For maximum cool factor and a super clean look for your entertainment center, mounting your flat-panel TV is the way to go. Here’s how to hang that flat-screen TV up on the wall.
What you’ll need to mount your TV
Before you get started on your TV mount installation, here
are a few things you’ll want to have on hand:
- Stud finder: Unless
you want a TV disaster, don’t mount your TV to drywall—make sure you’re
mounting to a stud for maximum support. Otherwise, you could end up with an
expensive mess on your hands.
- Power drill: You
can try to mount the TV with a screwdriver, but you might
be at it a while. We highly recommend using a power drill to speed things
up for this project.
- Various drill bits:
- Carbide-tipped
masonry bit: Use this to make pilot holes in the drywall, which you’ll
drill your mounting screws into.
- Phillips
head drill bit: This is what you’ll use to drive the mounting screws.
- Level: Don’t
trust your eyes with this one—no one wants to watch crooked TV. Use a
level to make sure your newly mounted TV is, well, level. This can help
you avoid both a crooked TV and unnecessary holes in your wall.
- TV mount: Obviously,
to mount your TV to your wall, you’ll need a TV mount rated for your model
of TV. Check your TV manual for the VESA mount measurements and get a TV
mount to match. And if you need help picking a mount, we’ve got you
covered!
- Painters tape (optional):
When you find your wall studs, mark them with a little piece of painters
tape. This is much easier to see than a pencil mark, and you won’t have to
write on your wall—that’s always a bonus in our book.
- A
friend (optional): TVs are big, heavy, and awkward to lift.
Unless you’re way more coordinated than we are, trying to hold one steady
and line up brackets is a recipe for disaster. Grab a friend for best
results.
Don’t forget cable management.
You don’t want a bunch of cables and TV
antennas hanging down from your TV. That’s a good way to ruin the whole sleek
aesthetic you were going for in the first place. Fortunately, there are a few
options for cable management.
- Hide
them behind a wall. You can route them through the wall or tie
them together neatly and tuck them behind a shelf or other decor.
- Buy a cover. There are covers you can purchase that match the color of your wall, offering a simple way to hide cables.
If you have everything you need already, great! Let’s get
started on the best way to mount your TV on the wall.
- Decide
where you want to position the TV. Viewing angles are often
important for achieving the best picture quality, so consider your
location carefully. Moving the TV after the fact is not only extra work,
but it’ll also leave useless holes in your wall. If you have a fireplace,
mounting your TV above it is a popular spot for mounting since it’s
generally a focal point of the room.
- Locate
the wall studs using a stud finder. Move your stud finder across
the wall until it indicates it has found a stud. When it does, mark it
with some painters tape so you remember the position.
- Mark
and drill your pilot holes. These are the small holes that will
allow your mounting screws to enter the wall. You’ll probably want a
partner for this.
- Hold
the mount up to the wall. Use a level to make sure it’s straight.
- Using
a pencil, make light marks where you’ll drill the holes to attach it to
the wall.
- Attach
a masonry bit to your drill, and drill holes where you marked using the
mount.
- Attach
the mounting bracket to the wall. Hold your mount to the wall and
drill the mounting screws into the pilot holes you made in the previous
step.
- Attach
the mounting plate to the TV.
- First,
remove the stand from the TV if you haven’t already done so.
- Locate
the mounting plate attachment holes on the back of the TV. These are
sometimes covered with plastic or have screws already in them. If so,
remove them.
- Attach
the plate to the back of the TV with the included hardware.
- Mount
your TV to the wall. This is the final step! Grab your partner
again, as this can be tricky to do alone.
- Lift
the TV carefully—with your legs, not your back! We don’t want any
injuries ruining the fun here.
- Line
the mounting arm or plate on the TV up with the bracket on the wall and
connect them following the manufacturer’s instructions. This can vary
from one mount to the next, so always read the instructions.
- Enjoy
your newly mounted TV!
And that’s it! Kick back, relax, and enjoy living the high
life with a wall-mounted TV.
How do you mount a TV on the wall without wires showing?
You can purchase a TV cable cover kit that hides your cables
inside a plastic tube that’s attached to the wall. You can also purchase cable
access plates that’ll let you route cables behind your wall.
How much does it cost to hang your TV on the wall?
TV mounting kits are relatively inexpensive and it’s easy to
find models for less than $100. But if you want to find a contractor to do your
TV mount installation, it’ll cost more.
Should I hang my TV on the wall?
Hanging a TV on your wall can be a good idea if you want to
avoid buying a TV stand or increase the viewing distance in your living room.
Does mounting a TV damage the wall?
You’ll have to drill a hole into your wall to install a TV
mount, so your wall will need to be patched whenever you remove the mount. But
if you mount your TV directly into drywall without using a stud, you’ll likely
cause serious damage to your wall.
The best way to mount a TV on the wall is to install it to a wooden stud. This way, you’ll have a solid backing for your TV, which can weigh up to 90 pounds depending on its size.