How to Install a Wall-Mounted Baby Gate

Ready to baby proof, but have no idea how to install a wall-mounted baby gate? We’ll show you how to install a wall-mounted baby gate quickly and safely!

• Active Time: 20 minutes for the first baby gate, 15 for each gate after that
• Total Time: Same as above
• Cost: I spent $90/gate
• Difficulty: Beginner (Big Skills are Using a Drill, Impact Driver, and Drywall Anchors)
• Help Needed: You can definitely do this solo, but it does go quicker with a pal. I’ve done about 3 baby gates solo and I’d definitely add 10 minutes to the install time if you do.

The Time Has Come, The Walrus Said . . .

If you’re reading this post, your little one is on the move, and you can’t put off baby-proofing any longer. It’s super exciting to watch them start moving, but also super terrifying when you realize everything they can get themselves into now.

The most important step in baby proofing is installing baby gates on the stairs. And, the safest baby gates require you to screw your gates into the wall (I can hear all those hopes dashed for those of you hoping to find any easy tension-mounted gate).

But, don’t worry: I’ll walk you through, step-by-step, how to install a wall-mounted baby gate in just 20 minutes. And, I’ll share with you the best gate we found (best = safe and easy to install).

Disclosure: The links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click the link and purchase the item. To view our full Affiliate Disclosure, click here.

Supplies Needed

Choosing a Baby Gate

There’s a lot that goes into choosing the right baby gate for your family and your space. And, we’re not going to get into that here. But, I can tell you we love our Cardinal Gates Stairway Special Gates (and that’s what I’m installing in this post)! We did a lot of research on the safest gates (wall mounted is the way to go–sorry to all you who were hoping not to break out a drill/driver), as well as ease of use and install, and these kept coming up. We bought 3 for our duplex, and we couldn’t be happier with them.

These gates are easy to install, easy to use, and safe. There’s no bar across the ground to trip over (not that Steve did that with a different gate and spilled hotdogs and mac and cheese all over our dining room wall or anything . . .) They mount on the wall with screws, making them harder for your toddler to knock down. And, they’re adjustable for different spaces and different needs.

What really makes them stand out, after installing 2 other types of gates, is that they don’t interfere with your baseboards if you have 5 inch baseboards.

The other gates that I’ve installed require you to mount the gate into the baseboard. Then you have to install the upper mount into a piece of plywood as a spacer to get the gate to work properly.

That’s way too many steps for me. These Cardinal gates just fit all our needs without all these extra steps.

Ok, Here’s the Your Actual Supply List

• Baby Gate
• Drill with 5/32″ drill bit for the adaptor and one slightly small than your drywall anchors
• Impact Driver
• Stud Finder
• Drywall Anchors and Screws (in case you can’t install on a stud)
• Screwdriver
• Pencil
• Level

Ready to get started? Put the baby down for a nap, and let’s go!

(Remember: These steps are for the gate that I used. If you choose to use different ones, the steps may differ slightly, so make sure you follow the instructions provided with your gates).

How to Install a Wall-Mounted Baby Gate

Step 1: Decide on Gate Placement

This is where you’re going to hold your gate up and decide where on the walls you are going to install your gate. Our gate requires the wall mount to be no more than 6 inches from the floor, so we started from there (that height makes sure the gate isn’t too high that your baby could crawl under it).

You want the gate to be installed in as straight a line as possible. Some gates require that they be installed straight across. Our gate has some allowance for errors (another reason we love it), so we weren’t as concerned about getting the two mounts perfectly across from each other.

Once we decided on placement, we made a mark with a pencil at the top of where the gate would be, on the wall first, and then on the bannister adaptor, so we knew where to install the mounts in the next steps.

Step 2: Install Stationary Wall Mount

Ok, time to get started with the power tools!

Line your stationary wall mount up with the mark you just made in Step 1. Make sure the wall mount is the correct distance from the floor (ours was 6 inches per the instructions). Then mark the screw holes with a pencil.

Put the wall mount down, and pick up your studfinder. If your holes are on a stud, great! You can use your impact driver and screw your wall mount directly into the wall!

If your holes are not on studs, you need to use drywall anchors. This is especially important for the safety of the baby gate. You don’t want your toddler to fall into the gate (or shake it) and have it come off the wall.

Drill a hole, using a bit slightly small than your drywall anchor, on each screw hole mark for your drywall anchors.

Then pick up your drywall anchor and install it in each hole.

I love these screw-in drywall anchors. They seem to be the easiest to use, break the least, and the most sturdy I have used.

To install these screw-in drywall anchors, hammer them in until the screw part is flush with the wall.

Then, simply use your screwdriver and screw the anchors into the wall until they are flush to the wall (I use the back of my screwdriver because you don’t need that much force after drilling the pilot hole).

Then hold the mount up to the wall, and line the holes in the mount up with the drywall anchors. Using your screwdriver or impact driver, screw the mount into the drywall anchors.

Step 3: Attach Gate to Stationary Wall Mount

Now you’re ready to hang up your gate! Ours is on this hinge system, so here’s pictures of how to put it together:

Thread the rod through the 1. Mount 2. Plastic Piece 3. Gate

4. Gate 5. Plastic Piece 6. Mount

Then install the metal ring through the hole at the bottom of the rod, so it’s safely attached to the wall mount.

This step seems really complicated, but it’s actually super easy. You just need to get the pieces in the right order, which is why I spelled them out clearly.

Now your gate should be installed on the wall and should swing freely! Yay! Almost there!

Step 4: Install Latch Mount to the Other Wall

Now it’s time to install the second mount (the latch mount) on the opposite wall. Start by holding the latch mount against the opposite wall. Then extend the gate until it’s the proper length to latch it on the latch mount.

You may need to move the latch mount up or down so you can latch the gate.

Once you can latch the gate, unlatch it, and mark the screw holes of the latch mount on the opposite wall with a pencil.

Now, using your studfinder, determine if your marks are on a stud. If they are, line up the latch mount on the holes you just marked. Using the included screws with your gate and the impact driver, screw the latch mount into the wood.

If they aren’t on a stud, install drywall anchors following the same steps as the last mount.

Pause Before You Complete This Step:

If you only want your gate to swing one way (aka you don’t want your gate to swing open over the stairs, only open towards the floor), you’ll need to screw the optional one-way stop bracket in while installing the latch mount.

Make sure you have that lined up over the lower latch mount screw before screwing the latch mount into the wood, with the bracket facing the direction you don’t want it to open to.

Voila! Latch mount installed!

Step 6: Adjust Gate as Needed

Latch the gate, so it’s secure. From here, you should tighten the set screw that holds the gate at the proper width, using the included allen wrench. Otherwise, your gate is going to be changing widths every time you grab it.

And, Done!

Your first baby gate is installed! This took us about 20 minutes, all in, for the first one.

Now you can move on to the other 1 or 2 or if you’re lucky like us, 3 gates you need to put it up to keep your home safe for your newly mobile little one.

Have Questions? Looking for More Family Friendly Projects?

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post in the comments below! Or, you can always send a direct message to us at our Contact Us page.

Looking for More Family Projects?

Check out our guides on Installing a Baby Gate Without Damaging Your Banister, Creating your Gender Neutral Nursery, Your Perfect Nursery Guide, and Creating Your Perfect Nursery Closet!

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Last but not least, please review our Disclaimer before completing any project we describe here.