How to Properly Mount a Television

Television mounting transforms your living room by clearing floor space and providing a clean, theater-like aesthetic. It is a fundamental task, but it requires absolute precision when locating structural supports. A television that hangs crooked or, worse, pulls out of the drywall is a disaster waiting to happen. Done well, your display sits perfectly flush against the wall with all cables concealed behind the drywall or within a raceway. The key is prioritizing the integrity of your wall studs over the convenience of a specific location. If the studs aren't where you want the screen, adjust your plan rather than relying on heavy-duty drywall anchors.

  1. Find Your Wall's Skeleton. Use a stud finder to identify the center of at least two adjacent wall studs. Mark these points with a pencil and use a level to draw a vertical plumb line to ensure your pilot holes remain centered.
  2. Set Your Perfect Eye Line. Measure the distance from the center of the mounting holes on the back of your television to the bottom of the screen. Subtract half of that distance from your desired eye-level height to find where the bracket center should sit on the wall.
  3. Secure Rails to Screen. Lay the television face down on a soft, flat surface like a blanket or carpet. Secure the vertical mounting rails to the VESA holes on the back of the set using the provided machine screws and washers.
  4. Punch Pilot Holes Straight. Hold the wall plate against the wall at your marked height and use a level to ensure it is perfectly horizontal. Use a drill bit slightly smaller than your lag bolts to create pilot holes directly into the center of the studs.
  5. Lock Plate to Wall Studs. Drive the lag bolts through the wall plate and into the pilot holes using a socket wrench. Tighten them firmly until the plate is held rigid against the wall, but stop before you crush the drywall surface.
  6. Mount and Lock It Down. With the help of a partner, lift the television and hook the mounting rails onto the wall plate. Once seated, tighten any safety screws or pull the release tabs to lock the display securely into place.