How to anchor dressers, bookcases and TVs
Anchor furniture to the wall by strapping every dresser, bookcase and tall cabinet to a wall stud with an anti-tip kit, and wall-mount TVs or strap them to a low, anchored stand. CPSC says most kits cost under $20 and take under 20 minutes. Add the anti-tip bracket on any freestanding range.
What you need to anchor furniture to the wall
Buy one anti-tip kit per piece. A kit is two brackets joined by a strap: one bracket screws to the wall, the other to the furniture or TV. You'll also want a drill and bit, a screwdriver and a stud finder, which is the tool list on CPSC's Anchor It site.
Don't skip this because a dresser is new. Since September 2023, federal rules have required clothing storage units to pass stability tests with loaded drawers, on carpet, and with forces that simulate children up to 60 pounds. That rule covers dressers, armoires and wardrobes only, not bookcases or TVs. Pieces built before it took effect can still be on sale, and anything you moved from your last home probably predates it. CPSC still recommends anchoring dressers either way.
Do the TVs early. In CPSC's 2022 report, TVs were involved in 71% of child tip-over deaths. In its count of 581 deaths since 2000, 472 were children 17 or younger. CPSC's later report, as summarized by the Consumer Federation of America, found that 55% of deaths from 2013 to July 2023 involved children aged 1 to 3.
Where to anchor furniture to the wall first
Work through the house in this order, starting where small children spend time alone:
- Bedroom dressers and chests, especially ones with a TV on top. Move that TV off. A dresser is something a child climbs.
- TVs on any stand. A wall mount placed out of a young child's reach is the first choice.
- Bookcases, shelving units and desks.
- A freestanding range. CPSC says these need an anti-tip bracket.
- Any old TV you moved to a spare room. Anchor it or recycle it.
Put the wall bracket into a stud, near the top of the piece, so the strap can't go slack. If the wall is plaster, brick or tile, or you can't reach a stud, read the kit's instructions and use only the wall types it allows.
Tip-overs aren't only a child problem. The same report says ER-treated injuries among adults 60 and older rose from 1,800 in 2013 to 4,300 in 2022, so anchor tall pieces in a home with older relatives too.
How to anchor furniture to the wall, step by step
- List every piece that can tip
Walk each room and count dressers, bookcases, tall cabinets and TVs.
- Find a stud behind each piece
Use a stud finder and mark the spot with a pencil, near the top of the furniture's height.
- Fix the bracket to the wall
Drill a pilot hole and screw the wall bracket into the stud.
- Move the furniture close to the wall
Push it back so the strap will be short and tight.
- Fix the second bracket to the furniture
Attach it to a solid part of the frame, or to the TV as the kit directs.
- Connect and tighten the strap
Join the two brackets, pull the strap tight, then tug it to confirm nothing moves.
- Check the range
If you have a freestanding range, confirm the anti-tip bracket is in place. If it's missing, follow the manual or ask the installer. Stop and call a licensed pro before moving a gas range, because that can disturb the gas line.
Anti-tip kit cost
| Item | About what it costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-tip kit | Under $20 for most kits (CPSC) | One per dresser, bookcase, cabinet or TV |
| Stud finder, drill, bits | Varies; a one-time buy | You'll reuse them for shelves and TV mounts |
| TV wall mount | Varies by TV size | Hire it out if you aren't sure of the wall |
| Range anti-tip bracket | Varies by model | Check the range manual for the right part |
Anchoring leaves small holes in the wall. The Anchor It site notes they can be filled if you move the furniture later.
Mistakes when you anchor a dresser or TV
- Screwing the wall bracket into drywall alone. Drywall isn't a structural part of the wall, so find a stud.
- Leaving the strap loose. Tighten it, then pull on it hard to check.
- Trusting an anchor enough to stop supervising. CPSC still recommends adult supervision around anchored furniture.
- Leaving remotes or toys on top of furniture, which gives a child a reason to climb.
- Keeping heavy items in top drawers and on top shelves. Load the bottom first.
- Leaving TV and cable cords within a child's reach.
How to anchor a TV and other tip-over questions
Do I need to anchor furniture if I don't have kids?
It's still worth doing if children visit. Older adults get hurt too, and CPSC's figures show ER-treated tip-over injuries among people 60 and older more than doubled from 2013 to 2022.
Do new dressers still need to be anchored?
Yes. Dressers built to the 2023 federal standard are more stable, but CPSC still recommends anchoring them. Older stock can legally remain on sale, so ask the seller whether a piece meets ASTM F2057-23.
Can I anchor a TV without mounting it on the wall?
Yes. Strap it to the wall or to a low, sturdy, anchored stand, and push it as far back as it will go. Don't set it on a dresser or other furniture a child might climb.
What you’ll need
Sources: anchorit.gov, consumerfed.org, CPSC
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.