Skip to main content

Buying a TV wall mount? Read this first

Mounting a TV is a great way to free up space in your living room. If you’ve got kids who get touchy with electronics that they shouldn’t be putting their hands on, an out-of-reach TV will keep gooey prints off your new OLED screen. In terms of visual charm, mounting a TV is a staple of modern home decor. It’s aesthetically pleasing, especially with TVs getting thinner every year. Plus, they can go anywhere from a flat wall to a corner, and even above a fireplace (although we advise exercising caution when doing so).

If you’re on the fence about mounting your new set, where it should go, and what mount you need, we’ve put together this guide on what to consider about your home before mounting, and what hardware you should be on the lookout for to get the job done right.

What’s with your walls?

Vizio 65 inch TV
Vizio

Almost all TV wall mounts are compatible with drywall and come with all the necessary hardware you need to install, including bolts and drywall anchors. If you are installing your wall mount on a plaster or masonry surface, you’ll need some stronger hardware that won’t come in the wall mount box. (Not sure what type of material your walls have? Check out this helpful guide.) This may require a trip to the local home or hardware store to gather the necessary power tools and products. One other thought about location: We suggest you avoid mounting a TV over a fireplace if you can — check out this article for our thoughts on that controversial topic.

Just as most TV wall mounts are compatible with drywall, all TVs use a standard mounting pattern, called a VESA pattern. The name is an acronym for the Video Electronics Standards Association, the body that decided what that generic pattern is. Basically, it just means that whichever wall mount you choose, it will be easy to attach to your TV.

Size, weight, and flexibility

Wall mounted TV
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When looking at wall mounts online, they will most likely be rated by the screen size of the TV they support and the weight they can hold, the latter of which is the most important factor. Different brands vary in weight even if the sizes of TVs are the same. If you are looking at a TV wall mount online, check the product description to see more information about the maximum weight and screen size it can handle. You can also find this info on the wall mount’s box.

The next thing to consider is the flexibility you want your TV to have while mounted. If you want to be able to see your TV from other rooms, a good option is a pivoting wall mount. This will let you change the direction the TV is facing to optimize the picture on the screen, even if you aren’t sitting right in front of the TV. If you are mounting your TV above the average eye level (42 inches), you’ll want to invest in a TV wall mount that tilts down to improve picture quality. Fortunately, most mounts can tilt and pivot.

If the TV can be positioned at the ideal height and you don’t need to access the TV ports on a regular basis, a fixed mount will simplify the installation and the TV will be close to the wall, taking up less space. Consider a slim mount if this is the case for a more elegant overall appearance. Many tout how close they can hang to the wall.

If you are mounting your TV in the corner, you will most likely need a specially designed corner mount. A fully articulating mount is necessary to secure the mounting plate to the wall and keep the TV extended at all times.

One final consideration is a universal TV base. Combining the best of both worlds (table-top and wall mounting), these universal bases come with VESA-certified mounting arms and a bracket to hang them from. The bracket itself is normally height-adjustable, and many models will even allow you to tilt and swivel your TV from side to side.

Where to buy

You can find TV wall mounts (and wall mounting accessories) at pretty much every major big-box retailer, including Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. Amazon also has hundreds of wall mounting brands to choose from, with options for every mount style and TV size. In terms of cost-efficiency, you may have better luck securing a deal online. The markup on in-store wall mounts tends to be rather high for most major retailers. If you’re shopping at Best Buy and find a mount that you really like, check to see if it’s available on Amazon for a few dollars less, as most stores will be willing to price match for you.

Conclusion

To sum up, when selecting your TV wall mount, make sure you keep in mind the mount style you will need and pay special attention to the amount of weight the mount can hold. If you need help installing your new TV wall mount, check out our how-to guide to mounting a TV. Once you have the wall mount installed and the TV hooked up, all you need to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy your favorite show or movie.

This video tutorial features the Cheetah Mounts APTMM2B, the VideoSecu ML531BE, and the Mounting Dream MD2380.

