Choosing Concrete Anchors: Screws, Wedges and Sleeves
The Simpson Strong-Tie Titen HD is our overall pick for a high strength screw anchor that installs with a single hole and no expansion sleeve. Tapcon Concrete Screws are the everyday choice for light fixings, and the Red Head Trubolt Wedge Anchor is the traditional heavy duty option.
If you are fixing something structural into concrete, the Simpson Strong-Tie Titen HD is the anchor to reach for, with Tapcon Concrete Screws covering everyday light duty work and the Red Head Trubolt Wedge Anchor still the standard for permanent heavy loads.
Concrete anchors are more confusing than they should be because the same fixing behaves completely differently in poured concrete, hollow block and brick, and the hole size tolerance is far tighter than in timber. We compared base material ratings, embedment requirements, install methods and what owners report about spinning and pull out to rank the seven below.
What we recommend
Simpson Strong-Tie Titen HD Heavy Duty Screw Anchor
A heavy duty screw anchor that cuts its own threads into a predrilled hole, giving high load capacity without an expansion sleeve pressing outwards on the concrete. That makes it usable closer to edges than wedge anchors, which is often the deciding factor on a real job. Owners report it installs quickly with an impact wrench and holds far better than ordinary masonry screws.
Pros
- Very high load capacity for a screw anchor
- Works closer to slab edges than expansion anchors
- Removable if the fixing needs to come out
Cons
- Requires an impact wrench for larger sizes
- Costs considerably more per anchor than Tapcons
Tapcon Concrete Anchor Screws
The blue masonry screw most people picture when they think of fixing into concrete, suited to furring strips, brackets, conduit clips and general light duty work. It installs with a hammer drill and a driver, with no anchor to insert first. Owners report they work reliably provided you drill the correct diameter hole and clear the dust out properly.
Pros
- Fast one step installation
- Works in brick and block as well as concrete
- Removable and easy to adjust
Cons
- Load capacity is modest, not for structural fixing
- Strips out easily if overtightened or the hole is dirty
DEWALT Screw-Bolt Plus Concrete Anchor
A screw anchor with a hex head that drives with an impact wrench and can be removed and reinstalled in the same hole when a fixture needs to come off, which is useful for temporary formwork, machinery and safety railings. It reaches high loads while avoiding the permanence of a wedge anchor. Owners report the ability to back it out cleanly is what earns its place in the box.
Pros
- Comes out cleanly for temporary fixings
- High load capacity for a screw type anchor
- Single hole diameter simplifies the job
Cons
- Needs the exact bit diameter to hold correctly
- More expensive than wedge anchors of similar capacity
Red Head Trubolt Wedge Anchor
The classic through fixing wedge anchor, where tightening the nut pulls a cone up into an expansion clip that grips the sides of the hole. It gives very high pull out resistance in solid poured concrete and has decades of use behind it. Owners report it is the anchor to use for machinery bases and structural brackets that will never need to come out.
Pros
- Very high pull out resistance in solid concrete
- Installs through the fixture, so alignment is easy
- Long established and widely stocked
Cons
- Cannot be removed once set
- Expansion force means it must stay away from edges
Simpson Strong-Tie Strong-Bolt 2 Wedge Anchor
A wedge anchor engineered to keep gripping in cracked concrete, where a conventional wedge anchor can lose tension as the crack opens. It carries approvals for seismic and wind loading, which matters on inspected work. Owners report it is specified where an engineer is involved rather than chosen casually.
Pros
- Keeps holding as concrete cracks
- Carries approvals for inspected structural work
- Through fixture install keeps alignment simple
Cons
- Permanent once set
- Overspecified for ordinary household fixings
CONFAST Sleeve Anchor
A sleeve anchor where a full length expanding sleeve spreads load along the hole, which lets it hold in brick and hollow block where a wedge anchor would simply crush through. It installs through the fixture and comes in several head styles. Owners report it is the practical answer for fixing into older masonry walls rather than slab concrete.
Pros
- Holds in brick and hollow block
- Spreads load along the full sleeve
- Several head styles for different finishes
Cons
- Lower ultimate capacity than a wedge anchor in solid concrete
- Cannot be fully removed once expanded
Red Head Drop-In Anchor
A female threaded anchor set flush into the concrete with a setting tool, leaving an internal thread that accepts a bolt or threaded rod. Because it sits flush, the ceiling or floor surface stays clear when nothing is attached. Owners report it is the standard choice for hanging pipe, duct and rod from an overhead slab.
