How to Hang a Whiteboard

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Whiteboards are an excellent tool, whether you are writing your meal plan for the week, or preparing a lesson plan for your Kindergarten classroom. Although some whiteboards are designed to be used with a tripod or stand, most are created to be hung on a wall to better facilitate use. Hanging your whiteboard may be done in 3 ways, each of them dependent upon the space you are in and the amount of alteration you are permitted to do to the walls. These include screwing the board directly into the wall, using temporary hooks, and using industrial-strength sticker patches.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Hanging With Screws

PDF download Download Article
  1. Before you determine where to hang your whiteboard, measure its width.This will help you determine where to place the screws so they will effectively screw into the studs. [1]
    • If you have three studs, be sure to divide your measurements into threes. If you have two, divide into two, and so forth.
  2. Locate studs within the wall. Drywall alone is not enough to hold up a whiteboard, so using a stud finder (or through simply knocking on the wall), identify the location of the studs adjacent to your chosen space. Mark the studs to refer back to.
    • To use a stud finger, place the finder flush against the wall, press the button, and slide it along the wall until you hear a “beep” indicating that a stud was located.
    • Measure the area between the studs, as well, to help you determine where to drill.
    Advertisement
  3. Drill a hole into the top and bottom of your whiteboard, measuring the area to align with your studs. This is particularly crucial if your whiteboard has a metal frame, rather than a wooden one, as metal will not allow a screw to be drilled directly into it. [2]
    • Make sure you use a drill bit that matches the size of your screws.
  4. Place the pre-drilled holes against the wall in line with the studs you found. You can hold your board up by yourself, if it is small, or prop it up with a table or ladder if it is large.
    • You can also hold the board with one hand and screw the whiteboard into the wall with the other, if coordination allows.
  5. Place a level on top of your whiteboard. Before you place all of the screws into the wall, place a level on top of your whiteboard to make sure the top of your board is even. If it is not, quickly alter your placement.
    • You can tape your level to the top of the whiteboard to hold it in place as you try to maneuver it.
  6. Line your screws up with the holes you've drilled. Pressing firmly, screw your whiteboard into the wall with an electric drill, trying to keep your screws as even as possible.
    • If you find your arm slipping, or the screw going in sideways, stop and start again, keeping the screw steady and straight.
    • If you accidentally mess up on a hole, you can lift your whiteboard a few inches higher to hide the mistake.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using Whiteboard Hooks

PDF download Download Article
  1. Locate a spot on your wall that will fit your dimensions, and give it a quick wipe down with some water--or water and vinegar , if it is particularly dirty. Allow the space to dry before you continue.
    • To expedite the drying process, you can wipe the area with a clean, microfiber cloth. Terrycloth might leave behind residue that would make sticking difficult.
  2. Whether you are using sticker hooks or screw hooks, place your hooks on the wall. Measure to make sure they are spaced evenly, and placed at the right height.
    • When you place your hooks, determine whether you want them to show above the board, or you want them to sit behind the board. This will determine where you place the eyelets.
    • If you use screw hooks, refer to the steps in the previous method to make sure the hooks are installed properly.
  3. Measure the space between the hooks to make sure the space between your whiteboard eyelets will line up. This measurement has to be exact, and the space between all hooks should be measured.
  4. Using the measurements taken in the previous step, affix your loops or eyelets to the back of your whiteboard, making sure they are straight and pressed firmly to the frame. [3]
    • Place your eyelets as straight as possible, as even a slight slant can make your board sit cock-eyed on the wall, or can make the hook unusable.
  5. Using the hooks and eyelets, hang your board on the wall. Place a level on top to ensure your board is straight. Check to make sure each hook is properly inserted into each eyelet; only having one or two hooks properly installed will weaken your board's stability.
    6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Employing Industrial-Strength Adhesive

