Transform your living room with a TV mounted above your brick fireplace—but only if you do it right. Learn the critical steps for heat management, proper anchoring, and safe installation on brick, stone, and tile surfaces.
TVs above active fireplaces need minimum 6-8" clearance and heat deflectors
Here's what you need to know before you start
Yes, you can mount a TV on a brick fireplace—but it requires special equipment, proper heat management, and careful planning. Unlike drywall installations, brick mounting demands a hammer drill, masonry anchors rated for your TV's weight, and a minimum 6-8" clearance from the fireplace opening if it's actively used.
DIY Cost: $100-200 (tools + mount) | Professional Installation: $150-400 (includes materials, heat assessment, and warranty)
Mounting a TV above a brick fireplace combines two challenges: working with masonry materials and managing heat exposure. While it can create a stunning focal point in your living room, rushing into the project without understanding these unique requirements can result in a damaged TV, cracked brick, or worse—a safety hazard.
Unlike mounting on a standard brick wall, fireplace installations demand extra consideration for heat, viewing angles, and cable management.
TVs are electronic devices with maximum operating temperatures, typically around 90-120°F. Wood-burning fireplaces can generate surface temperatures of 200°F or higher on the surrounding brick. Even gas fireplaces produce enough heat to warp plastic components and damage LCD panels over time.
Minimum Clearance Guidelines:
Not all fireplace surrounds are created equal. The material you're drilling into dramatically affects your approach:
Most common. Solid but porous.
✓ Drill into brick, not mortar joints
Natural or stacked. Uneven surface.
⚠ May need shims for level mount
Brittle ceramic or porcelain.
✗ Drill slowly to prevent cracking
Fireplaces are often positioned higher than ideal TV mounting height. While standard TV mounting height is 42-55" from floor to center, fireplace mantels can push this to 60"+ creating neck strain during long viewing sessions.
Solution: Pull-Down Mounts
Consider articulating mounts that allow you to pull the TV down to eye level when in use and raise it back up when done. This solves both the heat and viewing angle problems.
You can't fish wires through solid brick like you can with drywall. Your cable management options are:
Our technicians can assess your fireplace, measure heat output, and recommend the safest installation method.
Schedule Free AssessmentFollow these detailed steps for a safe and secure installation. If you're not comfortable at any point, hire a professional.
Brick mounting requires specialized equipment. Don't attempt this with regular drill bits or drywall anchors.
Before mounting anything, test the heat at your desired TV location. Light your fireplace and let it run at normal operating temperature for 2-3 hours.
Balance viewing comfort with heat clearance. Use our TV height calculator as a starting point, then adjust for fireplace clearance.
Standard TV height:
Eye level when seated (typically 42-50" from floor to TV
center)
+ Fireplace clearance:
6-12" above mantel or fireplace opening
= Final mounting height
Pro Tip: If final height feels too high, consider a pull-down articulating mount to bring the TV to eye level during viewing.
Attach the mount's wall plate to the back of your TV temporarily to determine spacing, then measure and mark the brick.
This is where the hammer drill earns its keep. Drilling into brick creates significant dust and requires patience.
The right anchor makes all the difference. For brick, you have two excellent options:
Blue concrete screws that tap directly into brick.
✓ Best for: TVs up to 75 lbs
✓ Size: 3/16" x 2-3/4"
✓ Easy: Self-tapping
Heavy-duty anchors that expand inside the hole.
✓ Best for: TVs 75+ lbs
✓ Size: 1/4" x 3"
✓ Strongest: Maximum hold
Installation tip: For wedge anchors, tap gently with a hammer until flush. For Tapcons, drive them in with your drill at low speed—don't overtighten or you'll crack the brick.
With anchors installed, attach the wall bracket, then carefully hang your TV with a helper.
Always use a helper: Have someone support the TV while you attach it to the wall bracket. Large TVs are awkward to handle solo and dropping one can cause injury or damage.
The final step is hiding those cables for a clean, professional look.
Cord Cover Raceway (Easiest)
Paintable plastic channels that mount to brick with adhesive or small screws. Cost: $15-30.
