Not necessarily, and they do not need to. AS Hanging Display Systems tracks are engineered to reach their full rated load using the included wall anchors, so a secure installation does not depend on the pre-drilled holes lining up with studs. Follow the Installation Guide, anchor at every hole, and your track will hold reliably.
Why track holes do not need to hit studs
Wall studs typically sit 16 or 24 inches apart, while the mounting holes in a hanging track are spaced for even support along the full length of the rail. Expecting those two patterns to match on every wall is unrealistic, so the system is designed around that reality. The supplied anchors distribute the load across the wall surface and into the substrate, which is what allows our picture hanging tracks to carry their stated weight ratings whether or not a stud happens to fall behind a given hole.
What to do when a hole does land on a stud
If one or more holes do align with a stud, that is a bonus. Drive a screw directly into the stud at those points for extra holding power, and use the correct wall anchor at every remaining hole. Anchoring at each pre-drilled point, rather than skipping holes, is the single most important step for a straight, secure track that performs as rated.
Matching the anchor to your wall type
The right fastener depends on what you are drilling into. Drywall, plaster, brick, concrete, and tile each behave differently, and using the anchor suited to the surface is what makes a track dependable. Our guidance on hanging on plaster and other tricky walls walks through these differences, and you can find more setup answers in our Installation and Compatibility resources.
- Anchor at every pre-drilled hole, not just the ones near studs.
- Where a hole meets a stud, add a screw into the stud for added strength.
- Choose the anchor rated for your specific wall surface.
Not sure which anchors or track your wall and artwork call for? Call AS Hanging Display Systems at 866 935 6949, use our online chat, browse our Help Center, or send your project details through our Contact Us form.