Drilling into brick is a simple, confidence-boosting DIY skill that opens the door to countless home projects. Once you’ve mastered the technique and got all the right tools, you’ll be hanging a shelf, mounting a TV, or putting up a mirror with no worries.
The best cordless drills and bits will help make light work of drilling into brick. However, there are some subtle tips, tricks, and techniques that will not only make drilling easier but also ensure you get a strong, secure fixing for long-lasting success.
Scott Godfrey is a carpenter with over 20 years of experience in the trade. He has extensive experience in both bespoke and large-scale projects, including luxury home builds and renovations.
The best drill bit for drilling into brick
Choosing the right drill bit is essential for success in drilling. Scott Godfrey, carpenter and construction consultant for Black Hammer, shares what you need: “The right choice is a masonry drill bit with a tungsten carbide tip.” This type of drill bit typically has a wide, arrow-shaped head and comes in a variety of thicknesses and lengths, depending on what’s needed.
Article continues belowHowever, if you are using an SDS drill for heavy-duty drilling tasks, you will need a different bit, explains Godfrey, “If using an SDS drill, use SDS-Plus masonry bits rather than a standard round-shank bit.”
Shop these drills and bit for drilling into brick
A set of five carbide-tipped masonry drill bits that come in their own carry case. Includes sizes useful for most household DIY projects.
If you have a hard brick to drill into, then this SDS drill will provide the power that you need. Includes three drill bits, 1 x flat chisel, 1 x point chisel, grease and toolbox.
A cordless drill impact driver with a two-speed transmission that makes powerful drilling and screwing possible with 40 Nm torque and 21 torque levels.
Choosing the right size bit
The right type of drill bit is only part of the puzzle when drilling into brick. Choosing the right size bit is just as important. Godfrey says, “The most important sizing rule is simple: the drill bit diameter should match the wall plug size stated on the plug packet.”
He adds, “People often guess based on screw size, then wonder why the plug spins or the brick crumbles. Let the plug packaging decide the hole size.” Godfrey shares an example, “As a typical guide for common household fixings in the UK, a 6mm plug often uses a 6mm drill bit and then takes roughly a 4 to 5mm screw for things like small shelves, light brackets, and curtain pole fittings.”
For heavier loads, a larger bit and plug is the obvious choice, continues Godfrey, “A 10mm plug generally uses a 10mm drill bit and takes roughly a 6 to 8mm screw for heavier duty fixings.”
Make sure you choose the right drill
A standard cordless drill is the popular choice for drilling into most brickwork. “As long as it has a hammer mode and a decent masonry bit,” shares Godfrey. “A non-hammer drill will struggle in most brick and tends to overheat bits. It often polishes the hole rather than cutting it cleanly.”
If the brick is hard, you may need to use a more powerful SDS drill shares Godfrey, “An SDS-Plus rotary hammer becomes the better tool when the brick is very hard, such as dense engineering brick, when drilling larger holes around 10mm and above, or when there are lots of holes to do and speed and consistency matter.” He finishes by saying, “SDS drills hit harder with less effort.”
How to drill into brick
1. Identify the type of wall you're drilling into
Before you begin drilling into your wall, you'll need to know what kind of wall you're drilling into. This will depend on the type and age of house you live in. Exterior walls are typically be brick or block. Internal walls may either be brick or timber stud walls.
Knocking on the wall should give you a good idea of what you're drilling into; a hollow sound typically indicates a stud wall.
2. Check the wall for wires and pipes
It's always a good idea to check what's lurking behind the plaster before you start to drill. Use a detector to identify the presence of pipes and electrical conduits.
If you're well acquainted with your house, ie. you've renovated it or your electrician has recently undertaken rewiring, and know where the wires and pipes are, you can potentially skip this step. That said, it's always best to run a detector across the spot you hope to drill into, to be on the safe side.
3. Mark your drilling point on the wall
Mark your spot with a pencil. You may want to press the drill bit into the wall to make an indentation before starting to drill so that the drill bit doesn't skip around the surface.
4. Drill the wall
Hold your drill straight and level when drilling into brick — some drills come with spirit levels built-in. Starting slowly, drill into the brick, pushing the drill towards the wall.
In order to know that you've drilled deep enough, you can measure your drill bit against your rawl plug and mark it by wrapping masking tape around the bit. Alternatively, try the rawl plug in the wall.
Brick dust can stain your paintwork and be tough to clean, so consider catching it with a vacuum cleaner or dust pan.
5. Remove the brick dust
Once you've drilled the hole, remove the brick dust from the hole (vacuuming is best) and clean up any dust that's on the floor.
6. Insert the rawl plug and screw
Insert your rawl plug into the hole. Knock it in with a hammer or mallet if its a tight fit. You're now ready to drive your screw into the hole.
Steve Jenkins is a keen DIYer with over 25 years of experience in transforming and renovating the many homes he has lived in. He was previously the DIY content editor for Homebuilding & Renovating.
Tips for drilling into brick
1. Choose the right drilling spot
It's not always easy to work out, but DIY expert Steve Jenkins says, "Avoid drilling into mortar joints and aim to drill into the brick." He adds, "A sign you might have hit mortar is that the drill bit goes in really easily."
Also, try avoiding drilling too close to the edge of a brick. Jenkins says, "Ideally, you want to drill in at least 50mm from the edge of the brick."
2. Check the drilling direction
It might seem obvious, but Jenkins says to make sure the drill is not in reverse. "If the drill doesn't seem to be drilling properly, check that it's not in reverse." He adds, "I've done it many times, leaving in reverse from the last time I used it."
3. Check battery level
If you own a cordless drill, you'll want to check the battery level. Jenkins says, "Ideally, you want the battery to be near full charge." He adds, "When the power is near empty, it won't deliver as much power, giving you a weaker drill."
Try to keep the battery topped up, says Jenkins, "I always charge up the battery for 30 mins or more before I use it to make sure that it will last longer than a few minutes."
4. Make sure the bit is sharp
It may seem obvious, but using a drill bit will wear down its tip. Jenkins says, "Make sure the drill bit is sharp. If it's been used a lot, give it a quick sharpen with a metal file." Or use a specialist drill sharpener such as this Clarke Electric Drill Bit Sharpener from Amazon.
When drilling into brick, you need to know what lies behind the brick to avoid accidents. To stay safe, read our guide on how to avoid drilling into wires. If putting up shelves, check out our kitchen shelving ideas and radiator shelf ideas to get the look you want.
