How do I fix a curtain pole or shelf that has pulled out of the wall?

Why it failed, and the three ways to make the new fixing stronger than the original.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 45 min
Read: 2 min
Safety: caution

Short answer

It failed because the fixing was wrong for the wall, not because the screw was too short. Work out whether the wall is masonry or plasterboard first — the correct fixing is completely different for each.

Almost every pulled-out fixing is a plasterboard fixing that was treated as a masonry one, or a plastic plug in a hole that has crumbled. Redrilling the same hole with a bigger screw fails again within months.

Safety

Check for cables and pipes before drilling any new hole, particularly above windows where cables often run. Never simply put a longer screw into a failed hole and hope — a shelf that comes down with weight on it can cause real injury.

What you'll need

Drill
Correct fixings for the wall type
Cable detector
Filler (optional)
Toggle fixings (optional)

Step by step

Work out what the wall is.Knock it — hollow means plasterboard on studs, solid means masonry. This decides everything else, and getting it wrong is why the first fixing failed.
Look at what failed.A plug pulled out with plaster attached means the hole crumbled. A screw pulled straight through plasterboard means the wrong fixing. Both are informative.
For plasterboard, find the studs.A stud detector, or tap along until the sound changes. Fixing into a stud is far stronger than any hollow-wall fixing and should always be the first choice.
Use proper hollow-wall fixings if you cannot reach a stud.Spring toggles or metal collapsible anchors, not plastic plugs. Plastic plugs are for masonry and do essentially nothing in plasterboard.
For masonry, repair the hole before redrilling.A crumbled hole will not hold. Fill it with a chemical anchor resin, or fill with filler, let it set fully, and drill a fresh hole.
Move the fixing if you can.Often easier than repairing. A new hole 5cm away in sound material is stronger than a repaired one, and the bracket usually covers the old hole.
Use the right size plug and drill bit.The bit must match the plug exactly, and the screw must match the plug. An oversized hole is the second most common cause of failure.
Consider spreading the load.For heavy curtains or a loaded shelf, more brackets or a timber batten across several studs. The original fixing failed because it was carrying too much.

Tips

Curtain poles carry far more load than people expect, especially with lined curtains, and the load is a downward pull at a distance from the wall — the worst case for a fixing.
If a bracket has three screw holes, use all three. Manufacturers do not add holes for decoration.
For anything genuinely heavy in plasterboard, fix a timber batten across two studs and mount to that.

Questions people ask

Why did my curtain pole pull out of the wall?

Almost always the wrong fixing for the wall — a plastic plug in plasterboard, or a crumbled hole in masonry. A longer screw in the same hole will fail again.

What fixing should I use in plasterboard?

Fix into a stud if you can reach one. Otherwise spring toggles or metal collapsible anchors — plastic plugs do almost nothing in plasterboard.