How To Mount A TV On Your Wall Properly
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Mounting your TV on the wall can help you save space and give you a better viewing angle. While it might seem complicated to mount your TV, all you need is the right tools and know-how. Depending on your TVs size, you will need at least one other person to help you lift the TV when you place it on the mount. Heres everything you need to know about how to mount your TV on the wall correctly.
While you can mount your TV yourself, it can be a difficult process, especially if you have a larger TV and you want to mount it above a fireplace or in a corner. If you are uncomfortable mounting your TV yourself, you can always contact a professional at HelloTech to do it for you. We have thousands of experts across the country ready to visit your home and mount your TV for you.
Basic Placement Height For Most TV Screens
It’s easy to quickly determine and place your TV screen if you’re happy to go with common recommendations. These guidelines apply to wall-mounted screens of any size up to 85 inches diagonal.
The optimal TV screen height that applies to most screens and settings is 42 inches high, measured from the floor to the center of the screen.
Full Motion TV Wall Mount
Motion TV mounts are also called articulating or swivel TV mounts. A full-motion TV wall mount bracket allows the TV to be tilted, swiveled, extended, and fixed in one place. This creates a variety of different viewing experiences.
When does a full-motion mount work best?
- You want to hide your TV in an armoire and pull it to when you need it.
- You need flexibility in your TV wall mount due to the layout of the room. This will allow you to angle the TV at any corner. It will also help you turn away the TV from any windows to reduce screen glare and reflections.
- If you have limited space in your room and need to install your TV in a corner
- You have to access the back of the TV to switch out HDMI cables, access TV ports, or plugin gaming systems.
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The TV Frame/bezel And Stand
Although the diagonal screen measurement determines the relative TV screen viewing area, it doesn’t tell you precisely if the TV will fit within a given space.
You also need to take into account the actual width and height of the entire TV frame, bezel, and stand. Frames/bezels can add anywhere from 1/2 to 3 inches to the width and/or height of the TV frame and the stands add several more. Stands also add more depth.
What this means is that whether you are ordering a TV online or before going to the store, make sure you note the listed size of the entire TV, which not only includes the screen but the frame/bezel and stand.
If you have some TV brands and models in mind, most manufacturers post both TV product and package dimensions on their web pages.
However, even if you have that information in hand, if you are going to a store to purchase your TV, take a tape measure with you in case the TV is on display. You can then check or confirm the entire exterior dimensions of the TV.
If the TV is not on display, but only in a box, check the box for any listed specifications regarding the size of the TV with, and without its stand.
How To Measure Your TVs Display Space
Once youve figured out the dimensions of your TV, its time to figure out what the dimensions of your intended display space are.
Along with the obvious things such as the height and the width, you will also need to take note of the depth of any cabinets or something similar if applicable.
Step 1: Use your measuring tape to take note of the dimensions of your display space.
To have your measurements not be too confusing but still be accurate, you can round off your measurements to the closest ½ inch.
Make sure to write down all of the dimensions that you measure.
Step 2: Ideally, you should have a space of at least 4 inches on all 4 sides of the TV. This will allow for proper ventilation during use.
It will also ensure that you can comfortably mount your TV when the time comes to install it.
Of course, you might be able to squeeze in your TV in smaller spaces. However, in most cases, it will be a pain to fit and you may even end up damaging your TV or the TV screen.
Also make sure to take any measurements for other components you may want to have such as an entertainment center, a Blu-ray player, etc.
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What Youll Need To Mount Your TV
Before you get started on your TV mount installation, here are a few things youll want to have on hand:
- Stud finder: Unless you want a TV disaster, dont mount your TV to drywallmake sure youre 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.
- Carbide-tipped masonry bit: Use this to make pilot holes in the drywall, which youll drill your mounting screws into.
- Phillips head drill bit: This is what youll use to drive the mounting screws.
From What Point To Point Do Official TV Screen Sizes Get Measured
So how to measure a flat-screen TV, you ask?
What many do not realize is that there is an official way to measure a television. You will need to measure the screen diagonally this means from corner to corner.
When youre measuring advertised screen sizes, dont include the outside frame , you should only measure the screen.
Measuring your television from the top right to the bottom or top left to the bottom is the same.
The best way to measure your television screen is in inches, as normally advertised!
No advanced tools are needed when measuring a TV in inches. All thats needed is a measuring tape as a TV measuring guide and you will be good to go.
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What Is The Vesa Standard
The VESA Interface Standard defines the distance in millimeters between the four mounting holes on the back of a TV . VESA is a standard used for TV wall mounts and wall mounting systems, adapted by most TV brands. Common VESA sizes are 200 x 200, 400 x 400 and 600 x 400 depending on the screen size of your TV.
What Color Should I Paint The Wall Behind The TV
TVs, especially 65-inch panels or larger and todays more popular models, tend to be the focal point of any room you put them in just because of their sheer size. When choosing a wall color to go behind your TV, just as you would when painting otherwise, take into consideration colors that will work best with the room.
Painting with lighter, natural colors , for example, will not only make your room look bigger but will also make the TV stand out on the wall.
With charcoals, midnight blues, and darker colors, however, the TV is going to blend in more when its off while also making it seem brighter and more vivid when its on, which many consider a more theatrical, immersive experience. If you dont want to commit to a completely dark room, a good compromise is to just do an accent wall behind the TV.
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Size Of The Room And Viewing Distance
The size of the room is another factor. Think about the size, layout, and design of your room. How wide is the wall and what material is it? How far is it from the nearest seating area? What direction is it facing and will any TV glare be an issue? Where are your electric outlets? These are some of the things to keep in mind when determining the height of your mounted flat-screen TV.
