As professional TV mounters trusted by Meta, Amazon, and JP Morgan Chase, we at TVmountinghelp.com by Spaien Lighting know exactly how to mount a TV with precision, safety, and a flawless finish. Below, we’ll walk you through how to mount a TV yourself, step-by-step, sharing the expertise of our triple-certified installers. Finally, we’ll briefly mention how opting to have us manage it could be a convenient route to a polished and successful result, should that appeal to you.
Quick tip before you start: We recommend you read or skim through the article before getting started, as it’ll give you a clear overview of the steps for a smooth TV mounting process.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
To mount a TV like a pro, gather these:
- TV wall mount (fixed, tilting, or full-motion, compatible with your TV’s size and VESA pattern)
- Stud finder (for drywall walls)
- Level (to keep things straight)
- Drill and bits (masonry bits for brick/concrete, standard for drywall)
- Screwdriver and socket wrench (for securing bolts)
- Measuring tape and pencil (for accurate placement)
- Wall anchors (for drywall without studs or specialty walls)
- Cable management kit (for hiding wires)
- Optional Safety gear (gloves, safety glasses)
- Clean up ( cardboard box (could use the TV box), and vacuum, for the drywall dust)
Step-by-Step Guide to Mounting a TV:
Follow these steps to mount your TV securely and achieve a clean, professional look:
- Pick the Right Wall Mount:
- Check your TV’s manual for its size, weight, and VESA pattern (e.g., 200x200mm, the hole spacing on the back).
- Choose a mount that supports your TV’s specs: a fixed mount for a slim profile, a tilting mount for angled viewing, or a full-motion mount for swivel flexibility.
- Ensure the mount can handle your TV’s weight—double-check for larger screens (60”+).
- Find the Perfect Spot:
- Select the wall you want the TV on.
- Use the stud finder to find the studs to mount the TV to (for drywall).
- If a solid surface (brick, concrete, plaster), you will need a hammer drill, unless you want to spend an hour drilling 1 hole in the concrete.
- What height should the TV mount be mounted at?
We recommend mounting the TV so the center is eye level. Most likely, you’d be sitting on a couch, in which case the ideal height (typically 40-50 inches from the floor to the TV’s center for eye-level viewing) - Avoid mounting above a fireplace if heat could damage the TV, and ensure nearby power outlets are accessible.
- Use a measuring tape to mark the desired height and center point with a pencil.
- Locate Studs or Prep the Wall:
- For drywall, use a stud finder to locate studs (typically 16-24 inches apart) and mark their centers. Studs provide the strongest anchor points.
- For brick, concrete, or plaster, ensure you have masonry anchors, a drill designed for those surfaces ie a hammer drill, and drill bits for the hammer drill.
- If no studs are available (rare), or If the studs don’t line up to mount nicely, use heavy-duty drywall anchors rated for your TV’s weight.
- Attach the Mounting Plate to the TV:
- Take your TV out of the box, put the box against a wall where it won’t be in the way of you working on the planned install location. Then lean the TV up against it with the TV facing the TV box/wall. If you rather, you can also lay your TV face-down on a soft surface (like a blanket) to avoid scratching the screen.
- Align the mounting plate (part of the wall mount) with the VESA holes on the back of the TV, we suggest putting the center of the mount to the center of the TV. You can get both by measuring them and dividing by 2 to get the center. By centering them, you will have more room to adjust later if needed.
- Screw the plate to the TV using the provided screws, ensuring they’re tight but not over-tightened to avoid damaging the TV or striping the screws, hand tighted is recommended.
- Figure out where everything lines up:
- From step 2, you know where you want the center of the TV to be. But how do you get the TV there?
a) Measure the length of the wall on which you are putting the TV. Divide that number by 2, which will give you the center. Ex: room length 100 inches, center is 50 inches. Put a little mark on the wall with a pencil. (tip: measure on the floor, or have a friend hold the other end of the measuring tape) - b) Take the TV mount that is going on the wall and mount it on the back of the TV. This does 2 things.
1. It shows you how it will attach to the TV, so you are prepared when you mount it for real on the wall.
2. With it mounted, you can now measure the distance from the center of the TV, to the top hole of the TV mount. (There are the top holes on the TV mount, and the bottom holes on the TV mount) Add those two numbers together ( tip: keep everything in inches to avoid inches to feet conversions) - c) Now go back to the wall, starting from the center point, measure from the floor to the top hole of the mount. Use the pencil to put a mark on the wall. (tip: use a level to ensure the mark is straight up, and still centered in the room. You can also re-measure, with the help of a friend, to ensure the mark is in the center point, once the mark is at the right height.)
- From step 2, you know where you want the center of the TV to be. But how do you get the TV there?
- Install the Wall Bracket:
- Hold the wall bracket against the wall at your marked spot and use a level to ensure it’s straight.
- Mark the screw holes with a pencil. Ensure the marked locations do not line up vertically with a power outlet. Power cables tend to run vertically up or sometimes down from a power outlet. You don’t want to hit a power cable and get shocked! (ideally the screw holes line up with the studs)
- Caution: Before drilling, think about if the wall could have water pipes (bathroom or kitchen on the other side of the wall, or anywhere else that would have water pipes). If you are unsure, you can do some research and/ or you can reach out to a professional TV installer. If you are still unsure or you think there could be water pipes in the wall, think it over, and choose a different wall. It is simply not worth taking the risk of flooding your house.
