Mounting a TV 101: Everything you need to know ahead of time

You can mount a TV onto brick or drywall (plasterboard), but if it’s going on to the latter, you will need to hang it from the studs to support the weight of the TV. 

A mounting bracket for the wall is essential, and it’s to this that the TV is attached. Most TV manufacturers comply with the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) standards. If your TV is VESA compliant, the holes in the back will match up with a VESA compliant mount. 

Own a TV that doesn’t use VESA standards? You will need a universal mounting bracket that can be adjusted to fit the holes on the back of your TV.

It’s not just important that TV and mount fit together, though. Before you buy a specific mount, be sure that it is suitable for the weight of your particular TV model. 

Items you'll need to mount a TV:

• Wall bracket
• Tape measurer  
• Pencil
• Spirit level
• Stud finder 
• Drill and drill bits
• Screwdriver
• Spanner (if needed)

• Read next: the best 75 inch TVs for a cinematic experience at home

How to mount a TV

• Before you start hanging the wall bracket, decide where you want to position the TV. You could get a helper or two to hold the TV up while you sit on the sofa and give directions until it’s in the right place. Alternatively, cut out a TV-sized piece of paper and tape that onto the wall to check. Whichever method you use, once the location is correct, use a pencil to mark the position of both the top and bottom edges and the corners of the TV on the wall.
• Hold the wall bracket on the wall in position. Check it’s straight using a spirit level, then mark the holes where you will be drilling. 
• If you’re mounting the TV on drywall or a plasterboard wall, now use the stud finder to check you will be drilling into studs, and adjust the bracket position if necessary.
• Drill pilot holes first then use a drill bit sized to the bolts of the TV mount. 
• Screw the part of the bracket that attaches to the wall on to the wall. 
• Double-check that the bracket is level using a spirit level before you tighten it up fully. 
• Fit the part of the mounting bracket that goes on the TV in place. 
• Connect all the necessary cables to the TV then, with someone else to help, lift the TV onto the wall, joining the two parts of the mounting bracket according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  

Can you mount a TV on any wall?

You can mount a TV on most walls. Brick walls make life the easiest as you can mount all sizes of TV and provided you put the mounts into brick and not mortar and use heavy-duty wall anchors you can position the TV where you want. 

You can also wall mount a TV on drywall or a plasterboard wall. However, in this case, it’s essential to mount it from the wall studs, which means you have somewhat less flexibility about where to position it.

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

To hide the cords on a wall-mounted TV, there are two options. If you don’t have many cables, the simplest approach is to use trunking or cord covers. 

For drywall or plasterboard, you can make a hole behind the TV mount for the cables, and then there is a second choice at the base of the wall. These both need to be in areas of the wall without studs. You can then cut into the wall with a utility knife, fit cable plates into the holes, and then feed the cables down inside the wall from the TV to the plate near the electrical socket.