How to Hang a Picture on a Brick Wall Securely and Safely

Plan where you want the picture to hang. If you want to center it on the brick wall, for example, use a tape measure to find the perfect place.

Think about whether you need to use one picture hook or two for the frame you have in mind. Mark each spot for the picture hooks with chalk. If you change your mind, you can easily erase a chalk mark on the wall.

These measurements are extremely important, as you don’t want to put more holes into the brick wall than necessary.

If you have people helping you, ask them to hold the picture on the brick wall lined up with the chalk marks. You can then step back and see if you like its position.

Should I Drill Into the Brick or Mortar?

Some people drill the hole into the mortar between the bricks rather than into the brick. If you need to fill in the hole later, it’s far easier to repair mortar than to pay the cost for brick wall repair because you put holes in the actual brick.

However, if the picture is large and heavy, learning how to drill into the brick directly is a good idea. The brick will give you a stronger and more secure anchor point than mortar.

Use a Level for More Than One Picture

If you are hanging multiple pictures on brick, use a level to mark chalk spots that are straight and aligned.

Because the brick wall has natural horizontal lines across it, it is important to mark the spots precisely. Marking the wrong spots could make your picture look crooked against the horizontal mortar lines.

Attach a masonry bit to the power drill. Start with a small diameter masonry bit and create a pilot hole. 

Then attach and use the large diameter masonry bit that matches the diameter of the wall anchors and the screws in the picture hooks you purchased. 

How to Drill to the Correct Depth in the Brick

You don’t want to drill too far into the mortar or brick. Measure the length of the wall anchors and of the screws for the picture hooks you purchased. You’ll want the depth of the hole you’re drilling into the brick to match these lengths.

Wrap painter’s tape around the end of the bit at the depth measurement you want to use. For example, if your anchors and screws are two inches in length, wrap the edge of the tape two inches from the end of the bit, so you know when to stop drilling.

Insert the narrow end of the wall anchor into the hole you drilled. It should be a tight fit, so you may need to gently tap the anchor into the hole using a hammer.

Plastic masonry anchors are considered by many the best anchors for brick walls; however,  sleeve anchors also work well.

Insert the screw attached to the picture hook into the wall anchor. Use your screwdriver to tighten the screw by hand. Using a drill with a screwdriver bit could cause you to insert the screw with too much force and damage the anchor.

Now hang the picture on the brick wall by securing the frame over the picture hook. You can make slight adjustments to the position of the frame to ensure it looks straight compared to the lines of mortar between the rows of bricks.