What are Furniture Anchors? Do you need them?

A major earthquake is devastating. But even a minor one can cause significant damage, as I found after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake struck where I lived.

When the shaking starts, items can spill out of unlocked cabinets, and the refrigerator door can open by itself and dump food onto the floor. But that isn’t the worst of it. Bookshelves, tall cabinets and heavy items like microwaves can fall, posing a real danger to anyone who happens to be nearby.

That’s a good reason to make anchoring your furniture to the wall part of your earthquake preparedness priorities. Here’s an even better one: Child safety, according to Allen Baler, CEO and co-founder of 4Patriots.

“Nearly 75% of the over 5,000 annual injuries from furniture tip-overs involve children,” says Baler. “As a dad of three young daughters, I can’t stress enough how important it is to anchor your furniture to the wall.”

Daniel Kilburn, founder of Emergency Action Planning LLC and author of Family Urban Disaster Planning, agrees.

“When it comes to securing your home, it’s not just about being prepared for emergencies,” he says. “One important aspect that often gets overlooked is anchoring your furniture and wall hangings. It may seem simple, but it’s a crucial step in ensuring your home is as safe as it can be.”

What Are Furniture Anchors?

Straps or brackets that secure furniture to the wall. They prevent tall or heavy furniture, like bookshelves and dressers, from toppling over, whether from a natural disaster or an adventurous child climbing on it.

They also prevent heavy appliances like microwave ovens from “walking” along a countertop and falling to the floor during periods of heavy shaking.

Furniture anchors aren’t expensive. “For less than $20 and a quick trip to the hardware store, you can get everything you need to anchor your furniture,” Baler says.

Installing anchors is easy. But for earthquake protection, it’s important to attach them to wall studs and not the drywall, so there’s a bit of preparation involved.

Types of Furniture Anchors

When shopping for furniture anchors, you’ll come across these types.

Furniture cables

Furniture cables consist of two independent brackets with eyeholes that allow you to connect them with a strong, flexible nylon or braided steel connector. You screw one bracket to the wall and the other to the back of the furniture. Then you thread the connector through the eyeholes and fasten its ends to secure the furniture.

The connector usually has a turnbuckle, tab or similar quick-release mechanism so you can disengage the anchor to move the furniture.

No-drill anchors

Avoid making holes in your furniture and wall by choosing no-drill anchors with adhesive-backed brackets. Intended for baby-proofing lightweight furniture, they can’t hold as much weight as screw-on brackets. You’ll need something stronger for earthquake preparedness.

Furniture straps

Furniture straps are like furniture anchors, only with the brackets permanently connected to the ends of adjustable straps. To install one, you screw the brackets to the wall and the furniture, then adjust the length of the strap.

Corner brackets

In lieu of furniture cables, you can also use steel corner brackets to secure items like bookshelves that sit flush against a wall. They’re cheap, but you have to fasten them to the sides or top of the furniture, so they remain visible.

Wall Anchors

Kilburn reminds homeowners heavy wall hangings also need to be anchored. You won’t find specific anchors for these. Most importantly, he says, make sure whatever anchor you use to hang anything on a wall can support its weight during an earthquake.

What’s the most secure way to hang a heavy object, like a large mirror? Drive threaded anchors into a wall stud. When placement dictates mounting something between studs, toggle bolts are the best call. They anchor against the back of the drywall and won’t come loose during periods of heavy shaking.

Who Needs Furniture Anchors?

Any household with small children should have furniture anchors.

As reported on AnchorIt.gov, a new government regulation effective Sept. 1, 2023 mandates new safety standards for furniture manufactured after that date that’s 27 inches or taller. Specifically, clothing storage furniture like dressers must pass three stability tests and come with a warning about the dangers of tip-overs. It must include an anchoring kit and an admonition to homeowners to use it.

Anyone living in an earthquake zone needs them, too. And maybe the rest of us as well.

“In a world where both the frequency and cost of natural disasters are escalating,” Baler says, “furniture anchoring is not just a child safety measure, it’s a household necessity.”

Kilburn adds: “Preparedness is more than just having a plan; it should become a part of your lifestyle. Make anchoring a regular part of your home safety routine and rest easy knowing you’ve taken another crucial step in fortifying your sanctuary.”

Best Furniture Anchors

Make sure whatever anchors you choose can handle the weight of whatever you’re anchoring. For really heavy furniture like a bookshelf loaded with books, choose furniture cables with screw-on brackets, heavy-duty straps or corner brackets.

Before you purchase cables or straps, check the label for the load the anchors can support. Choose a product that can support at least 400 pounds for items like sofas that can move around during an earthquake but aren’t likely to tip. Choose anchors that support 1,000 pounds for heavy bookshelves, large dressers and other items that could fall over.