf bracket that will better support your intended use. Are you ready to move forward with your project? Check out the newly available kits that include shelf, bracket, and mounting hardware. If you’re interested to know how much weight a floating shelf bracket can hold, keep reading below.

Installation Process

There are a few different ways to install our floating brackets. The installation process differs depending on the purpose and weight capacity you’re searching for. To make things a bit less complicated, take a look at how the weight capacity differs between the installation process and available shelving options.

Wall-Stud Mounts

At Right On Bracket, we have two types of floating shelf brackets that are intended for wall stud application. First, we have our heavy duty hidden shelf brackets. These are the type of brackets you would want for shelving, countertops, bars, benches, or cabinets. The other is a floating mantel bracket that is intended for fireplace mantels. Here are a few helpful points about each option’s weight specifications:

Heavy-Duty Floating Shelf Bracket

The weight capacity for this type depends on two things: the length and thickness of the bracket. We have brackets available in 8”, 10”, 12”, and 15” lengths, as well as thicknesses of 3/8” and ½”.

• For brackets that are 8” in length and 3/8” in thickness, the max weight is 260lbs.
• For brackets that are 8” in length and 1/2” in thickness, the max weight is 470lbs.
• For brackets that are 12” in length 3/8” in thickness, the max weight is 175 lbs.
• For brackets that are 12” in length and ½” in thickness, the max weight is 310 lbs.

These are just a few weight capacities; you can find more on our hidden shelf bracket page. It’s also important to note that these are the capacities for one individual bracket. For two brackets, you would combine the capacity of each to get your complete weight capacity.

Floating Mantel Shelf

The weight capacity of our floating mantelpiece is 100 lbs. per bracket. In other words, the two brackets have a combined weight capacity of 200lbs. that can be placed above your fireplace.

Despite their ability to carry such a heavy weight, it’s imperative that you use high-quality mounting hardware in your wall-stud application. This will guarantee it is reliable and secure.

Dry-Wall Application

Now that you know the weight capacities for our wall-stud application brackets, we can discuss the weight capacities of brackets that are intended for drywall application. The brackets for this hidden shelf are installed directly onto the drywall and become invisible once the shelving is added. Here are a few weight specifications:

• Bracket lengths of 10”, 20”, and 30” include two flat dowel bars with a weight capacity of 200 lbs.
• Bracket lengths of 40” include three flat dowel bars with a weight capacity of 300 lbs.
• Bracket lengths of 50” and 60” include four flat dowel bars with a weight capacity of 500 lbs.

The weight that a floating shelf bracket can hold depends on its intended use and application. For any other questions or assistance, give us a call. Our team is always happy to help!