How to Remove Drywall Anchors From Walls

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Drywall anchors certainly come in handy when you want to safely hang something heavy on a spot on a wall that doesn’t line up with the wall studs. You simply drill a hole to insert an anchor, and its firm grip on the drywall enables you to hang shelves, a large mirror, or heavy artwork. However, it’s that same reliable grip that makes it tough to remove a wall anchor from the wall when you want to relocate that large mirror or an enormous family portrait.

Are you painting a room, and need to know how to remove wall anchors in drywall that are no longer in use? This guide explains what to do about drywall anchors that are no longer in use, and how to patch the holes that they leave behind in your walls.

Tools & Materials

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Before You Begin

There’s a universal method for dealing with any type of drywall anchor that we’ve learned from union drywallers: Bury it in the wall. But before you can do that, you first need to identify the type of drywall anchor, remove any screws to access the anchor, and then proceed with a method best suited to the particular type of anchor.

Threaded plastic, self-drilling toggle, or expanding anchors can sometimes be pulled out, while other varieties like molly bolts, toggle bolts, winged anchors, and strap toggle anchors may need to be pushed through the wall.

How to Remove Drywall Anchors

While some types of drywall anchors can be removed, not all can be easily pulled out. Here are a few types of common anchors you may have in your home, and some effective methods for removing them. If you aren’t sure which type of drywall anchor you have or if it’s not cooperating with the removal method, follow the steps below that explain how to push a drywall anchor through the wall.

Expansion Drywall Anchors

Use the screw that’s been inserted into the expansion drywall anchor to help ease the plastic anchor out of the drywall.

1. Ease the screw out of the plastic anchor about ¼ inch.

Using a drill to pull a screw a little bit out of a drywall anchor. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

2. Grip the exposed screw shaft with needle-nose pliers.

Woman uses needle-nose pliers to pull a screw out of a drywall anchor. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

3. Gently pull the screw and anchor out of the drywall. If there is tremendous resistance, back out the screw entirely and move on to pushing the anchor through the wall.

Woman uses needle-nose pliers to pull a screw and expansion anchor out of the wall. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Threaded Drywall Anchors

With a sharp tip and threads, threaded drywall anchors are similar to screws. Here’s how to remove them from drywall:

1. Insert the appropriate screwdriver into the head.

Using a screwdriver to twist a drywall anchor out of the wall. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

2. Turn the screw counterclockwise slowly to ease it out of the wall.

3. If there is resistance, remove the metal fastener and move on to pushing the anchor through the wall.

Self-Drilling Toggle Drywall Anchors

A heavy-duty option that can be removed, self-drilling toggle drywall anchors have a toggle bar behind the drywall that expands when installed and needs to be closed in order to fit through the opening.

1. Insert the screwdriver into the head of the screw.

Using a screwdriver to twist a screw out of a metal drywall anchor. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

2. Turn the screw counterclockwise to loosen the screw and allow the internal toggle bar to drop. (We find that tapping on the head of the anchor a few times helps the toggle bar collapse, and allows you to pull the anchor out with minimal damage to the drywall.)

Person taps a toggle drywall anchor that's in the wall. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

3. Pull the fastener through the opening.

Woman pulls a self-drilling toggle anchor out of drywall. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

If you can’t pull the fastener easily through the opening, you may need to push it through the drywall (see instructions below).

How to Push a Drywall Anchor Through the Wall

Perhaps the simplest way to deal with unwanted drywall anchors, or drywall anchors that are too brittle or damaged to remove, is to recess them into the wall rather than remove them altogether.

1. Remove any metal fasteners that are inserted into the drywall anchor.

2. Gently tap the head of the anchor with a ball-peen (or tack) hammer. (Do not use a regular hammer, as it can cause more damage to the wall.) Note: If you don’t have a ball-peen hammer, use a screwdriver that’s larger than the head of the anchor. Just place it on top of the anchor, and strike the screwdriver with a hammer.

Using a ball peen hammer to recess a drywall anchor in the wall. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

3. Rub your hand across the surface, making sure that the entire head is below the surrounding drywall surface. If not, tap the anchor again.

Woman rubs hand over a drywall anchor to make sure that it's recessed in the drywall. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

3. After the anchor is recessed into the surface, move on to repairing the drywall.

How to Cut Drywall Anchors Out of the Wall

If you’ve tried the methods above for how to remove metal drywall anchors, how to remove drywall anchors with wings, and how to remove plastic drywall anchors, and the anchor is still in the wall, cutting it out of the wall is a practical, universal solution. Doing this can result in more drywall damage that will need to be repaired, but it is a reliable way of removing drywall anchors. And, it’s the same method used to create an opening for an electrical box in drywall.

1. Score the drywall around the anchor head with a utility knife.

Woman uses a utility knife to score a square area around a drywall anchor. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

2. Follow the score line with a keyhole (jab) saw.

Woman uses a small saw to cut a drywall anchor out of a wall. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

3. Clean up the edges of the hole and wipe away any dust.

Using a utility knife to clean up a cut hole in drywall. — Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

4. Cut a piece of drywall that’s about 3 inches wider and longer than the hole. Score the center of the piece to size, and peel back the paper face to the score line. The paper face will lay flat on the wall. Insert the patch and then finish with joint compound or spackle, sand smooth, and then paint to match the rest of the wall.

How to Patch Drywall Holes

After you’ve successfully figured out how to remove drywall anchors or chosen to recess the smattering of fasteners out of sight, you’ll want to patch drywall holes with spackle or drywall compound.

Clean up the hole by tapping a hammer lightly around the edges until they are flat, using a utility knife to cut off any proud edges, or sanding the opening so it’s flush.
Wipe the wall free of drywall dust with a dry rag.
Use a putty knife to apply enough drywall compound (or spackle) to fill the hole. Do an “X” motion over the repair spot with the knife to get the putty flush with the wall while removing excess. Let dry overnight.
Sand the dried putty with the medium-grit side of the sanding sponge, and then move on to the fine-grit side.
Wipe off dust with a dry cloth.
If the wall isn’t smooth, apply another coat of compound. If the wall is smooth, touch up with paint.

Have you removed drywall anchors from one wall, but need to put some in another? Read our guide on how to install drywall anchors.

About the Author

Theresa Clement is a handy designer who has been improving homes for more than 20 years. As a mom and remodeler, she has worked with drywall anchors and repaired both intentional and accidental drywall holes. Starting with her work at architecture firms, she has authored DIY books and worked as a design producer on makeover shows. She now works with her carpenter husband on private homes and their home improvement brand, MyFixitUpLife.