How to Find Studs for Maximum Support for Your Floating Shelf

Depending on the size of your floating shelf or how much weight you plan to have on them, you may want to consider mounting your floating shelves into the studs. We’re going over how to find the studs and send proper measurements for maximum support. This post contains affiliate links, which we make a small commission on, at no additional cost to you.

First, you’ll need a stud finder, tape measure, a pencil and masking tape or painters tape.

Hold a tape measure out to the length of your future shelf. Use two smaller pieces of tape on each end and mark a line for the beginning and end of your shelf. The tape is just to avoid marking your walls.

Now that you have the length of your shelf on the wall, take your stud finder, and find the studs in between your two lines. Mark a vertical line at the beginning and end of each stud. Once you find all of the studs where your shelf will go, place the beginning of your tape measure at the far left line where your floating shelf will start. Take measurements to the center of each stud from left to right. Hold the tape measure straight and steady! Send us these measurements. This way we can place the keyhole hangers where your studs are, and your shelf can hang exactly where you want it to with as much support as possible!