A Comprehensive Guide to TV Wall Mounting
When purchasing a new television, you must choose between mounting it on the wall or using a TV stand. Wall-mounting a TV can make sense for several solid reasons.
First, especially if you have a huge set—and many people are purchasing larger TVs these days—it can make the set appear more enticing and less intimidating in a space. The ability to protect your family against TV tip-overs is another advantage of a correctly wall-mounted set.
Wall-mounting a TV is a pretty sensible do-it-yourself activity for a lot of folks. We will guide you through each step.
But wall-mounting a TV is not for everyone. If you don’t want to hang the set yourself, you can pay for professional installation. That can be a particularly good idea if you plan to hang the TV on a plaster or concrete wall or above a fireplace. Those spots are trickier to handle than a conventional wall with 2x4 studs and drywall.
Many retailers offer installation using their own staff or by working with an outside company. (See details at the bottom of the page.) Prices for a basic installation usually start at $70 to $100, but you’ll generally have to pay $250 more for complicated jobs. If you’re replacing an existing set, some retailers, including Best Buy, will charge about $60 to remove and recycle it.
1. Select the Proper Location for Your Television
Before you go shopping for a mount, decide where you want to hang your TV because that will influence the kind of hardware you select. Using painter's tape, you may mark off the TV's dimensions on the wall and experiment with different placements. Installing a mount on a typical wall made of 2x4s and drywall is the simplest; installing on brick or other surfaces can be more difficult.
The height of the screen and the angle from the screen to where you’ll be sitting can affect picture quality. If you were placing your TV on a stand, you’d want the center of the screen to be at eye level when you were seated. But a wall-mounted TV tends to look weird when installed that low.
Instead, try to hang the TV so the bottom of the screen is no higher than eye level when you’re seated and the top of the screen is no higher than eye level when you’re standing. If you need to install the TV higher, you’ll want to consider a tilting or articulating mount.
Make sure the location gives you easy access to an electrical outlet for power, and that you’ll have adequate storage for any components you’ll be connecting to the TV, such as a cable box, streaming player, or game console.
2. Select the Proper TV Mount
You must first choose the type of TV mount you want to buy. (We tested a number of mounts in different types and discovered that they were all simple to install and use.) The TV will be held flat against the wall by a simple fixed model. If you sit lower than the TV, tilting models can make up for it. Additionally, some tilting mounts are swivel. Mounts that are articulated or in full motion can move in any direction, including in the direction of the observer. If you're hanging the TV at an angle from your seating area, this is crucial.
Once you know what style of mount you’re looking for, make sure any model you’re considering can handle the size and weight of your set. The maximum weight and screen size specifications will be listed on the TV mount’s box and on the company website. Just because two mounts can handle the same size television, don’t assume they’re rated for the same weight—that can differ by brand.
You also need to consider the construction of the wall where you plan to hang your TV. Most TV mounts are compatible with traditional wood-stud framing and drywall, but you might need a special mount if you’re hanging your TV on other types of wall, such as plaster, concrete, or brick. Otherwise, you may need some tools or hardware not included in the box.
Install the brackets on your TV after you bring the mount home to make sure they fit. Four mounting holes in a typical VESA design are found on the back of almost all TVs. The Video Electronics Standards Association is what the name represents. This implies that any TV mount you purchase should function as long as it is rated for the size of your TV.
We advise measuring from the bottom of your TV to the bottom of the wall plate after the brackets are in place. When installing the mount, knowing this distance will help ensure that the TV is positioned correctly on the wall.
3. Locate the wall studs.
We'll presume that you're using studs and drywall to mount the hardware on a wall. Getting a few tools together is the first step. These include a socket set, painter's tape, a drill and drill bits of the right size, a level, and a stud finder. Another useful tool is a tape measure or ruler.
You’ll want to screw the TV mount into wall studs for the most secure installation. It’s easiest to use a stud finder.
If you don’t have a stud finder, it could be worth buying one; they’re handy devices. Move your stud finder across the wall at the height where you’ll be installing the TV mount until it indicates it has found the edge of a stud. Mark that spot with a pencil or some painter’s tape. Then move the stud finder horizontally to find the other edge of the first stud. (It will be 1.5 inches farther along.)
Some TV wall mounts attach to just one stud, but more often you’ll have a model that requires two studs. (That’s our preference.) If your mount uses two studs, continue sliding the stud finder along the wall, and mark the start and end of the next stud, too. For the most secure attachment, the bolt should be firmly centered in the studs.
A few carpenter's skills can help you locate a wall stud if you don't have a stud finder. (With any of them, drill a number of tiny holes to determine the studs' edges and verify each stud's location.) The majority of walls are constructed with studs spaced 16 inches apart from one another. To determine where the studs are most likely to be installed, start at a corner of the space and measure along the wall in 16-inch increments.
Either screws or nails are used to secure drywall to studs, thus locating a screw or nailhead with a powerful magnet should place you close to the stud's core.
