Learning how to wall mount a TV should be a rite of passage in the custom integration channel. A wall-mounted TV is the default fixture in most gathering spaces in the home, and as such, it’s the bread and butter of just about every CE pro out there.
But why? What is the obsession with mounting TVs to walls? Aesthetically, it provides a clean and stylish look that homeowners care about nowadays as it allows the TV to mesh well with the interior design. What better idea is there for a good looking home when your TV can look like a work of art?
There’s also the fact wall mounting a TV eliminates the need for a TV stand, which in turns opens up more floor clearance for a less cluttered space.
This guide aims to cover just about everything you could ever need to mount that nice new flat screen TV on a wall, from selecting the right wall mount to ideas taken from other installations that leverage a wall-mounted TV to beautiful effect.
Gear Needed

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Before you get started with anything, first make sure that you have the proper tools and gear needed to mount your TV:
- Pencil or painters tape (for marking points)
- Tape measure
- Stud finder
- Level
- Power drill with drill bit
- Screwdriver
- And, of course, the TV and mount (along with the included mounting hardware).
Don’t try doing this alone either. Despite their thinness, TVs can still get pretty heavy with all the processing equipment they carry. Have someone help you out so you can dial in the position without having to worry about dropping that expensive new display on the floor.
Choosing Your TV Mount
Of course, the first true step in mounting a TV is finding the right TV wall mount for the project. What constitutes the ‘right’ TV mount will ultimately depend upon your needs.
Different types of TV mounts are going to offer different advantages and disadvantages. For instance:
- The fixed mount is the simplest and usually the cheapest type of TV mount you can buy, but they don’t offer much else aside from holding the TV in place.
- Swivel mounts allow a TV to pivot along a horizontal axis.
- Full motion TV wall mounts (also known as “fully articulating mounts”) can extend, tilt and swivel along multiple axis, but they’re also more expensive.
- Motorized TV mounts allow your to automate and remotely control the mount’s movement, allowing for a convenient (and admittedly cool) viewing experience at a higher cost.
For a comprehensive listing of companies that make mounts, lifts and concealment hardware for flat screen TVs, you can check out both AV-IQ and CE Pro-IQ. We also have a list of some of the best TV wall mounts available based on what the pros are using.
Figuring Out Where You Want to Position the TV
By far the biggest concern people have when mounting a TV is how high to place it. An improperly positioned TV can lead to poor image quality, neck pain and eye strain among many other issues. Put simply, it leads to a poor viewing experience. For that reason, it’s worth taking the extra time to position the TV at the exact perfect height and viewing angle.
A good rule of thumb is that when a person sits down, their line of sight hits the center of the TV. However, much like the English language, there are a series of conditionals that come attached to that statement.
Other factors you’ll want to consider when deciding where to mount a TV include:
- The general layout of the room
- Where the intended audience will sit.
- How a TV mount might attach to the back of the TV,
- Audience height
- And even the size of the TV itself.
Other elements you might want to consider include the TV’s access to power, storage for media components, whether the TV can clear certain obstructions on tilt, swing, or articulating mounts, how much sunlight the TV gets exposed to, and even how you plan to conceal the cables.
It’s also worth noting that all of this advice is for mounting a TV to wooden studs. Mounting a TV over a fireplace or onto metal studs will require a completely different approach than what is outlined here.
Be sure to check out our more in-depth guide on finding the best TV viewing angle and height as well as our guide on mounting a TV over a fireplace if you have any questions.
How to Mount a Flat Screen TV to a Wall in 5 Simple Steps
1. Find the Studs

When mounting a flat screen TV to the wall, you’re always going to want to affix the mount to studs for stability. Once you’ve figured out the perfect location, it’s time to find the studs. The best and most reliable method is to use a stud finder tool to do so.
Best practices dictate using two studs to mount a flat screen TV to the wall, however some mounts might even need three. And though some mounts claim to require only a single stud to mount, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Confer with the mount to determine how many studs it needs.
With all that said, once you’ve located two studs to support the TV mount, mark the location of each stud’s center with a pencil.
Take note that metal studs are not conducive to mounting flat-screen TVs because they are much weaker than wood studs, with the ability to hold about one-third the weight of their wood counterparts.
2. Mark and Confirm Your Pilot Holes

Follow this up by measuring the distance between the top and bottom holes on the TV mount and lining up the two points on your selected wall studs. These will be your pilot holes. Use a level and tape measure to ensure that they are not only evenly spaced on both studs, but that they are also level.
Then, using the mounting bracket as a frame, place the bracket flat against the wall and align the screw locations with the marks. Test the positioning of the bracket when finished.
This will provide the template you will need to start affixing the mounting bracket to the wall.
Once you’re absolutely sure all the measurements are clean, pre-drill your holes in the marked positions.
3. Mount the TV Bracket to the Wall

Place the mounting bracket to the wall, aligning it with the newly drilled pilot holes, and drive the provided mounting screws into the holes. You want to make sure that the screws are tight enough so the bracket doesn’t shake while on the wall, but not so tight that it starts to warp or sink into the drywall.
After you’ve finished, check the bracket one last time to ensure it is level.
4. Attach the Mounting Plate to the TV

Each TV mount will come with different instructions on how to attach it to your chosen TV. For instance, a fixed TV mount is far less complex compared to attach to compared to a fully articulated TV wall mount.
Check the manufacturer instructions on how to attach the mounting plate to your flat screen TV.
5. Attach the TV Mounting Plate onto the Wall Mount

Get some help for this stage. Flat screen TVs may be far lighter than their earlier ancestors, but that doesn’t mean they’re not still heavy, especially when you’re trying to mount them on a wall.
They’re also fragile, so any mishap may result in buying a new TV. Consult the manufacturer’s guide for this step as well, as how each mounting plate affixes to the wall mount varies from product to product.
Once finished, double-check to make sure that the connection between the wall mount and the flat screen TV is secure.
After that, plug everything and the TV is good to view.
Creating the Perfect Home Entertainment Space
Looking to turn a space into the ultimate entertainment area? Be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on creating a professional-grade home theater. Also our lists of the top soundbars CE pros are using as well as our picks for the best architectural speakers could provide the perfect acoustic pop to that newly christened TV. And when you finish, don’t forget to test those systems with these movie recommendations so you can dial in everything perfectly.
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