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How to hang a frame on brick or concrete
Mark and drill the mortar joint, not the face of the brick (Bob Vila), with a masonry bit that matches the wall anchor. For concrete or hard masonry, This Old House specifies a hammer drill with a carbide-tip masonry bit and drilling deeper than the plastic insert. Use two wall anchors for a heavy, glass-fronted frame.
Diagram: drill point on the mortar line. Schematic, not to scale.
Tools
- Spirit level and chalk (chalk on the mortar rubs away afterwards).
- Cordless drill for brick; a hammer drill for concrete (This Old House).
- Masonry bit sized to the anchor you chose.
- Wall anchors and flush-mounting picture hooks.
- Drop cloth or plastic sheet: drilling brick scatters dust.
Steps
- Cover nearby fragile items.
- Mark the spot with chalk on the mortar, not the brick face.
- Hold the frame at the mark with a helper and allow for the hanging method (wire, D-ring or sawtooth hanger).
- Fit the masonry bit and drill into the mortar. Drill deep enough for the anchor, but not so deep that you meet wires or pipes behind the wall.
- For concrete, drill deeper than the anchor's plastic insert so it does not bottom out (This Old House).
- Set the anchor, screw in the hook and hang the frame. Check level.
Mortar or brick?
| Where to drill | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Mortar joint | Bob Vila: mark and drill the mortar, not the face of the brick. |
| Concrete | This Old House: masonry anchors with a hammer drill and carbide-tip masonry bit. |
| Two fixings | Bob Vila: use two wall anchors for a heavy, glass-fronted frame. |
Neither source gives a bit size or a weight limit, so this page does not either: the bit follows the anchor and the anchor pack gives its rating. For frames above 25 lb see the heavy canvas page.
Sources
- Bob Vila: how to hang picture frames on a brick wall (fetched 2026-11-12)
- This Old House: how to hang something heavy (fetched 2026-11-12)
Figures from these pages are paraphrased and re-checked on 2026-11-12. Where two sources disagree, both figures are shown. Hardware and wall products vary, so follow the pack instructions.