How to Hang Pictures on a Brick Wall

Hanging a picture on a brick wall may seem daunting. You can’t just hammer a little nail into the wall like you could with drywall. But it’s actually quite simple! All you need to do is drill a hole into the mortar and put in a wall anchor. Then you can hang your picture hook on the wall anchor, and you’re ready to go! If the picture you’re hanging is very lightweight, you may not have to drill at all, and can instead use brick clamps, adhesive hooks, or double-sided tape.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Marking and Drilling Anchor Holes

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You’ll be drilling into the mortar (the sealant in between the bricks) which can produce dust. Covering nearby items will keep them clean. If your items are easily movable, just scoot them out of the way! Also keep your window open, to prevent dust from lingering in the air.^{[1]XResearch source}
2
Chalk the spot on the mortar where you want to install the hook. Mark the mortar, and not the brick, because the brick is too hard to drill into. Don’t worry about leaving a mark. You can rub away the extra chalk when you’re done.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Mortar holes can be filled in, but holes in brick can't. Always drill into the mortar, not the brick itself.^{[3]XExpert SourcePeter Salerno
  Installation ExpertExpert Interview. 10 June 2019.}
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3
Position the frame over your mark and have a friend look from across the room. From a distance, your friend can tell you if it looks like a good spot to hang the picture. If it doesn’t look good, readjust. It’s much easier to readjust at this stage than when you’ve already drilled a hole!
- Most people opt for hanging their pictures at eye-level on open walls, and higher if the picture is going over a fireplace. The average eye level is 57 inches, or 145 cm, above the floor.^{[4]XResearch source}
- If you need to hang a group of pictures, place the largest picture in the middle, and have the center of the group be at 57 inches (145 cm).^{[5]XResearch source}
- If you can't get your picture in the right spot on the wall because of where the mortar falls, you can adjust the hardware on the back of it.^{[6]XExpert SourcePeter Salerno
  Installation ExpertExpert Interview. 10 June 2019.}
The masonry bit is to make sure your drill is equipped for the heavy-duty task of drilling through mortar. You can change your drill bit by loosening the chuck (the part that holds the bit), either with your hands or with a chunk key if it has a keyhole. Remove the regular bit and insert the masonry bit so that the smooth part of the bit is facing the chunk. Tighten the chunk, and you’re ready to drill!
Drilling into mortar stirs up a lot of dust, so protect your lungs and eyes with a dust mask and safety goggles. A dust mask is especially important if you have asthma.^{[7]XResearch source}
6
Drill a hole into the spot on the mortar you’ve marked with your chalk. To drill, place the tip of the bit against the spot you want to drill, making sure the drill is perpendicular to the wall. Hold the drill steady with both hands and squeeze the trigger gradually until the bit picks up speed. Drill deep enough that a wall anchor will fit in. ^{[8]XResearch source}
- It may help to mark the length of your wall anchor on your drill bit with some masking tape, so that you know how deep to drill.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Installing Anchors and Hanging the Pictures

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Tapping it with a mallet will make sure it goes in much better than if you tried to just stick it in with your fingers. If your picture is under 10 pounds (4.5kg), then a plastic wall anchor will be strong enough to hold it up. If your picture is somehow over 10 pounds (maybe you have an incredibly ornate frame), then opt for a self-drilling anchor.
2
Screw a picture hook onto the wall anchor. Just place the screw into the hole in the picture hook and match it up with the hole in the wall anchor. Use a screwdriver and twist clockwise until the hook is in place.
- Some wall anchors already have a stud in them for hanging pictures, in which case you can skip this step!
3
Hang your picture frame over the hook. Have a friend stand across the room and tell you if it looks right. Move the picture side to side until it is hanging evenly.
- To make extra sure your picture is hanging evenly, you can place a level on top of the frame, and adjust the position of the picture until it is even.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Hanging Lightweight Pictures without Drilling

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1
Mount brick clamps if the bricks are not flush. If the bricks poke out over the grout, and are not all flush with each other, then you can attach a brick clamp. Simply snap the clip onto the protruding brick face, and you’re ready to hang the picture.^{[9]XResearch source}
- When buying the brick clamp, check how much weight it can bear.^{[10]XResearch source}
If your bricks are all flush with each other, then you won’t be able to put on a brick clamp. Instead, use adhesive picture hanging hooks. These have the advantage of coming off without leaving a mark, which is especially desirable in a dorm room or if you have a picky landlord. But adhesive hooks can’t bear as much weight as an anchored hook drilled into the mortar, so make sure your picture is light enough.^{[11]XResearch source}
If you are trying to hang a piece of light paper on the wall, such as a child’s drawing, then double-sided tape will be strong enough to hold it onto the brick. Simply place pieces of double-sided tape on all four corners of the back of the child’s drawing and then stick it onto the brick.^{[12]XResearch source}