Drill into different wall types
15 mins to learn — works on every wall in your home
Masonry, plasterboard, and tiles all need different settings, different bits, and different fixings. Get any one wrong and you crack tiles, blow out plasterboard, or end up with a fixing that will not hold. This guide gets it right.
Last updated: March 2026
Only basic tools needed — most homes already have them.
Before you start
Before drilling anywhere in a wall, check for hidden pipes and cables — see our Find pipes and wires in walls guide. Drilling into a live cable or water pipe is dangerous and expensive.
UK walls typically run cables vertically from switches and sockets, and horizontally from those vertical runs. Avoid drilling within 150mm of a socket, switch, or ceiling fitting.
SDS drills are more powerful than standard combi drills and are better for large holes in hard masonry — but for most domestic jobs, a standard combi drill in hammer mode is sufficient.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tools & materials
- ✓Combi drill with hammer mode— essential for masonry — a drill without hammer mode will not penetrate brick
- ✓Masonry drill bits— carbide-tipped — sized to match your wall plugs (usually 5mm or 6mm)
- ✓Wood/multi-material bits— for plasterboard and timber studs
- !Tile drill bit (cross-tipped carbide)— essential for ceramic tiles — do not use a standard masonry bit on tiles
- !Plasterboard wall anchors— for fixings between studs — never use standard plugs in plasterboard
Want everything in one go?
Prices shown on retailer sites. Always check current pricing before purchasing.
Identify your wall type before picking up the drill
Tap the wall firmly with your knuckle. A solid thud means solid masonry — brick, block, or concrete. A hollow sound means a stud partition wall (plasterboard over a timber or metal frame). Check the age of the house: pre-1960s UK homes are almost entirely solid masonry. Post-1990s homes typically have stud partition walls for interior walls, with masonry only on external walls. Why: each wall type requires a completely different drill setting and fixing. Using hammer drill mode on plasterboard will punch straight through it. Using a standard bit on masonry will not penetrate at all. Identifying first saves ruined walls and stripped drill bits.
Most people get this done in under 5 minutes.
Where beginners go wrong
Leaving hammer mode on for plasterboard or tiles. Hammer mode on plasterboard cracks the board and creates an oversized hole. On tiles it shatters the glaze immediately. Turn hammer mode off for anything that is not solid masonry.
Using a standard wall plug in plasterboard. Standard plugs require solid material to expand into. In plasterboard they just spin or pull through. Use a designated plasterboard anchor for anything hung between studs.
Drilling into tiles without a specialist bit. A masonry bit will skate across the tile glaze and scratch it before eventually cracking through unpredictably. Use a tile bit for ceramics, a diamond bit for porcelain.
Not checking for pipes and cables first. This is the single most dangerous and expensive mistake. Scan the wall with a detector before drilling anywhere near a socket, switch, or radiator pipe.
Worth knowing
If a masonry bit stops cutting and just spins, you have likely hit a hard flint, aggregate, or a very dense brick — try a different bit diameter or use an SDS hammer drill for more impact force
If plaster crumbles around the hole rather than drilling cleanly, the plaster is old and soft — use a larger wall plug and consider using No-More-Nails adhesive instead of a screw fixing for lighter items
Some external walls are hollow — a cavity wall with an air gap or insulation between two masonry skins. Your drill will break through the inner skin and then feel like it is drilling into nothing — this is normal; keep going to reach the outer skin
Recommended starter kit
Five tools that cover most home repairs.
- →Adjustable spannerAmazon·Screwfix
- →Screwdriver setAmazon·Screwfix
- →PTFE tapeAmazon·Screwfix
- →Spirit levelAmazon·Screwfix
- →Tape measureAmazon·Screwfix
Want everything in one go? Get it on Amazon
What you just learned
You know how to identify your wall type and match the drill setting, bit, and fixing to it — masonry with hammer mode, plasterboard without, tiles with a specialist bit. This is one of the most practically useful skills in DIY — used every time you hang anything on a wall.
This unlocks:
⚠️ Watch out if you rent
Always check your tenancy agreement before drilling. Most allow small fixings for pictures and shelves, but some require landlord permission for drilling. Use no-drill adhesive hooks as an alternative for lighter items.