How to Hang a Heavy Bar in a Closet for Clothes

Remove all clothes, accessories and other items from the closet.

Determine the spot where you will install the new heavy bar. Situate it at least 12 to 24 inches away from the back wall of the closet, to ensure there is enough room for the hangers and the clothes when they are hanging on the closet bar. Locate the studs in both side walls of the closet, using an electronic stud finder. Mark the location of the studs with a pencil. If the studs are not exactly opposite one another so both supporting brackets can be installed directly into a stud, one of the bar's brackets will require wall anchors to install it.

Measure up from the floor to determine the height at which you will hang the new heavy clothes bar. For a single bar to hang full-length clothes, such as dresses and coats, attach the bar approximately 65 to 68 inches above the floor. A double closet bar is simply one bar hung directly beneath another bar and which is used to hang shorter clothing, such as shirts and skirts. Install the top bar approximately 75 to 80 inches from the floor and the bottom bar approximately 36 to 40 inches above the floor.

Hold a bracket in position on the wall and mark the location of the screw holes with a pencil.

Drill pilot holes with a drill bit slightly smaller than the screws that will be used to fasten the supporting brackets to the wall.

Place the supporting bracket in position, lining up the pre-drilled screw holes.

Drive in the screws with a manual or electric screwdriver. Repeat with the other bracket.

Insert the closet rod into the supporting brackets. If the clothes bar is too long for the space, cut it down using a wood or hack saw, depending on whether the bar is wood or metal.