Fall Sale: 10% off with code FALL10 — up to $100 off Promotional pricing on hundreds of items Financing available on orders $500+ — apply in minutes Hablamos español. We reply in Spanish and other languages by email or message
Facebook Instagram
My Account

How to Mount Stainless Wall Shelves: Step by Step

To mount a stainless wall shelf, fasten the brackets into studs, solid blocking or masonry, never into drywall alone, set the height so the shelf clears the work below, and level each bracket before the shelf goes on. The fixings and the wall behind them decide how much the shelf can carry, so plan those before you drill.

Choose the shelf for the job

Start with what the shelf will hold and where. A flat shelf over a prep table holds containers and small wares, a shelf with side guards stops pans sliding off the ends, a two tier shelf doubles the storage in one footprint, and a folding shelf suits a food truck where space changes with the service. Our commercial kitchen wall shelving covers each type, and the product pages list what comes in the box:

  • The stainless wall shelf with side guards is 18 gauge 430 stainless steel with stainless brackets included, 24 to 48 in. long and 12 to 24 in. deep.
  • The Express KitchQuip 2-tier wall shelf is 12 in. deep in 24, 36 and 60 in. lengths, 18 gauge 430 stainless, with 4 brackets included.
  • The tubular wall shelf is 18 in. deep in 48 or 60 in. lengths, 18 gauge 430 stainless, with 2 brackets included.
  • For hanging pans instead of shelving them, see our pot racks.
  • The folding wall shelf is 18 gauge 304 stainless with 2 folding brackets included, 12 or 18 in. deep and 48 to 72 in. long, and its page lists a 110 lb capacity.
  • The green epoxy wire wall shelf includes the shelf, brackets and concrete hardware, and its page lists a 450 lb capacity.

These Express KitchQuip shelves list NSF on their pages. Where a page does not give a load rating, call us before you plan heavy loads; our article on how much weight a stainless steel wall shelf can hold explains what decides it.

Know your wall

The wall matters more than the shelf.

  • Wood or steel studs: drive the bracket fasteners into the studs. In common practice studs sit 16 in. on center, but confirm with a stud finder and a small test hole, because commercial walls vary.
  • Concrete or concrete block: use masonry anchors sized for the bracket holes. The epoxy wire wall shelf ships with concrete hardware; most stainless shelves do not, so buy anchors to suit your wall.
  • Tile over drywall or block: drill the tile with a tile bit, then anchor into what is behind it. Tile alone holds nothing.
  • Drywall with no backing: do not hang a loaded shelf from drywall anchors. Add blocking between the studs or mount a backer board across them first.

If you are unsure what is behind the wall, ask the building owner or a contractor before drilling. Check for pipes and wires in the path of each hole.

Plan the height

Over a work table, the shelf has to clear the tallest thing used on the table and still be within reach. Our guide on how high a wall shelf should be above a prep table covers the common ranges. Over a sink, keep the shelf clear of the faucet and of splash. Mark one height line across the wall with a level before you mark any holes.

Tools you need

  • Stud finder, level at least as long as one bracket spacing, tape measure and pencil.
  • Drill with bits for the wall type, plus a tile bit if needed.
  • Fasteners and anchors rated for the wall and the load.
  • A second person to hold longer shelves.

Step by step

  1. Mark the height line and the stud or anchor positions along it.
  2. Hold the first bracket on the line, mark its holes, and drill.
  3. Fasten the first bracket loosely, check it is plumb, then tighten.
  4. Set the second bracket using a level across from the first, so the shelf will sit level end to end. On longer shelves with more brackets, check each one.
  5. Set the shelf on the brackets and fasten it as the instructions show.
  6. Put a level on the shelf, front to back and end to end, before loading.
  7. Load it lightly at first and look for any movement at the brackets.

Two tier, tubular and wide shelves

Two tier shelves put the weight of both levels on the same brackets, so solid backing matters even more. Tubular shelves let air move and water drain through, which suits wet items. Deep shelves, such as the 18 in. tubular shelf, put more leverage on the fasteners than a 12 in. shelf with the same load, so keep heavy items toward the wall.

Loading tips

  • Heavy items low and toward the wall, light items toward the front.
  • Do not stand on a shelf or use it as a step.
  • Keep cleaning chemicals off shelves above food or prep surfaces; see can you store chemicals on a shelf above a prep table.
  • Leave room for cleaning under and behind the shelf.

Cleaning and food safety

Wipe stainless shelves with a mild detergent and warm water, rinse and dry, and wipe with the grain. Keep the area under the shelf clean, because a shelf over a prep table drops dust and crumbs onto it if it is neglected. If you also store food on a wall shelf, keep it covered and labeled.

When to get help

Call a contractor if the wall is plaster, if you cannot find studs or solid backing, if pipes or wiring run where the brackets must go, or if the shelf will carry heavy stock pots or cases. A shelf that pulls off a wall during service is a serious injury risk.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Hanging a loaded shelf from drywall anchors.
  • Leveling the shelf by eye instead of with a level.
  • Mounting so low that staff hit their heads over the work table.
  • Ignoring a bracket that has started to pull away.

Frequently asked questions

Can I mount a stainless wall shelf on drywall?

Only with solid backing behind it: studs, blocking or a backer board. Drywall anchors alone are not a safe base for a loaded commercial shelf.

Do stainless wall shelves come with brackets?

Most of ours do. The side guard shelf, the 2-tier shelf, the tubular shelf and the folding shelf all list brackets as included. Wall anchors are a separate purchase unless the page says otherwise.

How far apart should the brackets be?

Use the bracket positions the shelf is made for and the stud spacing in your wall. If the brackets fall between studs, add blocking rather than moving the brackets.

What is the return window on a wall shelf?

Wall shelves are non-powered, so the return window is 14 days from delivery for unused items in original packaging. Freight to the 48 contiguous states is included in the price. See also our wire shelving and double overshelves that mount on the work table instead of the wall.