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Concrete Anchors: Types, Sizing & Installation

Concrete anchors come in more types than most people realize — wedge anchors, sleeve anchors, drop-in anchors, Tapcon screws, toggle/hollow-wall anchors, and more — each rated for different loads and substrates. Picking the wrong one (or drilling the wrong hole size) is the most common reason anchors fail. Below you'll find guides on every anchor type, how to choose between them, load capacities, spacing and edge distance rules, and step-by-step installation.

Start with types of concrete anchors explained or our anchor selection chart to find the right category for your project. From there, load capacity and spacing & edge distance determine exactly where and how many anchors you need, and our installation guide covers the drilling and setting process step by step.

Free Tool · ACI 318-19 Compliant

Skip the guesswork — get your exact anchor spec

Answer 6 quick questions about your project and get the exact anchor diameter, embedment depth, pilot hole size, edge distance, and torque value — calculated per ACI 318-19.

ACI 318-19 Compliant . Instant Results . Free

Anchor Specification Engine

Get the exact anchor type, diameter, embedment depth, pilot hole size, torque value, and installation procedure for your project.

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Step 1 of 5Project
Step 1 - What are you installing?
50 lbs
5200400600800+

Medium load

Anchor Spec Sheets

Exact pilot hole sizes, embedment depths, torque values, and load ratings for every common anchor type — pre-calculated per ACI 318-19.

Concrete Screw (Tapcon)
Tapcon 3/16" Concrete Screw→
Pilot hole: 5/32"Embed: 1" minimum
Max load: 150-300 lbs (tension), 200-400 lbs (shear)
Tapcon 1/4" Concrete Screw→
Pilot hole: 3/16"Embed: 1-1/4" minimum
Max load: 250-500 lbs (tension), 350-600 lbs (shear)
Tapcon 3/8" Concrete Screw→
Pilot hole: 5/16"Embed: 1-3/4" minimum
Max load: 600-900 lbs (tension), 800-1,200 lbs (shear)
Wedge Anchor
3/8" Wedge Anchor→
Pilot hole: 3/8"Embed: 2-1/4" minimum
Max load: 2,800 lbs (tension), 3,200 lbs (shear) in 3000 psi concrete
1/2" Wedge Anchor→
Pilot hole: 1/2"Embed: 2-3/4" minimum
Max load: 5,000 lbs (tension), 5,600 lbs (shear) in 3000 psi concrete
5/8" Wedge Anchor→
Pilot hole: 5/8"Embed: 3-1/2" minimum
Max load: 7,500 lbs (tension), 8,200 lbs (shear) in 3000 psi concrete
Sleeve Anchor
1/4" Sleeve Anchor→
Pilot hole: 1/4"Embed: 1" minimum
Max load: 450 lbs (tension), 600 lbs (shear)
3/8" Sleeve Anchor→
Pilot hole: 3/8"Embed: 1-5/8" minimum
Max load: 1,200 lbs (tension), 1,500 lbs (shear)
1/2" Sleeve Anchor→
Pilot hole: 1/2"Embed: 2" minimum
Max load: 2,400 lbs (tension), 3,000 lbs (shear)
5/8" Sleeve Anchor→
Pilot hole: 5/8"Embed: 2-1/2" minimum
Max load: 3,800 lbs (tension), 4,600 lbs (shear)
Drop-In Anchor
1/4" Drop-In Anchor→
Pilot hole: 3/8"Embed: 5/8" (flush with surface)
Max load: 500 lbs (tension), 700 lbs (shear)
3/8" Drop-In Anchor→
Pilot hole: 1/2"Embed: 1" (flush with surface)
Max load: 1,100 lbs (tension), 1,400 lbs (shear)
1/2" Drop-In Anchor→
Pilot hole: 5/8"Embed: 1-5/16" (flush with surface)
Max load: 2,200 lbs (tension), 2,800 lbs (shear)
5/8" Drop-In Anchor→
Pilot hole: 7/8"Embed: 1-5/8" (flush with surface)
Max load: 3,500 lbs (tension), 4,400 lbs (shear)
Toggle / Hollow-Wall
1/4" Toggle Bolt (Hollow Wall Anchor)→
Pilot hole: 3/4" (for toggle wings)Embed: N/A — requires hollow cavity
Max load: 200-400 lbs (shear), 100-200 lbs (tension) — depends on wall thickness
3/8" Toggle Bolt (Hollow Wall Anchor)→
Pilot hole: 1-1/4" (for toggle wings)Embed: N/A — requires hollow cavity
Max load: 450-700 lbs (shear), 200-350 lbs (tension) — depends on wall thickness
Hammer Drive Anchor
1/4" Hammer Drive Anchor (Strike Anchor)→
Pilot hole: 1/4"Embed: 3/4" minimum
Max load: 200 lbs (shear), 150 lbs (tension)
3/8" Hammer Drive Anchor (Strike Anchor)→
Pilot hole: 3/8"Embed: 1" minimum
Max load: 450 lbs (shear), 300 lbs (tension)
Other
1/4" Lag Shield Anchor→
Pilot hole: 1/2"Embed: 1" (short) / 1-1/2" (long)
Max load: 300 lbs (tension), 400 lbs (shear)
3/8" Lag Shield Anchor→
Pilot hole: 5/8"Embed: 1-1/4" (short) / 2" (long)
Max load: 600 lbs (tension), 800 lbs (shear)
1/2" Lag Shield Anchor→
Pilot hole: 7/8"Embed: 1-1/2" (short) / 2-1/2" (long)
Max load: 1,000 lbs (tension), 1,300 lbs (shear)
1/4" SNAPTOGGLE Hollow-Wall Anchor→
Pilot hole: 1/2"Embed: N/A — requires hollow cavity
Max load: 265 lbs (tension), 445 lbs (shear) in 3/8" drywall
1/2" Epoxy Adhesive Anchor→
Pilot hole: 5/8"Embed: 4-1/2" minimum
Max load: 8,000+ lbs (tension) at full embedment in 4000 psi concrete
5/8" Epoxy Adhesive Anchor→
Pilot hole: 3/4"Embed: 5-5/8" minimum
Max load: 15,000+ lbs (tension) at full embedment in 4000 psi concrete

More anchor specs coming soon. Use the Anchor Spec Engine for any size not listed above.

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