Best Concrete & Masonry Anchors (2026)
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
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Concrete, brick, and block each behave differently, so the right anchor depends on the base material as much as the load. We picked a removable screw anchor, a structural wedge for solid concrete, and a sleeve anchor that also works in brick and block. All three need a hammer drill.
Tapcon's 3/16 in Climaseal concrete screw threads directly into a drilled hole in concrete, brick or block with no expansion plug, and it's removable and repositionable unlike wedge or sleeve anchors. It's the easiest way to fasten light-to-medium items to masonry, but the hole must be drilled exactly or it strips and pull-out is far below a wedge.
- Concrete
- Brick
- Light to medium loads
Pros
- No separate plug or expansion sleeve, the screw threads directly into the drilled hole
- Removable and repositionable, unlike wedge or sleeve anchors
- Free correctly-sized carbide bit is included in the box, and Climaseal coating resists corrosion
Cons
- Hole depth and diameter must be exact or the screw strips and loses grip
- Much lower pull-out than a wedge anchor, not for structural or vibrating loads
- Needs a hammer drill for anything but the softest block, and dust must be cleared from the hole
Red Head's 3/8 in wedge anchor is the go-to structural fastener for solid poured concrete: drill, hammer it in, and tighten the nut so the sleeve expands to lock. Code-listed, it gives the highest holding strength here for posts and ledgers. But it's permanent once expanded, works only in solid concrete not brick or block, and needs a hammer drill.
- Concrete
- Heavy loads
- Structural
Pros
- Highest holding strength here for solid concrete, code-listed for structural use
- Simple install, drill, hammer in, tighten the nut and the sleeve expands to lock
- Zinc-plated steel stud handles high shear as well as tension loads
Cons
- Permanent, once expanded it cannot be backed out and reused
- Only for solid concrete, it will crack or fail to hold in brick, block, or mortar
- Requires a hammer drill and correct embedment depth and edge spacing to reach rated capacity
Red Head's 3/8 in sleeve anchor is a versatile expansion anchor rated for solid concrete plus hollow block and brick, where wedge anchors often fail, with a full-length sleeve that spreads clamping force in soft masonry. But it has lower ultimate strength than a same-diameter wedge, and holding in old crumbly brick should be pull-tested.
- Brick
- Block
- Concrete
Pros
- One of the few expansion anchors rated for brick and hollow block, not just poured concrete
- The full-length sleeve spreads clamping force, so it is more forgiving in soft masonry than a wedge
- Code-approved for commercial building use and available in many lengths
Cons
- Lower ultimate strength than a wedge anchor of the same diameter in solid concrete
- Permanent and not reusable once the sleeve expands
- Holding power in old or crumbly brick is unpredictable and should be pull-tested
Still deciding? Compare them
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use a concrete wedge anchor in brick?
- No. Wedge anchors are for solid poured concrete only and can crack brick or fail to grip in mortar. Use a sleeve anchor or a Tapcon screw for brick and hollow block instead.
- Do I need a hammer drill for these?
- Yes for concrete and hard block. A regular drill will not clear the hole in solid concrete, and the hole diameter and depth must be exact for the anchor to reach its rated hold.