Viewing distance also makes an impact on your entertainment experience. Being too far away from the TV can contribute to feeling less engrossed in what youre watching, but being too close can be a literal headache. Luckily, there is a formula to solve this problem.
Mounting A TV On Your Wall
While using a TV stand is the common method of placing a TV in a room, another method is getting more attention, and that is mounting it on a wall. Its certainly a great option once everything is set up and provides a very clean look for your home.
The biggest advantage of mounting a TV onto a wall is that it saves space. If you secure a TV this way, you are giving up practically no space at all due to how flat TVs are these days. The only limit to how big of a TV you can use is how big the wall is.
People choose to hang their TV on a wall because it provides a clean, minimalist look, especially if you hide the cords. You can also mount the TV as high as you want it, which is useful if you like to sit in a reclined position because your feet wont get in the way.
The only real limit here is the size of your wall and the size of the TV you want to use.
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How High Should You Mount Your TV
Experts recommend keeping the middle of your TV at eye-level while seated. This is normally about 42 inches from the floor to the middle of your TV. However, this might be different for you, depending on how tall you are when sitting on your couch.
To calculate how high your TV should be from the floor, simply measure the height of your TV and divide it by two. Then subtract that number from 42, and thats how high the bottom of your TV should be from the floor.
It is important to note that television manufacturers measure a TV from one corner to another, so you shouldnt use your TVs screen size to find its center point.
So, if you have a 55-inch TV, it is probably around 27 inches tall. In that case, you would divide 27 by 2, which is 13.5 inches. Then subtract 13.5 from 42, which is 28.5 inches. So, the average 55-inch TV should be mounted 28.5 inches from the floor to the bottom of the TV.
If youre shorter or taller than average, you might want to measure how high your eye level is. Then you can use that number instead of the average eye level of 42 inches.
While this height might seem lower than you expected, it is the recommended height for a TV from a sitting position. However, most people recline a little when they watch TV, which means their eye line is pointing up. So, you might want to mount your TV a little higher if you recline.
Think About Your Lifestyle & TV Viewing Habits
Its safe to say that whenever buying a new TV, creating a better TV viewing experience is top of mind when shopping the many options available. Thats why its important to consider your lifestyle and your TV viewing habits in order to pick the right TV size for your family and the ways in which you enjoy watching TV.
To get started, think about where you like to watch TV. Do you prefer to watch TV in bed? In which case, you might want to pick a TV thats going to be the right proportion above your dresser. Do you prefer to have an immersive experience watching TV in the living room on a large screen? If so, you might want to look at larger TVs that fit your wall.
Next, think about your living situation. Are you a renter and cant drill into walls? Then finding a TV the right size for a media cabinet will be your best bet. Or, maybe you have active little ones running around, and baby proofing the TV area may be of high priority, in which case, youll need to find a TV with a comparable wall mount like a pull down TV mount from MantelMount.
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Find The Perfect TV Position
Once you’ve settled on the right mounting bracket for your TV, you’ll need to choose the right location, and position it at the right height. Proper wall positioning is essential when wall-mounting a TV, because your ability to adjust the TV position afterwards will be quite limited, even with an articulated wall mount.
Start by finding the right wall. This will be located in a pretty central location, where the seating in your living room or home theater lets you sit comfortably while watching movies and shows. Be sure that the wall also has access to the necessary power outlets and any cable or satellite connections.
Center the TV at the right height, with the center of the screen more or less at eye level. You can note the desired position by marking the lower right or left corner with pencil or masking tape.
Finally, consider the position of the mount in relation to the TV. Some TVs attach mounting brackets in the center of the chassis, while others are offset toward the bottom, so plan accordingly to position your wall mount correctly.
For more helpful positioning tips, check out our helpful guide on mounting your TV: best viewing angle and height.
Make Sure The Mount Is Level And Attach It To The Wall
You can attach your mount to the wall in a few different ways. You can measure out all of the locations for your holes and drill them before you screw in your bolts. I dont really recommend this method because there is a lot of room for error.
The best method is to place the mount where it should go on the wall and slightly tighten the first bolt into the stud. You can then use your level to ensure the mount is level to the ground and mark your second hole to drill. The first bolt will help you keep the mount in place while you drill the second hole.
Note: Always make sure you use a washer between the bolt and the mount!
If you dont have a good level, I recommend . Some mounts actually have a level built into them, but they arent always correct because they are extremely cheap.
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Mounting Above Fireplaces Is Not Recommended
If you are planning to mount a TV above the fireplace reconsider doing that. You may see this depicted in many home beauty magazines, but this is not a good idea.
The reason being is that fire and electronics do not mix. You may initially think that your TV would be safe from the flames, but the heat gets trapped where the TV sits and can eventually cause it not to function properly.
An exception to this would be an electric fireplace because those are designed mainly for ambiance, and if they do produce heat, it will only be enough to warm up a room slightly.
How High To Mount A TV With The Ideal TV Height Formula
There is an easy way to estimate how high a TV should be mounted. Let’s take a look at the optimal TV height formula:
TVH = WH + HWD * tan
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TVH is the ideal TV height
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WH is the watching height – the level of the viewers’ eyes
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HWD is the horizontal watching distance and
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is the tilt angle.
You can derive this equation by applying an appropriate trigonometric function for the yellow triangle . Yup, here is the practical use of trigonometry in real life!
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Place And Fasten The TV Onto The Mount
After your mount is fully secured to the wall, it is time to put your TV and bracket onto the mount.
This step will vary from mount to mount. But the instructions do not change for most of them. For most mounts, youll place the brackets onto the mount, then use screws or some mechanism to lock the brackets onto the mount.
Now the job is complete! Your TV is securely mounted to the wall. As long as you followed the steps in this article, you should be good to go!