December 2, 2019

How much weight can a floating shelf hold?

To calculate the weight capacity of a floating shelf several factors are important. Let us explain to you how to calculate how much weight your shelf can carry.

The weight of a solid wood shelf, the mounting system and the strength of the wall that it’s mounted on, influence the weight capacity of the shelf.

The weight of the shelf itself depends on the weight per cubic meter of the wood. The wood types we use for our solid wood floating shelves weigh on average:

Beech: 720 kg per m3
Oak: 710 kg per m3
Walnut: 750 kg per m3
Elm: 650 kg per m3 
Ash: 700 kg per m3

An oak shelf of 125 x 25 x 3.5cm contains 1.25 x 0.25 x 0.035 = 0,0109 cubic meter of solid oak, so it weighs 0.0109 x 710 = 7.7 kilograms.

To mount floating shelves we use Triade mounting brackets. These brackets can carry approximately 15 kilograms each, provided they’re mounted on a solid, strong wall. We use 1 Triade bracket per a maximum of 45-50cm. So our example shelf of 125 centimeters would have 3 brackets. Every bracket holds 15 kilogram so the total weight capacity of the 3 brackets is 45 kilogram. Considering that the weight of the oak shelf itself is 7.7 kilograms, about 37.3 kilograms of weight capacity remains. 

If your shelves are mounted in an alcove their weight capacity is much higher, because the mounting on the sides adds a lot of strength. If the floating shelf can be mounted on the wall on one of the sides, the weight capacity of the shelf will more or less double. If your shelf is mounted on the back and both the left and the right side, you can even multiply the weight capacity of our example by three!

Of course the weight capacity of a floating shelf also depends on the strength of the wall, but you can use this formula to roughly calculate how much weight your shelf can carry. Should you need some more information don’t hesitate to contact us! 

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