Make sure your stockings are hung perfectly this holiday season. Avoid falling stockings and other flounders by following our foolproof steps for how to hang stockings. Keep reading below to find plenty of ways to make hanging stockings simple.

How to Hang Stockings

The most popular place to hang Christmas stockings is on the mantel above your fireplace. Stocking holders are the easiest way to hang stockings on a mantel. The holder has a weighted base that sits on top of the mantel and a hook that hangs over the edge to hold the stocking. They are designed to balance the weight of even the heaviest Christmas stockings and won't damage your mantel or fireplace. To ensure that your stocking holder is strong enough, double-check how much weight it can carry before you buy. This information will be found in the weights and dimensions tab under each product overview.

Hanging Stockings Without a Mantel

If you don't have a mantel, don't worry. There are plenty of other stylish and secure places for you to hang Christmas stockings. Here are a couple popular locations to try out:

How to Hang Stockings on Brick

This is often the case if you have a traditional brick fireplace in your home but no mantel. In this situation, you will have to attach the stockings or stocking holder(s) directly to the brick wall using a brick hanger. A brick hanger is a drill-free and mark-free way to hang your Christmas stockings on brick. The steel hanger securely hooks onto the top of any brick and has a small hook on which you can hang the loop of your Christmas stocking. If you are hanging multiple stockings, you will need a brick hanger for each.

Another option is to drill holes directly into the surface. From there, you can install a holder set. Holder sets typically have multiple hooks but only one or two screw holes. This will require the least amount of drilling but still allow you to hang multiple stockings. If you prefer to use individual stocking holders, then drill one hole per holder.

Position the holder set where you'd like it to hang on the brick. Make sure the holder is straight and that you align its screw hole with the mortar (the space between bricks). This will make drilling easier and prevent the brick from splitting. Mark the screw hole's spot on the mortar and then use a screwdriver to carve a small hole (deep enough for a screw to secure the stocking holder set).

If this proves too difficult, use a power drill with a small bit at a low speed to prevent damage. Once the hole is deep enough, screw the holder set into the surface. It's ready to hang your stockings with care!

How to Hang Stockings on Stairs

This festive way of hanging stockings only requires some holiday ribbon or coiled twine. Tie small strips of ribbon to each stocking. Loop the ribbon around the stairway's handrail, leaving a few inches of space between each stocking. If you have garland already draped, you can tie the ribbon loops directly to it.

Tip!

Read our guide to What Is a Christmas Stocking? to learn more about this seasonal staple.

You May Also Need

Now that you know how to hang stockings, check out our festive selection of Christmas stockings, stocking holders, and stocking sets.