Wall trim or baseboards are usually nailed to the studs. You might be able to find these small holes by feeling for dimples or by running a magnet across the surface to find the nails. Then use an upright straightedge or yardstick, plus a vertical level, to mark a location higher on the wall. You can also look for a light switch or power outlet because these are mounted on the side of a stud. Measure out 3/4 of an inch to find the center of the studs, and then use 16-inch increments to find the likely spots for other studs where you want to hang the TV.
4. Mark and Drill Pilot Holes
Once you’ve found the studs, mark the locations to drill small pilot holes for your mounting screws or lag bolts. The pilot holes will make it easier to drive the bolts into the studs without splintering the wood.
To guarantee that the mounting holes are positioned correctly, many mounts include a template. You'll most likely need a buddy to hold the mount up to the wall if you're using it as a guide. In any case, you should check that it is straight with a level. (To aid in the task, certain mounts come with an integrated level.) Next, mark the area you'll be drilling using a pencil. Once more, confirm that you are drilling into each stud's center.
The bolts you'll need to fasten the mount should be larger than the diameter of the wood or masonry bits you use for the pilot holes. In this manner, enough wood remains to provide a solid, safe bite for the bolts.
5. Attach the TV Mount
Once again, a friend can help make this job a bit easier by holding the mount against the wall and lining up the mount with the pilot holes you’ve drilled. Use a ratcheting socket wrench to drive the lag bolts. The mounts we tested recently all came with either two or four lag bolts, plus washers and anchors in case the lag bolts were going to be used in masonry walls.
Don’t fully tighten the bolts until you make sure that everything will be level once it’s firmly mounted. Then finish driving the bolts all the way in, and once again check to make sure the mount is level.
6. Mount the TV on the Wall
As tempting as it may be to go it alone, placing the TV onto the wall should be a two-person job. Large TVs can be awkward to hold and tricky to align and secure without help.
Before you attach the TV to the mount, check whether you’ll have access to its ports and inputs. Most newer TVs have inputs on the side of the cabinet, but some models only have them at the rear. Also, some slim mounts will leave little room between the TV and the wall, so it could be hard to get to HDMI inputs or USB ports once the set is installed. If it’s going to be hard to get to the ports once the TV is on the wall, attach all the cables first.
Next, with your partner, align the TV’s mounting brackets with the wall plate or the arm on the wall mount. Most brackets will then be secured by tightening a few screws. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, which vary from brand to brand.
Many mounts have leveling screws, which let you make small adjustments to ensure the TV is straight and level after it’s installed. Some models also let the TV slide a bit horizontally to make it easier to center.
7. Organize and Hide TV Cables
A mess of wires or cables can ruin an otherwise clean-looking installation, so you’ll probably want to conceal or camouflage the wires running to the TV. If you’re going to hide HDMI and Ethernet cable wires inside the walls, you may want to consider professional installation (see below) unless you’re knowledgeable about wiring. Audio-video and Ethernet cables that run through walls require a specific rating for fire resistance.
Power cables shouldn’t be routed inside a wall, so you might consider having an electrician install a recessed outlet behind where the TV will be installed.
If you don’t want to go to that trouble and expense, most retailers sell cable concealment kits, also called raceways, that let you hide and organize cables without cutting into the wall. These typically have an adhesive backing, so they can stick to the wall without damaging it, and covers that snap shut once the cables are inserted. Many can be painted to match your wall color.
What If You'd Like to Employ an Expert?
Wall-mounting a TV is not too difficult if you're handy, but not everyone has the knowledge or desire to do it. You don't have to, either. Installation services are provided by stores such as Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.
Prices vary, depending on how complicated the installation will be. For example, Best Buy’s Geek Squad charges $250 for a basic installation, provided you already have a mount. If not, that’ll cost you about $140 for a fixed mount, $170 for a mount that tilts, and $250 for a fully articulating mount that can change the angle of your TV. The service includes mounting the TV (on a dry-walled wall), attaching and setting up a few devices, connecting the TV and your video gear to your WiFi network, and programming your remote. They’ll also make sure all the wires and cables are neatly dressed. There’s a $130 surcharge for mounting a set on brick, stone, or plaster, or if you want the TV mounted above a fireplace.
If you don’t have an existing outlet behind the TV location but want your cables concealed within the wall, you’ll need an in-wall power extension kit. Choose the appropriate kit based on your needs. Best Buy charges $70 for a single outlet, or $80 for a two-outlet option that can also power your soundbar. While there’s no additional charge to connect your video components, Best Buy also now charges $70 to connect your TV to a receiver and speakers.
Target works with a company called HelloTech, and charges $100 to mount your TV, connect any necessary A/V devices or peripherals, and neatly dress your wires. You pay extra for masking the wires or hiding them in the wall. But we found that the price is higher ($189 to $209, depending on the size of the TV and your ZIP code) if you contact HelloTech directly. There’s a discount if you pay for a $20-a-month annual membership
Walmart works with both HelloTech and Angi to provide TV mounting, with prices starting at $80.
