How do I mount a TV on a wall?

Mounting a television safely — finding structure, choosing the right bracket, and getting the height right.

Difficulty: intermediate
Time: 2 hr
Read: 2 min
Safety: warning

Short answer

Fix into studs or solid masonry, never into plasterboard alone. Check the bracket's VESA pattern matches the TV and that its weight rating exceeds the TV comfortably. Mount it so the centre of the screen is at seated eye level, which is lower than most people expect.

A wall-mounted television is a heavy object above head height, so the fixing is the whole job. The two decisions that matter are what you fix into and how high you put it — and the second is the one people most often get wrong.

Safety

A falling television can cause serious or fatal injury, particularly to children. Fix into structural timber or solid masonry, never into plasterboard alone. Check the bracket's stated weight rating and treat it as a maximum rather than a target. Scan for cables and pipes before drilling, and get help lifting — televisions are awkward as well as heavy.

What you'll need

Wall bracket rated above the TV weight
Drill and appropriate fixings
Stud detector
Cable and pipe detector
Spirit level
A second person

Step by step

Check the TV's VESA mounting pattern and weight.It is on the manual or the back of the set — the spacing of the four mounting holes in millimetres. The bracket must match.
Choose a bracket rated well above the TV's weight.Ratings are best-case. Exceeding one, or matching it exactly, is not worth the saving.
Identify the wall type and find the structure.Solid masonry takes appropriate plugs and screws. Plasterboard needs fixing into the studs — a TV must never hang on plasterboard anchors alone.
Scan the whole area for cables and pipes before drilling.Sockets and aerial points nearby mean cables running vertically and horizontally. Scan wider than the bracket.
Decide the height: the centre of the screen at seated eye level.Usually lower than instinct suggests — roughly 100–110cm from the floor for a typical sofa. Above a fireplace is usually too high and uncomfortable to watch.
Mark and drill the wall plate, checking it is level before fixing fully.Use the plate itself as the template once the first fixing is in.
Attach the bracket arms to the TV, then lift it onto the plate with help.Two people. This is where damage and injury happen.
Plan the cables before mounting.Trunking, an in-wall cable route or a cable tidy. Deciding afterwards means taking it back off.

Tips

A tilting bracket is worth it if the TV must go higher than ideal — it reduces the neck strain of looking up.
Full-motion arms put considerably more leverage on the fixings than a flat bracket. Check the rating against the extended position.
Leave enough slack in the cables to pull the TV forward on an articulated bracket without straining a connector.

Common mistakes

Fixing into plasterboard alone — It will not hold a television safely. Fix into studs or solid masonry.
Mounting it too high — Above a fireplace is a common choice and is uncomfortable to watch for any length of time.
Choosing a bracket rated exactly at the TV's weight — Ratings are best-case for ideal installation. Over-specify.

Questions people ask

How high should a wall-mounted TV be?

With the centre of the screen at eye level when seated — typically around 100–110cm from the floor. It is usually lower than people expect, and above a fireplace is generally too high.

Can I mount a TV on a plasterboard wall?

Only by fixing into the timber studs behind it. Plasterboard anchors alone will not safely hold a television, and a falling TV is a serious injury risk.