To drill brick without cracking it, use a sharp masonry bit sized for your fixing, position the hole well away from brick edges, and drill straight with controlled pressure. Use hammer action only if it suits the brick and drill, and stop if the masonry cracks or the bit meets unexpected metal. Check for hidden services and protect your eyes and lungs from dust before you start.
Before drilling: check the wall and plan the hole
Confirm what you are drilling into
Make sure the surface is brick, not tile, stone, concrete or only a layer of plaster over masonry. If a fixing will support a load, it needs to anchor in the masonry; plaster alone is not a reliable substitute. Different materials need different drilling methods. See Screwfix’s guide to drilling into brick.
Choose a safe, strong position
Measure and mark the hole carefully. Keep it well away from the brick’s edges: Screwfix and This Old House advise avoiding a position within about one inch of an edge, where the brick is more liable to break away. For an anchor, sound brick is generally preferable to mortar because mortar is weaker and can wear or widen around a fixing. If the brick is damaged or the only suitable position is in mortar, check that the selected fixing is suitable for that situation.
Check for concealed hazards
Before drilling, check for pipes, wiring and metalwork in the wall. A wall scanner can help locate concealed services, but do not treat a scan as a reason to ignore other warning signs. Wear eye protection and suitable dust protection; hearing protection is sensible when using a noisy hammer drill. If the bit meets unexpected metallic resistance, stop rather than forcing it.
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- 10 BITS IN 7 SIZES: This concrete drill bit set includes 1/8", 5/32", 3/16", 1/4" (4 pcs), 5/16", 3/8" and 1/2" bits, Extra 1/4" bits provide handy spares for common drilling tasks. Comes with a storage case to keep all bits organized and easy to find
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Choose the drill, bit and fixing
Use a masonry bit sized for the fixing
A masonry bit is the general choice for brick. Match its diameter to the hole specified by the fixing manufacturer. Tungsten-carbide-tipped bits suit most brick; diamond bits are generally intended for harder materials such as some stone or ceramic, rather than being a default choice for brick. Guidance from Screwfix covers bit selection and from BLACK+DECKER covers drills and bits for brick and cement.
Decide whether to use hammer action
Hammer action is commonly useful in masonry, particularly for harder brick, but the drill’s power and the brick’s condition matter. Aggressive hammering or an overly powerful tool can damage the masonry. A regular rotary drill with a suitable masonry bit may work for soft brick or mortar, though it may drill more slowly. DEWALT discusses the choice between rotary and hammer drilling in its masonry drilling guidance. The practical choice depends on the brick’s hardness, the hole’s size and depth, how many holes you need, and how fragile the brick is.
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Choose the fixing before drilling
For common wall mounting, a plug or an appropriate anchor is more typical than driving an ordinary screw directly into brick. Options include wall plugs, sleeve anchors and anchor bolts; suitability depends on the substrate and the load. There is no universal load limit that applies to all bricks and fixings, so follow the fixing maker’s specifications for the hole diameter and depth. This Old House’s brick-drilling guide also covers hole preparation and anchors.
Drill the hole in a controlled sequence
- Mark the location. Measure twice and confirm that the mark is well away from the brick’s edges and clear of suspected services.
- Set the depth. Use the drill’s depth stop if available, or mark the target depth on the bit with tape. The fixing manufacturer’s required hole depth controls; do not drill deeper than needed.
- Hold the drill square. Position the bit at the mark and keep the drill perpendicular to the wall so the hole stays straight and the fixing can seat properly.
- Start gently. Begin with controlled pressure and increase only as needed. Do not lean heavily on the drill or let it wander across the brick surface.
- Use a pilot hole only when it helps. A small pilot hole can improve placement accuracy or help when the masonry is hard. Guidance differs on whether to use one routinely: Screwfix treats it as generally unnecessary except for hard masonry or precision work, while This Old House recommends one as a crack-reduction step. It is therefore an option, not a universal requirement.
- Drill steadily and clear dust. Keep the tool straight and withdraw the bit periodically to clear masonry dust. Watch the brick as you work and stop if it starts to crack or the drill appears to be damaging the wall.
- Clean the hole and install the fixing. Remove dust before inserting the plug or anchor, then fit it according to its instructions. A dusty hole can interfere with seating; use the fixing maker’s directions for cleaning and installation.
When to stop and get case-specific advice
- The brick cracks, loosens or crumbles: stop drilling. Do not assume the same hole or location will still support a fixing.
- You hit metal or an unexplained obstruction: stop and reassess the location. Do not force the bit through.
- The wall is structurally important or the fixing will carry a high load: get advice specific to the wall and fixing system instead of relying on general DIY guidance.
- You need a large through-hole: seek guidance suited to the wall and the required opening. Advice for a small mounting hole does not establish a safe method for a large penetration.
This guidance applies to general DIY drilling in brick or brick-and-mortar walls. It is not engineering advice for structural alterations or high-load anchors. Avoid breathing masonry dust and use protection appropriate to the work.
Quick Recap
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- Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty 10Pc Carbide Hammer Drill Bit Set, ¼” Hex Shank, 4X Faster Drilling, Dynamic Cutting Edges, Faster Starts, Less Walking, Extended Life, for Concrete, Block & Brick
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- 2 cutter carbide tip of masonry drill bit set maximizes carbide surface contact for longer bit life.
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