A whiteboard that is crooked, too high or loose on the wall gets used less, and a heavy board that falls is a real safety problem. The good news is that hanging a board correctly is not complicated once you know what the wall is made of and how much the board weighs. This guide covers the three wall types facilities teams meet most often, plus the steps that apply to every installation.
Always follow the mounting instructions supplied with your board first. The advice here is general and meant to help you plan the job, choose the right tools and ask your installer the right questions.
Before You Drill: Four Things to Check
- Board weight and size. Steel, enamel and glass boards are heavier than melamine boards of the same size. Large boards may need extra fixing points along the top and bottom edges.
- Wall material. Knock on the wall and look at outlets or door frames. A hollow sound usually means drywall on studs; a solid, cold surface usually means brick, block or concrete.
- Hidden services. Use a detector to check for electrical cables and pipes before drilling, especially near outlets and switches.
- Mounting height. For adults, a common approach is to place the center of the board around eye level, so most users can reach the top area comfortably. For classrooms, lower the board to suit the students.
If you have not decided on the size yet, our whiteboard size guide helps you match board dimensions to wall space and room use.
Hanging a Whiteboard on Drywall
Drywall is the most common office wall and the one most often installed badly. Drywall alone is soft, so screws need either a stud behind them or the right anchor.
- Find the studs. Use a stud finder and mark stud positions lightly with a pencil. Fixing into studs gives the strongest hold.
- Use rated hollow-wall anchors where there is no stud. Toggle-type or metal hollow-wall anchors are generally stronger than plastic plugs for heavier boards. Check the load rating on the package against the board weight.
- Level the top brackets first. Mark the top fixing points with a spirit level, install them, hang the board, then fix the bottom brackets so the board cannot be lifted off.
Hanging a Whiteboard on Brick or Concrete
Masonry walls hold weight well, but they need the right drill and plugs.
- Use a hammer drill and masonry bit sized to match the wall plugs.
- Drill into the brick, not the mortar joint, where possible. Mortar can crumble and give a weaker hold.
- Clear the dust from each hole before inserting the plug so it seats fully.
- Check for uneven surfaces. Old brick walls may not be flat; spacers behind the brackets help the board sit straight.
Mounting on Glass Partitions
Glass office partitions cannot be drilled on site, so you need a different approach. The options depend on the partition system and the building rules, so speak to your landlord or partition supplier first.
- Clamp or rail systems that attach to the partition frame rather than the glass itself.
- Lightweight boards with adhesive mounting made specifically for smooth surfaces, only for small boards and only where the adhesive is rated for the weight.
- Freestanding alternatives. A leaning board such as the wall-leaning L-stand whiteboard or a board on a stand avoids fixing anything to the glass at all.
Tools and Supplies to Have Ready
A smooth installation is mostly about preparation. Gather these before you start so the job is done in one visit:
- A spirit level or laser level long enough for the board width.
- A tape measure, pencil and painter’s tape to mark positions without damaging paint.
- A stud finder and a cable and pipe detector.
- A drill or hammer drill with the correct bits for the wall type.
- The fixings supplied with the board, plus anchors suited to your wall if the supplied ones do not match.
- A second person for lifting and holding the board level.
Before the installer leaves, write on the board, erase it and press gently on each corner. A well-mounted board should feel solid with no movement or rattling.
Large and Heavy Boards
Wide boards for training rooms or wall-to-wall planning need more care. Use at least two people to lift, add fixing points along the full width, and confirm the wall can carry the load. Boards designed for large spans, such as the reinforced large wall whiteboard, are built to stay flat over long widths. Large items are quoted with freight to your address, so mention the delivery access, such as stairs or a loading dock, when you ask for a quote.
For rooms with several boards side by side, set one shared top line across the wall with a laser level so all boards align. A consistent height looks more professional and makes the wall feel like a single workspace.
Common Installation Mistakes
- Relying on a single central screw for anything bigger than a small memo board.
- Using plastic plugs in drywall for a heavy steel or glass board.
- Skipping the bottom fixings, which lets the board be knocked off its brackets.
- Mounting above a radiator or in direct sun, which can make writing hard to read and erase.
Find the Right Board for Your Wall
Browse our magnetic whiteboards to compare sizes, frames and weights before you plan the install. For a single board, check Buy from 1 Piece. For large walls, multiple rooms or custom sizes, contact us with your wall measurements and we will quote the board and freight together.
Shop the boards in this guide
Wall-Mounted Magnetic Whiteboard with Corner Caps
Aluminum Frame Magnetic Whiteboard with Black Pen Tray
Color Border Magnetic Dry Erase Whiteboard
