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Drilling into brick

Updated: 2026-10-23

The shelf is marked, the wall is brick behind the plaster, and the drill in the cupboard may or may not have a hammer. Drilling into brick for an ordinary wall plug needs a listing whose bullets state hammer or impact drilling, and a sharp carbide masonry bit the same diameter as the plug. That pair can make a plug hole. It does not make the wall safe, and it is the wrong tool for concrete or for a cable you cannot find. The rows are in the [Drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/drill). This is a householder’s plug hole, not a method for chasing or electrical work. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The shelf is marked, the wall is brick behind the plaster, and the drill in the cupboard may or may not have a hammer.

Our top picks

Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 1.5 Ah

Best overall

Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 1.5 Ah
9.4/10about £64.97
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Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, two 2.0 Ah

Alternative

Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, two 2.0 Ah
9.4/10about £75.23
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BLACK+DECKER BLACK+DECKER BCD700S1K-GB

Alternative

BLACK+DECKER BLACK+DECKER BCD700S1K-GB
9.2/10about £65.99
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On this page
  1. 1.The drill and the bit, before the wall
  2. 2.Drill the brick, to a marked depth
  3. 3.Cables, pipes, and dust
  4. 4.When this drill should stop

The drill and the bit, before the wall

In this set the bullets state hammer on the Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, both kits, and on the BLACK+DECKER BCD700S1K-GB. The one-pack Bosch is £64.97 with a 13 mm chuck and 40 Nm. The BLACK+DECKER bullets say 21,000 blows per minute, and the torque cells print 1 in-lb. One reviewer could not drill their house brick. A combi title, and masonry bits in the box, is not a hammer statement. Match a carbide bit to the plug. DIY Doctor’s size-8 example uses a 6 mm bit and a red plug. If the bullets do not state hammer, settle that on combi drill versus drill-driver.

Drill the brick, to a marked depth

Drill the brick, not the mortar, when the plug has to hold. Plaster is often about 12–15 mm thick, which is not a fixing. Mark the bit with tape a little deeper than the plug, and add about 10 mm so dust has somewhere to go. Start with a small dimple, without hammer, so the bit does not walk. Then select hammer and keep the drill square. For a larger hole, step the bit size up. Keep the drill running as you withdraw, clear the dust, and seat the plug flush. Leave hammer off once you are driving the screw.
Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 1.5 Ah

Testsieger

Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 1.5 Ah
9.4/10about £64.97
View offer

Cables, pipes, and dust

Cables are allowed within 150 mm of the top of the wall, within 150 mm of a corner, and in a straight line from a socket or switch. On a wall about 100 mm thick or less, check the other side too. These are not safe zones. Older wiring can sit outside them. If you do not know where the cable is, switch that circuit off at the consumer unit. A detector does not make the wall safe. If it finds a pipe, or the work is electrical, stop and get a competent person. Concrete and similar masonry can put respirable crystalline silica in the air. Wear eye protection. A household vacuum is not an M-class extractor. Keep a one-off hole small and do not sweep dry dust. Chasing is outside these drills.

When this drill should stop

Stop when the brick is dense engineering brick, when there are many holes around 10 mm, or when the wall is concrete. A 10 mm or 13 mm keyless combi is the occasional plug tool. Stop if a detector indicates a cable or a pipe. Look at the other side of a thin wall, and do not drill on a guess. If the pack is swollen or the tool sparks, do not open a lithium pack. A faulty tool can fall under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 30-day right to reject.

Common questions

Can a cordless combi drill make a plug hole in brick?
It can, when the bullets state hammer or impact drilling and you use a sharp carbide masonry bit matched to the plug. In this set that claim sits on the Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40 kits and on the BLACK+DECKER BCD700S1K-GB. It is an occasional plug, not a promise about hard old brick. Concrete and chasing are a different tool.
Should I drill the brick or the mortar?
Drill the brick when the fixing has to hold. Mortar is softer, and a plug that only grips plaster, often around 12–15 mm, will pull out. Keep the drill square so the plug sits flush.
What size masonry bit matches a red wall plug?
Match the bit diameter to the plug. DIY Doctor’s example pairs a 6 mm masonry bit and a red plug with a 50 mm size-8 screw. B&Q says the bit should be the same diameter as the plug, with the screw a millimetre or two smaller. If your plug is a different size, read the diameter on the packet.
How deep should the hole be?
Deeper than the plug, so dust has room and the plug can sit flush. Mark the bit with tape. DIY Doctor adds about 10 mm for dust. Clear the dust before you insert the plug.
Where might cables be, and is a detector enough?
Cables are allowed within 150 mm of the top of the wall, within 150 mm of a corner, and in a straight line from a socket or switch. On a thin wall, check the other side too. Those zones are where a cable is likely, not where it is safe to drill. A detector does not make the wall safe.
When should I stop and use an SDS or an electrician?
Use an SDS rotary hammer for hard concrete, chasing, dense engineering brick, or many holes around 10 mm and above. Stop and get an electrician if the work is electrical or a detector finds a cable. Do not open a swollen battery.

Related pages

Best cordless drill

How to use a cordless drill

Drill

Cordless drill buying guide: chuck, kit and voltage

Combi drill vs drill driver: do you need a hammer?

Sources

Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file.

  1. Toolstation — Drill buying guide (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. Homebuilding & Renovating — Types of drill (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. Which? — How to buy the best cordless drill (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. HSE — Assessing hand-arm vibration risks (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. BSI — BS EN 62841-2-1 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. Electrical Safety First — Drills (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. GOV.UK — UKCA and CE marking in Great Britain (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. Consumer Rights Act 2015 (retrieved 22 October 2026)