Mounting your TV to the wall is one of the easiest ways to add an air of sophistication and elegance to your home or apartment, but it can be intimidating to someone who hasn’t tackled this task before. This guide is designed to walk you through each step of how to successfully mount your TV so that it doesn’t fall off the wall.

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What You Need

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How To Do It

Step 0: Purchase The Right Size Mount

The most important step in this process is making sure you have the proper mount that will both fit and securely hold your TV. Spend some time looking at the back of your TV. You will most likely find that there are 4 threaded holes in a square pattern on the back. This is called the VESA mounting standard and is common on a majority of modern TVs sold today.

Somewhere within that area you will find a label or stamp that will tell you the size of your VESA mount (100×100, 400×400, etc.). You will need to match this size to the list of accepted sizes that your preferred mount can hold.

Another thing to check is the maximum weight the mount can hold. With TVs getting lighter and skinnier each year, this has taken a back seat to the VESA mount size, but it is still important, especially if you aim to purchase and install a full motion mount.

For a greater breakdown and recommendations for mounts, check out our TV Mount Buyer’s Guide.

Step 1: Shake out the Mount

In construction we have a term that we use when the iron workers are receiving and sorting their structural steel before beginning to erect the building: Shaking Out. So we are going to channel our inner Iron Worker and “shake out” our TV mount. Clear a space on the floor next to where you are going to mount your TV and remove all the bits and pieces from the box.

The first thing you are going to locate is the instruction manual. “But David, isn’t the point of this guide to instruct me on how to mount a TV?” It is, but those instructions are going to give you specifics on specific mounting hardware and procedures that I can’t capture in this guide. So keep that paper pamphlet handy for reference throughout the process.

The second task is to make sure we have all the pieces. Verify that you have enough bolts and all the proper hardware to fully set up the mount. If you don’t, make a list of what you need and go down to your local hardware store to pick those items up.

The key pieces for for a mount are the mount plate (the flat part that attaches to the wall) and the mounting arms (the long skinny parts that attach to your TV). Locate and separate these items as you are going to need them multiple times during the install.

Step 2: Verify the Mount Fits Your TV BEFORE You Put The Mount On The Wall

This is critically important! There is no worse feeling than spending the time and effort to perfectly install a TV mount only to find that your TV doesn’t actually fit. So I always lay a blanket or towel on a table or couch or futon or whatever elevated flat surface you have and place the TV screen side down on that covered surface.

I then attach the mounting hardware to the back of the TV, making sure all the screw holes line up and the screws tighten down properly. If everything lines up and looks good, move on to step 3. If not, stop now and figure out how to exchange or return your mount and read our TV Mount Buyer’s Guide to help you pick out a proper sized one.

Step 3: Layout the Mount on the Wall

Now we have to figure out where we can mount the TV to the wall. Using the stud finder, locate a single stud on the wall and mark it with your pencil. Since most mounts require attachment to two studs, we need to locate a second stud. From your original stud location, measure 16″ horizontally from the original location and mark this measurement. Most homes are frames with studs located every 16″ behind the wall, so this measurement should get us in the ballpark. Verify that the second stud is there with the stud finder.

With the studs marked, grab your level and your mount plate. Hold the mount plate up to the wall and place the level on the top of the mount plate (it helps if you have a magnetic level). Adjust the mount plate until it is level and the holes of the mount plate line up with the studs and mark those holes with a pencil.

If the studs do not match up with where you want to mount your TV, you have some options but they are going to be more involved. Please though, whatever you do, do not try to mount your TV using drywall anchors, no matter how much weight they advertise to hold. Drywall is not considered a load bearing material and attempting to use the drywall anchors significantly increases the risk of your TV mounting project performing a rapid unplanned disassembly.

Step 4: Secure your Mount to the Wall

Use your drill to create pilot holes in the wall where you made your pencil marks. Pay attention to the feel of the drill and the chips that come out. If you found the studs correctly there will be resistance in the drill all the way through the hole and you will see wood chips on the drill bit.

Once the pilot holes are drilled, we can secure the mount to the wall. We have two options here. You can either use the included hardware that came with your mount or you can go grab some specific lag bolts from the hardware store. I prefer 7/16″ x 2.5″ hex head lag bolts with flat washers for my TV mount installs.

This part is where your helper comes in handy. Have them hold the mount up to the wall and align the holes of the plate to the holes on the wall. Using your preferred driving tool, drive the lag bolts into the studs, but do not tighten them down all the way. I prefer to use an impact wrench since I have one on hand, but you can just as easily use an impact driver or socket wrench. Once the mount is supported by the bolts on the wall, grab your level and have you helper make small adjustments to the mount until it is level. Have them hold that position while you drive the bolts home.

Viola! You have just mounted your TV to the wall! Grab your TV with the brackets attached and, with your helper’s help, gently place the TV on the mount, level it by checking with your level, and secure it with the included screws.

Step 5: Clean up and Enjoy!

Make sure to clean up all the dust from drilling and fastening, properly dispose of the box and packaging materials, and retain the instructions for future reference. Plug in your TV and any streaming devices, sit back, relax, and enjoy your newly mounted TV!