Pros
- Flush finish leaves the surface clear
- Ideal for overhead threaded rod hanging
- Bolt can be removed and refitted repeatedly
Cons
- Requires a matching setting tool
- Depth of hole must be exact for correct setting
How they stack up
| # | Model | Type | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simpson Strong-Tie Titen HD Heavy Duty Screw Anchor | Screw anchor, self undercutting threads | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Tapcon Concrete Anchor Screws | Masonry screw, no separate anchor | Best value | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | DEWALT Screw-Bolt Plus Concrete Anchor | Screw anchor with hex head | Best for repeated removal | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Red Head Trubolt Wedge Anchor | Wedge expansion anchor | Best for permanent heavy loads | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | Simpson Strong-Tie Strong-Bolt 2 Wedge Anchor | Wedge anchor, dual expansion clips | Best for cracked concrete | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | CONFAST Sleeve Anchor | Sleeve expansion anchor | Best for brick and block | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | Red Head Drop-In Anchor | Internally threaded drop in anchor | Best for overhead threaded rod | 8.0 | Check price |
What matters most
Identify the base material before choosing anything Solid poured concrete, hollow concrete block, and brick behave completely differently. Wedge anchors such as the Red Head Trubolt rely on expansion against solid material and will crush straight through a hollow block web. Sleeve anchors like the CONFAST spread load over a longer area and cope with masonry. Screw anchors sit somewhere in between. If you are unsure, drill a test hole and watch the dust: grey powder suggests concrete, red suggests brick, and sudden loss of resistance means you have broken into a void.
Hole diameter and cleaning matter more than brute force Concrete anchors have far tighter tolerances than timber fixings, and using a bit a size up because it was already in the drill is the most common cause of failure. Use exactly the specified diameter, drill deeper than the anchor length so debris has somewhere to go, and blow or vacuum the dust out. Dust left in the hole acts like a lubricant and can cut holding power dramatically, which is why masonry screws spin free.
Embedment depth is what carries the load Load ratings assume a minimum embedment, meaning how far the anchor sits into sound concrete. Anchoring shallowly into the surface layer, which is often weaker and sometimes cracked, gives a fraction of the rated capacity. Deeper embedment generally increases holding power up to the specified maximum. Also keep anchors away from slab edges and from each other, since overlapping cones of concrete failure reduce the capacity of both.
Decide now whether it needs to come out later Wedge anchors are permanent. Once the cone is drawn up, the anchor can only be cut off flush or driven below the surface and patched. Screw anchors such as the Titen HD and DEWALT Screw-Bolt Plus back out cleanly, and drop in anchors let you remove the bolt while leaving the anchor in place. For anything temporary, seasonal, or likely to be repositioned, choose a removable type even though a wedge anchor may cost less.
Good to know
What size hole do I drill for a concrete anchor?
Use exactly the diameter specified for that anchor, which is usually printed on the box. For wedge anchors the hole diameter matches the anchor diameter. For screw anchors like Tapcons, the hole is smaller than the screw so the threads can cut. Drill deeper than the embedment so dust can fall clear.
Why do my concrete screws spin without tightening?
Almost always because the hole is too large, too shallow, or full of dust. Blow the hole out thoroughly, and if the threads have already stripped the concrete, move over and drill a fresh hole rather than trying the same one. Using a hammer drill with a sharp carbide bit gives a cleaner hole than a worn one.
Can concrete anchors be used in brick?
Some can. Sleeve anchors such as the CONFAST and masonry screws such as Tapcons work in brick, ideally fixed into the brick itself rather than the mortar joint. Wedge anchors are not suitable for brick or hollow block, since the expansion force can split the material.
How close to the edge of concrete can I anchor?
Expansion anchors need considerable edge distance, often several times the anchor diameter, because expansion force can break out the edge. Screw anchors like the Titen HD tolerate closer placement because they cut threads rather than pressing outwards. Check the manufacturer’s edge distance table if the fixing is load bearing.
Do I need a hammer drill?
For concrete, yes in practice. A rotary drill with a masonry bit can manage a shallow hole in soft block but will struggle badly in cured concrete and will destroy bits. A hammer drill with a sharp carbide tipped bit is the correct tool, and an SDS rotary hammer is far better for larger diameters.
Can wedge anchors be removed?
Not intact. Once expanded, the anchor grips permanently. The usual approach is to cut it flush with an angle grinder, or drive it below the surface with a punch and fill the hole. If removal is likely, choose a screw type anchor instead.
Which anchors work overhead?
Drop in anchors with threaded rod are the standard for overhead work, and screw anchors are also used. Anything relying on gravity to stay in place is unsuitable. Overhead fixings should be selected with proper load calculations, since failure risk is greater and the consequences are worse.
What about outdoor and wet locations?
Choose stainless steel or a heavily galvanised anchor. Zinc plated anchors corrode quickly outdoors, and corrosion both weakens the anchor and expands to crack the surrounding concrete. In coastal or treated timber contact situations, stainless is the safer specification despite the cost.
Final word
The Simpson Strong-Tie Titen HD is the anchor to buy if the fixing actually matters, combining high capacity with a single hole install and the option to remove it. Tapcon Concrete Screws remain the sensible everyday choice for brackets, battens and conduit, and the Red Head Trubolt Wedge Anchor is still the right answer for a machine base that will never move again.