In-Wall Power Kit
Code-compliant solution with recessed outlet behind TV. Cost: $40-60 + installation.
Professional Cable Fishing
Drilling through brick to run cables inside wall. Cost: $150-300 (professional only).
Our experienced technicians handle brick, stone, and tile installations daily. We bring all the specialized tools, provide heat assessment, and guarantee secure mounting.
Not all TV mounting projects are DIY-friendly. Here's how to know if you should call in an expert.
*Plus 2-4 hours of your time, plus risk of mistakes
Includes all tools & materials
$1M liability insurance
Installation warranty
Professional TV mounting services available in:
Everything you need to know about mounting a TV above a brick fireplace
It can be safe with proper precautions. The key is maintaining adequate clearance (minimum 6-8 inches from the fireplace opening) and monitoring heat output. For wood-burning fireplaces, you should install a heat deflector or mantel shield. Electric fireplaces generate minimal heat and are generally safe. Gas fireplaces fall in between—measure the temperature at your desired TV location after running the fireplace for 2-3 hours. If it exceeds 100°F, use additional heat management solutions. Never mount a TV where surface temperatures exceed 120°F.
No—always drill into the brick itself, not the mortar joints. While mortar is easier to drill through, it's significantly weaker than brick and will degrade over time. The constant weight of your TV will cause mortar to crumble, leading to mount failure.
When marking your drill points, position them in the center of the bricks, staying at least 1/2 inch away from any edges to prevent cracking. If your mount's hole pattern doesn't align with brick centers, adjust the mount's position slightly—don't compromise by drilling into mortar.
For brick fireplace installations, use either Tapcon concrete screws or wedge anchors:
Never use standard drywall anchors or plastic expansion anchors—they won't work in brick and will fail catastrophically. Masonry-specific anchors are mandatory for this application.
You can't fish cables through solid brick like you can with drywall, so you have three main options:
Paintable plastic raceways that attach to the brick surface with adhesive or small screws. Paint them to match your brick or wall color. Cost: $15-30. This is the most popular DIY solution.
Code-compliant system with a recessed power outlet behind the TV. Requires drilling one hole through the brick. Cost: $40-60 plus installation time. Still requires cord cover for HDMI cables.
Technician drills through brick to run cables inside the wall cavity. Most expensive but cleanest look. Cost: $150-300. Recommended if hiding cables is a priority.
You absolutely need a hammer drill—a regular drill will not work effectively. Brick and masonry are too hard for standard drills. Even with a masonry bit, a regular drill will overheat, take forever, wear out quickly, and may not penetrate deep enough for secure anchors.
A hammer drill uses a percussive hammering action in addition to rotation, which chips away at the brick as it spins. This makes drilling through brick 10x faster and easier. Look for a corded hammer drill with at least 7 amps of power.
If you don't own one, rent a hammer drill from Home Depot or Lowe's for about $25-50 per day. It's worth every penny and will save you hours of frustration. Just make sure to also rent or buy carbide-tipped masonry drill bits in the correct size for your anchors.
Stone and tile each present unique challenges:
Stone is incredibly hard and often uneven. You'll need:
Stone is difficult DIY—professional installation recommended
Tile is brittle and cracks easily. Critical techniques:
One wrong move can crack expensive tile—consider professional help
Yes, TVs above fireplaces are typically higher than ideal viewing height. The optimal TV height is eye level when seated (about 42-50 inches from floor to TV center), but fireplace mantels often sit at 48-60 inches or higher. Adding the required heat clearance pushes the TV even higher, which can cause neck strain during extended viewing.
Solutions to the "too high" problem:
Use our TV height calculator to see how high your TV will be and assess comfort before drilling any holes.
Professional TV mounting on brick fireplaces typically costs $150-400 depending on complexity:
What's included: All tools and materials (mount, anchors, bits), $1M liability insurance, installation warranty, heat assessment, and professional cable management. Most jobs take 1-2 hours.
Why it's worth it: You avoid buying/renting equipment ($100+), eliminate risk of mistakes (damaged brick or TV), get insurance protection, and save 3-5 hours of your time.
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