PDF download Download Article
  1. Adhesive patches are intended for use on smaller objects. If your whiteboard weighs more than 3-4 pounds, an adhesive may not be strong enough to use. If it is under 3-4 pounds, you can hang it without risking damage to your wall.
    • If you aren't sure how much your whiteboard weighs, you can use a kitchen scale, or you can stand on your own scale with the whiteboard in hand, then without, and subtract the difference.
  2. . Before you begin hanging, watch your wall thoroughly, using water and vinegar, or a mixture of water and dish soap. Adhesive cannot stick to dirt, so you should not try to hang using adhesive on a dirty wall.
    • Make sure the wall has dried completely, then wipe down with a dry cloth to pick up any grease or dirt left behind after the initial wash.
  3. To make sure your board has an adequate amount of support, place an adhesive strip every 6-8 inches on your board. [4] If your board is large, also place a strip midway down the height of your board.
    • If your board is small, place an adhesive strip in all four corners to ensure stability.
  4. Once the adhesive strips have been placed on the board itself, expose the adhesive intended for the wall. [5] Do this step right before placing it on the wall, as industrial-strength adhesive attracts all manner of dust and debris.
    • If possible, remove a single adhesive strip at a time, and press it into the wall immediately.
  5. Making sure the whiteboard is level, press it into the wall, stopping to push each individual sticker firmly against the wall. Although the adhesive is stronger than a simple strip of scotch tape, it does rely upon heavy pressure to achieve a firm hold. [6]
    • You don't need to hammer the adhesive, but pushing against the adhesive for 30 seconds will help it stay in place.
  6. To make sure your whiteboard doesn't come crashing down unexpectedly, check the adhesive strips every 2-3 months, pressing them into the wall if you see any separation.
    • Some paint peels away gradually, so you may need to reapply some of your adhesive strips periodically.
    7. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What if I can't mount the whiteboard to studs?
    Jason Phillip
    Handyman
    Jason Phillip is a handyman and owner of Iconic Interior Installations based in New York City, New York. With over five years of experience professionally mounting and installing objects through his company, Jason's work includes mounting window AC units, designing art gallery walls, installing kitchen cabinets, and replacing light fixtures on drywall, brick, and plaster. He has been rated a "Top Pro" every year since 2016 by Thumbtack for being one of the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.
    Jason Phillip
    Handyman
    Expert Answer
    If you don't have studs where you want to mount the whiteboard, you could use a drywall screw or a molly anchor, instead.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 7 Helpful 18
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Do your measurements twice to ensure accuracy.
        Thanks
        Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
      • If you are not sure what you are allowed to do with your walls, check with your principal, office manager, landlord, etc.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 3
      • Hang a whiteboard according to your needs. A school-sized whiteboard is likely not necessary for a small office or kitchen.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 6
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Do not try to hang a large whiteboard with stickers or flimsy plastic hooks, as your whiteboard will likely fall and could cause an injury.
        Thanks
        Helpful 4 Not Helpful 5
      • Never screw into the wall without checking for a stud first. You run the risk of tearing through the drywall.
        Thanks
        Helpful 3 Not Helpful 5
      • When dealing with power tools, always use protective eyewear.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 5
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Get Suction Cups to Stick
      How to
      Hang Sawtooth Picture Hangers
      14 Ways to Hang or Stick Things on Walls Without Damage
      How to
      Hang Decorations from a Ceiling
      How to
      Hang the American Flag on a Wall
      How to
      Hang an American Flag Vertically
      How to
      Hang Things on Plaster Walls
      How to
      Hang a Mirror with Wire
      How to
      Hang a Heavy Mirror
      The Best Way to Hang a Frameless Mirror With a Flat Back
      How to
      Hang Heavy Objects from the Ceiling
      The Best Way to Hang a Dartboard
      How to
      Hang a Poster Without a Frame
      How to
      Hang a Radiator
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/13-hanging-hacks-for-picture-perfect-walls/
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q84ztAItvqE
      3. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-tol-hanging-frames-with-tw-61257
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58fNFbISNTw
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58fNFbISNTw
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58fNFbISNTw

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      While some whiteboards can be used with a tripod or stand, most are created to be hung on a wall. You can hand your whiteboard by screwing it directly into the wall, using temporary hooks, or applying industrial-strength sticker patches. If you decide to hang your whiteboard with screws, you’ll need to drill holes through your whiteboard and find studs in your wall to screw the board into. Alternatively, to hang your whiteboard with hooks, affix eyelets to the back of your whiteboard and hang them on screw-in or adhesive hooks on your wall. For whiteboards that are less than 3 or 4 pounds, place sticker patches to the back of the board and firmly press it onto the wall. To learn how to measure your space to figure out the best spot for your whiteboard, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 320,530 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement