How to wall mount a TV

Mounting a TV on a wall is the perfect way to create a touch of home cinema luxury in your house. But doing it well demands careful planning and a smart approach for a secure and seamless finish. You may be wondering how to wall mount a TV, and thankfully it’s a job that can be tackled by DIYers.

Having said that, this job can be risky, and it’s crucial you take the time to do things the right way by following this guide. Read on for a clear step by step guide to mounting your TV, with tips for hiding wires, how to mount a TV on a plaster wall without studs, and answers to your FAQs.

How to wall mount a TV: Tools and planning

This guide is the perfect resource to teach you how to wall mount a TV, but before you rush ahead, it’s important to gather or purchase the necessary tools and materials for this job. You’ll need help from a friend to carry out this job, as TVs are generally quite heavy.

Ensure you have the following:

• Drill
• Spirit level
• Stud finder
• Masking tape
• TV mount
• Screwdriver

Next, make sure to pick out the perfect spot for your TV. It should be positioned so that you get the right viewing angle when sitting on your sofa or chair. You can even choose to mount your TV over a fireplace, making a striking feature in your home.

How to mount a TV on the wall: step by step

Most homeowners want their TV to be securely fixed to the wall, for obvious reasons. Plus, it’s preferable to get the TV as flush against the wall as possible, so that the contrast between TV and wall is practically seamless. You can even turn your TV into a work of art by adding a frame around the edges and displaying photos or scenic backgrounds.

Once you have everything you need, make sure your wall is clean and dry. It’s also worth moving any items of furniture or decorations out of the way so they aren’t damaged in case of an accident. When you are ready to learn how to mount a TV on the wall, use the below steps:

1. Use your stud finder to locate any wall studs and mark these using masking tape. If your wall doesn’t have studs, move on to the following section.
2. Hold your TV mount in place where you want your TV to sit. Then ask a friend to mark where the screws will need to go. You should also use a spirit level to ensure your mount is level.
3. Using your drill, make holes where you have marked to the width and depth of the screws you are using.
4. You can then screw your mounting bracket onto the wall.
5. Next, take your TV off its stand and attach the mounting plate to the back of the TV.
6. Finally, with the help of a friend, lift your TV into position and fit the mounting plate to the wall bracket.

How to mount a TV on a plaster wall without studs

As we discussed previously, mounting a TV to the studs in your wall is one of the best ways to securely fix it in place. If this isn’t possible, you may be wondering how to mount a TV on a plaster wall without studs? Thankfully, this isn’t too complex and you can create a solid foundation for your TV without wall studs.

The best and easiest way to hang your TV up without studs is to use an anchor. This’ll secure your screws to the wall meaning the weight of your TV won’t dislodge them over time. Our handy guide on how to mount a TV on a plaster wall without studs is the ideal way to learn more about this and other methods for hanging your TV.

How to mount a TV on a wall without wires showing

Most of us don’t want to see the cables that connect our TV to the power and satellite boxes while we’re enjoying our home cinema night. As such, many people wonder how to mount a TV on a wall without wires showing.

When it comes to minimising visible cabling, you can choose to add sockets at eye level on the wall, which will require the services of a qualified electrician. Then the HDMI ports can be fed down a channel to floor level.

Alternatively, for those who don’t want to bother with installing power sockets at eye level, the whole set of wires can be channelled down to the plugs at floor level. The channel is then plastered over and made good. If you’re curious how to wall mount a TV above a fireplace and hide the cables on a plaster wall, you always have the option of feeding the cables through the wall itself.

How to wall mount a flat screen TV

If you own a flat screen TV or are planning to buy one, these TVs look great when mounted on a wall. The thinner your TV, the more seamless the transition from wall to TV will be, creating a visually stunning effect. Unsure how to wall mount a flat screen TV? Just follow our ‘how to mount a TV on the wall step by step’ section.

How to put up a TV bracket

As we mentioned earlier, most mounting kits will come with a TV bracket. This means hanging your TV bracket is an integral part of mounting a TV to the wall.

If you’re still confused about how to put up a TV bracket, just follow steps 2 – 4 in our ‘how to mount a TV on the wall step by step’ section.

FAQs

Can you mount a TV without putting holes in the wall?

Generally, when you wish to mount your TV on a wall you’ll need to drill holes. Having said this, you can mount a TV without putting holes in the wall, such as by using a hybrid TV stand. These stands give the impression your TV is wall mounted, but it’s really just attached to the stand itself.

If your walls are made from brick, you can also adhere your TV to them using heavy duty glue or adhesive tapes. Depending on how heavy your TV is, this is a viable option but will of course not be as safe as mounting in the usual way.

How do you hide the cords on a wall mounted TV?

Mounting your TV to a wall is a great way of freeing up floor space and making the room feel bigger, plus it looks amazing. If you’re going to this effort, you don’t want trailing cords ruining the appearance of your wall. So, how do you hide the cords on a wall mounted TV?

As we covered earlier, you can install an extra power socket, use a channel, or feed the cables through the wall. For further information and guidance, check out our handy how to hide TV wires guide.

How do I know if I can hang my TV on the wall?

In order to know whether your TV can be mounted on a wall you’ll need to consider two things. Firstly, the shape of your TV; most modern, flat screen TVs can be wall mounted no problem. However, older TVs that are deeper would not work well mounted to your wall.

Also, consider the weight of your TV. The heavier the TV, the stronger the mount needed, so ensure you pick the right mount for your specific TV. You also need to look at the back of your TV. If it has mounting holes, it’s suitable for wall mounting and most TVs will fit VESA mounting plates.

Can you mount a TV on drywall?

Drywall and plasterboard are two different terms that refer to the same thing. This means you can mount a TV on drywall, and it can be done in the same way as we covered in our ‘how to mount a TV on the wall step by step’ section.

How high to mount tv on wall?

Once you’ve decided to hang your TV on the wall, you’ll need to pick the best position. If you’re unsure how high to mount your TV on the wall just consider your eyeline. For a comfortable viewing angle, you should ensure that the centre line of your TV is at the height of your eyeline when you are sitting down.

The risks of doing the installation yourself

All in, this is a project that could easily take a DIYer a day to research and a day to carry out – at least. And that’s assuming that things go smoothly. Making a mistake could damage your walls, break the TV, and ruin the end result. A much better solution would be to consider hiring in a professional – after all, this installation is likely to last a good few years, and it certainly pays to do things properly.

What’s more, when it comes to high quality, large wall mounted TVs costing well into the thousands, if mistakes happen, it can be costly to put right. Luckily, finding an expert to mount your TV to the wall couldn’t be easier using our free search feature. With instant results, you can choose from a range of trusted, local professionals.

How much does professional TV mounting cost?

Deciding to bring in a professional to mount your TV is a wise decision, especially if you’re looking for flawless results in a fraction of the time. In fact, expert TV mounting is very affordable and guarantees the secure installation of your expensive TV.

The average cost to mount a TV on the wall is £82.50 but this’ll increase if you want the installer to also hide your TV wires. To discover more about expert TV mounting, please see our home TV setup service cost guide.

What trade should I hire?

Some companies now specialise in TV installation, but for the most part, these jobs are not beyond the scope of the general handyman, and even some electricians will be happy to take them on. As such, depending on the complexity of your TV installation, the best tradesperson to hire would be a general handyman.