Michael Bizzaco
Michael Bizzaco has been selling, installing, and talking about TVs, soundbars, streaming devices, and all things smart home…
Best Apple TV deals: Save on the Apple TV 4K and more
An Apple TV 4K sits on a media stand.

While it’s one of Apple’s lesser promoted devices, the Apple TV often makes some of the best Apple deals available. It’s a unique device that connects easily to almost any television and provides instant access to streaming services and even Apple’s gaming platform, Apple Arcade. If you’d like to access your favorite content with an all-in-one smart TV there are plenty of TV deals to shop, with Sony TV deals, Samsung TV deals, LG TV deals, Vizio TV deals, and TCL TV deals leading the way. But if you want to make your home theater part of an Apple ecosystem, check out today’s best Apple TV deals below.
Best Apple TV deals

The latest Apple TV 4K (2022) is potentially overpowered for what it is. Most people will simply want an easy way to stream content but this system also has a reasonable processor that means you can play games on it too. It won’t be an essential feature for everyone but being able to add on a controller and enjoy some gaming without the need for a dedicated console is a neat touch. For AV enthusiasts, there’s HDR10+ support which is useful for Samsung TV owners. The older Apple TV from 2021 lacks HDR10+ support but is still pretty speedy for everything else you might wish to do. If that all sounds good to you, take a look at the best Apple TV deals below.

Read more
Best Samsung TV deals: Save on 4K TVs, QLED TVs, OLED TVs, 8K TVs
A person watching a Samsung TV.

Samsung is widely considered to be one of the best TV brands, and while there are plenty of Sony TV deals, TCL TV deals, LG TV deals, and Vizio TV deals out there, here we’re taking a look at the savings a new Samsung TV has to offer. You’ll find both OLED TV deals and QLED TV deals among the best Samsung TV deals available to shop, as well as a variety of sizes that such as 65-inch TV deals, 75-inch TV deals, and 85-inch TV deals. Below you’ll find all of the best Samsung TV deals going on right now — many of which compare well to the best TV deals overall — as well as some information on why each TV might make a good centerpiece for your home theater.
Samsung 75-inch QN85C QLED 4K TV — $1,000 $1,800 44% off

We find the QN85C to be sitting at just about the perfect price for a TV right now, while still maintaining the qualities and freshness of a much more quality TV. While it is 4K, it uses mini-LED tech, which allows for fine-tuned light control. Remember that the best QLED TVs are typically renowned more for their brightness than contrast; this tech can tip that need for contrast in the QN85C's favor. Other great features of this TV include audio with Dolby Atmos and Object Tracking Sound, 4K upscaling, and motion acceleration to keep fast moving content smooth.

Read more
Best 70-inch TV deals: Get a big screen for sports for $370
The Samsung 70-inch Class 7 Series 4K TV in a living room.

A large TV is paramount if you’re looking to create a great viewing experience for all of your favorite content. And if you aren’t finding what you’re looking for among the best 65-inch TV deals, best 75-inch TV deals, or best 85-inch TV deals, here we're going to direct you to all of today’s best 70-inch TV deals. There are plenty of 70-inch TV deals going on right now from several different TV brands, and we’ve rounded them all up below. And if you’d prefer to shop for a new TV by brand rather than size be sure to check out all of the Samsung TV deals, Sony TV deals, TCL TV deals, LG TV deals, and Vizio TV deals going on right now.
Insignia 70-inch F50 4K TV — $370 $500 26% off

The Insignia F50 isn’t going to blow anyone away on paper, but when it comes to actually sitting down and watching this TV it’s going to give most people everything they’re looking for. It has plenty of smart capabilities, including the ability to connect directly to online content and easy, built-in access to streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu, and YouTube. But without much fuss it also produces a sharp, clear 4K image that’s enjoyable to watch. It even has HDR capabilities, providing a wide range of color details and sharper contrast.

Read more