How to Mount a TV on the Wall

A wall-mounted TV frees up a cabinet, keeps little hands away from the screen and makes a living room look more settled. It is also one of those jobs where a careful hour beats a rushed afternoon. Most of the work happens before the drill comes out: choosing the bracket, reading the wall and settling on the height.

Safety first

Before drilling, check the wall for hidden wires and pipes with a detector, and avoid the areas directly above and below sockets and switches, where cables usually run. Use a stud finder to locate the framing. Get a second person to help lift the TV; screens are awkward rather than heavy, and an awkward lift is how they get dropped. If the wall is brick, plaster on lath, or you are not sure what it is, consider asking a handyperson.

Step 1: Choose the right bracket

Check two things on the back of your TV and in its manual: the mounting pattern (the spacing of the four screw holes, often called VESA) and the weight. The bracket must list both your pattern and a weight limit above your TV's weight.

Full-motion arms put more leverage on the wall, so they matter most when it comes to fixing into solid framing.

Step 2: Read the wall

Most interior walls in American homes are drywall over wooden studs. Drywall alone will not hold a TV, so the bracket should be screwed into studs. Run a stud finder across the area, mark the edges of each stud lightly in pencil and confirm with a small test hole or a thin nail where the bracket will cover it. Many brackets are designed to span two studs; if your studs do not line up with the TV position, a bracket with a wider plate or a sliding mount can help.

For masonry, use the anchors that came with the bracket or ones specified for brick and concrete, and a masonry drill bit.

Step 3: Decide the height

A common guide is to place the middle of the screen roughly at eye level when you are seated. Sit on the sofa, look straight ahead and have someone mark that point on the wall. Mounting above a fireplace often puts the screen too high for comfortable viewing; a tilting bracket softens that, but it is worth thinking twice about.

Cut a piece of cardboard to the size of the TV and tape it to the wall for an evening. It is a cheap way to check height, glare and how the room feels before any holes appear.

Step 4: Fix the wall plate

1. Hold the wall plate in position, check it with a spirit level and mark the screw holes.
2. Double-check that each mark sits on a stud or a suitable anchor point.
3. Drill pilot holes of the size the bracket instructions specify.
4. Screw the plate in place with the supplied lag bolts, tightening firmly but without stripping them.
5. Check the level again before moving on.

Step 5: Attach the arms to the TV

Lay the TV face down on a soft, clean surface, such as a blanket on a table. Fit the bracket arms to the back using screws of the correct length; too long can damage the TV, too short will not hold. The bracket kit usually includes several sizes and spacers for curved or recessed backs.

Step 6: Hang the TV

With your helper, lift the TV and hook the arms onto the wall plate. Most brackets have a locking screw or latch at the bottom; fit it so the TV cannot be lifted off by accident. Give the TV a gentle tug downwards and sideways to confirm it is secure.

Step 7: Connect and tidy

Plug in power and cables before pushing the TV back to the wall, especially with fixed brackets where the gap is small. Then deal with the cables hanging below the screen. That part has its own guide: how to hide TV cables for a tidy living room.

A wall that does more than hold a screen

Once the TV is up, the wall around it becomes part of the room again. Some people balance a large screen with frames or a digital display nearby; our piece on large digital photo frames for walls covers that idea.

Checklist

• Bracket matches your TV's mounting pattern and weight
• Wall checked for wires and pipes, studs found and marked
• Height tested with a cardboard template
• Wall plate level and fixed into studs or proper anchors
• Locking screw fitted, TV tested with a gentle tug
• Cables connected before the final push to the wall

Measure twice, drill once, and keep a helper around for the lift. The rest is just patience with a spirit level.