What if the Microwave Mount Does Not Line up With the Wall Studs?

Wall Studs

• Wall studs, in general, are 2-by-4 lumber that run vertically from floor to ceiling behind the wall with their 2-inch edges against the drywall. They are most commonly found every 16 inches along the wall. Heavy objects that mount to the wall must go into a stud to avoid breaking loose from the drywall. Find the center of each stud by using an electronic stud finder or by tapping the wall with a hammer and listening for a hollow, versus solid, sound. The solid sound means there is a stud. Mark the center of any stud you find.

Microwave

• A wall-mount microwave can weigh up to 85 pounds, and over-the-range models are approximately 16 inches high, 18 inches deep and 30 to 36 inches wide, depending on the specific model. The span of the microwave must cross at least one stud, and possibly two, though they may not line up with the microwave's mounting bracket.

Mounting Bracket

• A microwave mounting bracket is a metal piece with a long horizontal bar that runs the length of the microwave and with vertical bars extending up from the ends of the horizontal piece. The bottom edge of the horizontal piece lines up with the bottom of the microwave and has predrilled holes every inch along its length. The upright pieces have predrilled holes at each end, lining up behind the four corners of the back of the microwave.

Installation Options

• When the four corners of the metal mounting brackets do not line up with the vertical studs, you can still install the microwave as long as the horizontal bar of the bracket crosses at least one stud. The metal uprights require a screw in each end. If there is no stud behind one or both of the uprights, install the screws using toggle bolts. Install a 2-inch lag screw through the predrilled hole that lines up with any stud along the length of the horizontal piece of the mounting bracket. Do not install the microwave in that location if you cannot secure it into at least one stud.