How to Mount a Flat Panel TV

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  • So you've just purchased your first Flat Panel TV, and you're ready to put it into action. Unfortunately it's sitting in a box - and not up on your wall. If you think that you have what it takes to install it yourself, follow the steps in this guide for How to Mount a Flat Panel TV.

  • Introduction

    • With the rapid advances in flat-screen technology that have emerged in the past few years, more and more people are choosing to purchase a Flat Panel TV and use it as the focal point of their entertainment system. With their sleek design and thin profile, wall-mounted flat-screen televisions can be a great way to save space while still enjoying a crisp, clear viewing experience. And although advertisers may try to woo you with images of a perfectly installed flat-panel system, the reality is that installing and mounting your own flat screen TV is a lot harder than it looks (which is why many people choose to have it professionally installed). But if you're set on installing your brand new flat-screen television yourself, simply follow the steps in this guide.

  • Step 1: Choose a Mounting Bracket

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    • Since most flat-screen televisions don't come with their own mounting bracket, you will probably have to purchase one separately. Depending on the size of your TV (and the various features of the wall mount), mounting brackets can cost anywhere from $50 - $500. And since you've probably just dropped a grand or two on a top of the line TV, what's another couple hundred bucks? But before you rush out and buy the first one you see, here are some things that you should consider when buying a mounting bracket for your flat screen.
      1. Check your owner's manual to see what type of mounting brackets will work with your TV. While some may require the use of a specific mount, most new flat screen TVs will work with a number of different mounts.
      2. Check your owner's manual or TV box for the words VESA Compatible. VESA stands for "Video Electronics Standards Association" and is the organization that formulates standards for flat-screen mounting brackets (among other things). "VESA" will be followed by a number or combination of numbers that will indicate what type of VESA standard your TV is set up for (i.e VESA 50/75/100). Make sure to get a mounting bracket that matches the number on your TV.
      3. When purchasing a mounting bracket, make sure that the one you choose is capable of holding the specific screen size of your TV - and can fully support the weight of your TV.

  • Types of Wall Mounts

    • There are three main types of wall mounts that you can choose from, each with their own specific benefits and drawbacks:

      1. Flat: Flat wall mounts are the cheapest and most widely used - although they are the least versatile of the bunch. They allow the TV to hang almost flush with the wall and can give it the appearance of being like a picture hanging on a wall.
      2. Tilting: Tilting wall mounts allow you to angle your TV up or down (usually no more than 15 - 20 degrees) and are good for situations where the TV has to be mounted higher up - and normal viewing is difficult. But the tilting mechanism means that the TV will stick out from the wall a few inches.
      3. Articulating: Articulating wall mounts are the most versatile of the bunch (and usually the most expensive) due to the fact that the user can tilt, swivel or rotate their TV anyway they like.

  • Step 2: Pick a Location

    • One of the most important things to consider when preparing to mount your flat-screen TV is where you want you want it to go. Because installing a flat-screen TV can be a time-consuming (and wall-damaging) process, it is important to pick the right location the first time (and stick to it). Here are some tips and suggestions for finding the perfect place to mount your flat-screen TV:
      1. Make sure that the TV will be at the right height for comfortable viewing. Too high and you'll be craning your neck to see the screen. Too low and you'll feel like you're staring at the ground. In general, try to position the TV so that the center of the screen is at eye level (when seated) - although larger plasma TVs may look alright a few inches higher than that.[1]
      2. Choose a location for your TV that has a minimal amount of screen glare. Whether it's natural light coming in through a window or artificial light from a table lamp, screen glare can ruin your viewing experience. Look at where you plan to hang your TV (preferably during the day when natural light may be present) to make sure that there isn't any light shining on that area.
      3. Decide on how you want to route the TV cables to your external devices and available power outlets. In order to avoid having to take elaborate steps to camouflage your cables or access the nearest power or cable outlet, it pays to figure all of this out before you mount your TV.
      4. Make sure that the television can be viewed from multiple angles and that every seat in your TV room has a clear, unobstructed view of the screen. It's no fun if only half of the people can actually see the TV.

