Can You Mount a TV on a Brick Wall?
Yes — brick is one of the strongest surfaces you can mount a television on. A standard brick wall or brick fireplace will easily support a large TV and mount, often holding 100 pounds or more with the right fasteners. The key is drilling into the brick itself, not the mortar joints.
Why You Should Drill Into Brick, Not Mortar
Mortar is softer than fired clay brick and can crumble under heavy, sustained loads. A 60-inch TV plus its mounting bracket can weigh close to 100 pounds — that’s a lot of downward force on a small number of fastening points. Drilling into the face of the brick gives you a much stronger anchor because the dense, fired clay grips concrete screws tightly and won’t deteriorate over time.
“They suggested that I drill into the brick because it is stronger than the mortar,” said Bruce Mayrand of Harbor Springs, Michigan, who mounted a 60-inch, 60-pound television above his brick fireplace. The mount itself added another 38 pounds — nearly 100 pounds total.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
- Hammer drill (a standard drill won’t cut it — you need the hammering action to penetrate brick)
- ¼-inch masonry drill bit (use a fresh, sharp bit for clean holes)
- 5/16-inch x 3-inch Tapcon concrete screws
- TV mounting bracket with wall template
- Pencil and level
- Safety glasses and dust mask
You will not need the plastic drywall anchors that come with most TV mounts. Those are designed for mounting into wooden studs behind drywall — Tapcon screws thread directly into the brick.
How to Mount a TV on Brick: Step by Step
- Position the mounting template. Most TV mounts include a paper or cardboard template that shows exactly where the holes need to go. Tape it to the wall at your desired height and use a level to make sure it’s straight. Mark the hole locations with a pencil.
- Drill pilot holes into the brick. Using your hammer drill fitted with the ¼-inch masonry bit, drill into the face of the brick at each marked location. Drill to a depth of about 2¾ inches so the Tapcon screw will seat roughly 2½ inches into the brick once the bracket is in place. Keep the drill straight and let the hammer action do the work — don’t force it.
- Hold the mounting bracket against the wall. Line up the bracket’s holes with the pilot holes you just drilled.
- Drive the Tapcon screws through the bracket and into the brick. Use the 5/16-inch x 3-inch Tapcon concrete screws. Tighten them firmly but don’t overtorque — you can crack the brick if you force it past snug.
- Test the mount before hanging the TV. Pull and push on the bracket to confirm it’s solid. Mayrand tested his the same way: “I pulled on it and pushed on it and it is up there for good,” he said.
- Attach the TV to the mount following the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific bracket.
Tips for Mounting a TV on a Brick Fireplace
Brick fireplaces are the most common spot for wall-mounted TVs, and the process is the same as any brick wall — but keep these things in mind:
- Height matters. A TV mounted above a fireplace mantel will be higher than eye level from a seated position. Tilting mounts or full-motion articulating mounts can angle the screen downward for more comfortable viewing.
- Heat rises. If you use the fireplace, make sure the TV is mounted high enough above the mantel that heat won’t reach it. Most TV manufacturers recommend keeping the TV in an area where the ambient temperature stays below 100°F.
- Check the brick depth. Some fireplace surrounds use thin brick veneer over concrete block or drywall. If the brick is less than 2 inches thick, your screws may punch through to a different material behind it. Test with a single pilot hole first.
How Much Weight Can a Brick Wall Hold?
A single 5/16-inch Tapcon screw properly seated 2½ inches into solid brick can hold several hundred pounds of shear load (downward force). Most TV mounts use four to six fastening points, so the combined holding power far exceeds what even the largest consumer televisions require.
Mayrand’s setup — a 60-pound TV plus a 38-pound mount, nearly 100 pounds total — has held securely with no issues. “It drilled right through — it didn’t break up and it worked out fine,” he said of the installation. A sharp masonry bit and a hammer drill made quick work of the holes.
Brick is one of the most reliable surfaces you can mount a TV on. It doesn’t flex like drywall, it doesn’t require finding studs, and it won’t weaken over time. When you drill into the brick and use the right fasteners, your TV isn’t going anywhere.