8 Types of Concrete Anchor Bolt Design

Written by Carol S.
on Sep 02, 2010

To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.

Reviewed by
Charles Ramos, Jr.
on Jan 13, 2020

The wide range of concrete anchor bolt design types indicates a wide variety of uses for these fasteners. Learn more below about 8 types of concrete anchor bolt design and their uses.

Wedge Anchor Bolts

The wedge anchor bolt is one of the most popular due to its strength, rust resistance, and ease of insertion. The wedge anchor bolt goes into a hole drilled to the width of the wedge, and 1/2 inch longer than the bolt. When the bolt is tightened, the wedges open 1/16 inch at the base to embed the bolt securely.

Sleeve Anchor Bolts

The sleeve anchor bolt has an external casing that flares at the base to hold the bolt snugly in the concrete. Tightening the bolt after insertion opens the sleeve casing which flares out about 1/8 inch. Sleeved anchor bolts work well in brick and concrete.

Strike Anchor Bolts

Strong and sturdy, strike anchor bolts are set with a hammer instead of a torque wrench. Insert the bolt through the nut and washer brace into a hole drilled to the width of the strike bolt. Place the strike anchor in the hole and tap it once with a hammer to open the anchor flanges. Strike anchor bolts can fasten aluminum or steel concrete right-angled ties to concrete and brick quickly.

Lag Shield Anchor Bolts

Use the lag shield anchor bolt where the material being fastened may be subject to vibration. The lag shield encloses the bolt and opens into a 2-sided wedge nearly as long as the bolt for a secure hold in hard and soft materials. Insert the shield first into a drilled hole, place the bolt inside and tighten with a torque wrench.

Leadwood Screw Anchors

Leadwood anchors surround a sheet steel bolt. They are suitable for brick, poured concrete, and concrete block. Use longer leadwood anchors for softer materials. Drill a hole deeper by 1/8 inch than the leadwood anchor, insert the anchor, and tap it in with a hammer. Insert the steel screw and tighten with a screwdriver.

Double Expansion Anchors

These anchors have flanges that expand at the top and base of the anchor to resist vibration. Insert a double expansion anchor into a hole 1/8 inch deeper than the anchor. Place a steel bolt inside and tighten with a torque wrench to expand the 2 sets of flanges.

Hurricane Shutter Anchors

Attach hurricane shutters to your brick, stucco or concrete home with these anchors. Use the longer length for stucco, to embed up to 5/8 inch. These anchors have self-embedding heads to save time and effort. Drill a hole with a 7/16-inch masonry drill bit, and insert the anchor. Fasten the shutter with 1/4 inch diameter, number 20 bolts.

Split Drive Anchor Bolts

To fasten light loads to concrete where there will be no vibration, use a split drive concrete anchor. The split drive anchor has either a flat or half-round head and is inserted into a drilled hole the width of the anchor base. Drill a hole 1/4 inch deeper than you want to sink the bolt. Use a hammer to drive the bolt through the material being fastened to the concrete or brick.