  • Step 3: Locate the Wall Studs

    • In order to ensure that your wall mount stays securely fastened, you are going to want to make sure that you bolt it into one of the studs in the wall. A wall stud is a vertical piece of wood (or other material) that serves as part of the interior frame of the wall - and helps to hold the whole thing together. Wall studs are usually made of solid material (unlike other parts of the wall) making them the perfect anchor for hanging heavy objects. Unfortunately, you can't tell the location of a wall stud just by looking at the wall. This is where a stud finder comes in handy.
      1. You can purchase a stud finder at your local hardware store for around $20 - $30.
      2. Run the stud finder over the wall that you want to hang your TV and look for the light that indicates where the studs are.
      3. Use your pencil to make an X mark where you find each stud. This will let you know where you need to drill your holes for the wall mount.
      4. A general rule of thumb: For LCD TVs, make sure that you penetrate at least ONE wall stud. For Plasma TVs, make sure that you hit TWO wall studs.[1]


    • If you don't want to purchase a stud finder:
      1. Find the closest electrical outlet. These are usually mounted onto a wall stud.
      2. Go directly up from the outlet and make a mark at the height you want your TV to go.
      3. Wall studs are usually placed 16 inches apart from each other (from the center), so use your measuring tape to figure out where the next wall stud is.
      4. If you're unsure about whether you've correctly placed the stud, try hammering the tip of a nail into it. If you've hit a stud, you should feel a good amount of resistance.

  • Step 4: Attach the Mount

    • Once you've chosen a location for your television, you're ready to start attaching the wall mount. In general, there are usually two parts to a wall mount: the part that attaches to the TV and the one that attaches to the wall. Once the TV portion has been attached and the wall portion has been properly fastened to the wall, you can then simply attach the two together. Here are some tips and tricks for attaching the mount.


  • TV Mount

      1. The TV portion of the mounting bracket usually consists of two vertical rails that are attached to the back of the display.
      2. The place where the rails attach to the TV are often covered up by plastic caps, so you'll have to find them and remove the caps before you attach the rails.
      3. If you're going to lay the TV face down while you attach the rails, make sure that it is laying on a soft surface - otherwise you can damage your TV.
      4. Most mounting brackets will come with special screws and washers that you can use to attach the rails to the television (using your screwdriver).

  • Wall Mount

      1. Hold the wall mount flush against the wall at the height (and in the location) that you want the television to be.
      2. Move the wall mount horizontally until its holes are positioned over the wall studs that you've previously identified. If you're only going to be using one stud, make sure that it falls in the center of the mounting bracket.
      3. Take your Carpenters Level hold it up against the mounting bracket to make sure that it is perfectly level.
      4. Use a pencil to make a clear mark in the spots where you will be drilling your holes.
      5. Take your Power Drill and make small pilot holes on the marks where you want your anchoring bolts to go.
      6. Secure the mounting bracket by screwing the bolts into place with a wrench or screwdriver.
      7. Test the mounting bracket to make sure that it is securely fastened and that it doesn't wiggle either way.

  • Step 5: Mount the Television

    • Now that you've got all of the components in place, you are ready to attach you TV to the wall mount. While this may seem like a straightforward process, there are a few things that you should think about:
      1. Flat screen televisions are often extremely heavy and can be tough to lift on your own (not to mention back-straining). It's always smart to get someone to help you lift the TV and attach it to the wall mount - especially if you need to help guide the rails onto the mounting bracket.
      2. It's usually a good idea to attach all of the cables on the TV beforehand - that way you won't have to poke around the back of the TV blindly after it's already attached to the wall.
      3. Make sure that any safety locks or tabs on the mounting bracket are fully secure and functioning.
      4. If you're using a Tilting or Articulating wall mount, you can go ahead and adjust it further to the correct viewing angle.

  • Tips & Tricks

    • If you just can't stand the sight of cables running to and from your mounted television, you can try routing the A/V cables through the back of the wall. While this method may help the overall aesthetic of your entertainment system, it requires a good deal of technical expertise and know-how.
    • When laying your TV face down (so that you can attach the mounting rails), use a blanket or other soft object to cushion it so that the floor doesn't damage the screen.
    • If you are at all unsure about whether or not you can successfully mount your TV yourself, it is probably a good idea to simply lay out the extra money to have it professionally installed.
    • Some early model flat panel TVs are made exclusively for sitting on a stand and are not set up for wall mounting. TVs that don't say "VESA" may not work.

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