Skip to main content
Bunnings

How to install a towel rail into plaster

Close-up of a person using a stud finder against a wall and marking it's position on the wall with a pencil

Overview

Learn how to put up a towel rail on a plaster wall in your bathroom. We'll show you how to mount the rail securely and make it level. You’ll also see how to find a wall stud to attach it to and use nylon wall plugs for reinforcement.

Steps

  1. 1

    Mark the position of the towel rail on the plaster wall

    First assemble your towel rail and choose a position for it on the wall. Make sure you keep it away from power points, and set it so your hanging towels don't touch the floor. Then work out where the wall studs are in that area with your stud finder. Mark their positions with a pencil, then place your rail on the wall and mark the first mounting point in line with your stud.
    DIY Step Image - How to install a towel rail into plaster . Blob storage upload.
  2. 2

    Install the top mounting brackets for the towel rail

    Screw the first mounting bracket into the wall stud. Then mark out your second point on the wall based on the length of your towel rail. Use a spirit level to make sure the mounting brackets are at the same height. If the second point isn't over a stud, you can reinforce it with a nylon wall plug before screwing the bracket in place.
    DIY Step Image - How to install a towel rail into plaster . Blob storage upload.
  3. 3

    Install the bottom brackets and the towel rail

    Place the towel rail on the two top mounting brackets and mark your bottom mounting points on the wall. Then remove the rail and screw the bottom brackets in, once again using nylon wall plugs where necessary. Finish the job by installing the towel rail on the brackets and fixing it in place with an Allen key.
    DIY Step Image - How to install a towel rail into plaster . Blob storage upload.

Get inspired by projects from the Bunnings Workshop community

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.