- Use a small drill bit, close to the smallest one you have, to drill a hole into the marked locations. Drill pilot holes into the stud, then lightly try to pull the drill away from the wall, ensuring it is straight and you are not bending the drill bit. You can add a little bit of force, but be gentle with it, see if the drill wants to come out of the wall. If it pulls right out, then it’s drywall. If you pull on it with some force and it does not come out, it looks like you hit a stud. Keep the drill on forward, turn it on, and pull it out of the wall, then let go of the trigger and give the bit a smell (make sure not to touch your nose to the bit). Smells like wood? (studs are wood beams)
- Hit a stud?
Nice! Put the mount up against the wall ( tip: get someone to help) use the socket that matches the lag bolt, and drill it into the stud, holding up the mount. Put a level on the mount, and get it nice and level (pro tip: make sure you are looking at the level straight on). Drill a test hole into the other 3 locations, follow the same steps above to confirm that there is also a stud there. If studs, great! Drill the lag bolt for the top right of the mount in, ensuring the mount is level when doing so. - Didn’t hit a stud?
Do some more test drills to find the stud (tip: ensure the test drill locations line up with the holes for the mount on the wall)
Still no studs? Two options:
a) Mount the TV off-center (not ideal).
Depending on the TV mount, you can make some side-to-side adjustments to bring it more centered if only a little off centered. Depending on the room layout, and if the TV is only slightly off center, it may not be noticeable that it’s not exactly centered.
b) Recommended: Use heavy-duty drywall anchors rated for your TV’s weight. We recommend picking up ¼ toggles (or 3/16 inch), with toggle bolts at Lowe’s, you will need at least 4 (1 per conner), and more if you accidentally break some while installing them (you could go to Home Depot, but unfortunately, their toggles are a pain to use, as they break easily when installing them)
You’ll also need a ½ inch drill bit, yes ¼ inch toggles, need a ½ inch bit. This gives it room for the toggle to fit through the hole (Lowe’s and Home Depot both have ½ inch bits) - With the first drill location already marked on the wall, drill into the wall with the ½ inch bit. (tip: you can use a smaller drill bit to start, to make it easier to drill in the ½ inch bit) (Pro tip: drill into the wall, and hold it there for a little while, you may see some insulation come out, which will give you more space for the toggles. Then put the drill in reverse and move it around a little to push the insulation out of the way while keeping it in the wall. Don’t go crazy with it, as you can also drill out the hole, making it harder to use the toggles.) Then remove the bit from the wall, and put in the toggle. (Pro tip: once the toggle is in the wall, get the two plastic ends that are in your hand to line up. This will align the toggle in the wall, so the screw will fit in.)
- Put the mount on the wall, (tip: get a friend to help) and screw/drill in the toggle bolt. Make sure not to screw it in with too much force, as you could break it. Put a level on it, and get it level. (pro tip: make sure you are looking at the level straight on) Outline the other 3 holes on the mount you will use.
- Remove the screw and place the mount on the floor. Then drill out the other 3 holes, and put toggles in them. Put the mount back up and put the 4 screws in, make sure to get them tight, without maxing out the force, as the toggles are breakable. Check the level again. If a little off you can losen the screws, monver the mount a little and retighten, to get it more level. (Most mounts also allow for some leveling adjustment, so it doesn’t need to be perfect)
- Masonry surfaces are more advanced, and calling a pro TV installer is recommended. Use a hammer drill and bits; for brick/concrete, use a masonry bit matching your anchor size. And check out the drywall toggle section to get an idea of how to mount and level.
- Hang the TV:
- Pro tip: Make a quick plan on who goes where, and how you will mount the TV. It’s much easier to plan when you’re not holding up a big TV.
With a helper (especially for TVs 32”+), lift the TV and hook the back of TV mount onto the TV wall mount. - Follow the mount’s instructions to lock it in place (some use clips, straps, or screws).
- Ensure you and your friend are able to hold/catch the TV, then gently tug the TV to confirm it’s secure, and check with a level to ensure it’s level.
If not level, you can hold the sides of the TV, ensuring not to touch the screen, and rotate the TV side to side until it is level.
- Pro tip: Make a quick plan on who goes where, and how you will mount the TV. It’s much easier to plan when you’re not holding up a big TV.
- Hide the Wires:
- Before cable management, all the cables were where they needed to go. Make sure that the TV mount is able to move the way you want, and then is fully extended. This will ensure that you cable manage in the most stretched location for the cables. That way, you won’t unplug your TV when trying to extend it.
- Coil up the extra cables, and velcro, or zip tie (make sure not to over-tighten is using zip ties, as it could damage the cables.) them to the back of the TV. Move around the TV carefully to make sure the cables don’t get stressed or catch in the TV mount. If they do, then re-cable manage until they don’t.
- Use Velcro as needed to keep the cables together for a better look.
- Sleek finish: Run a raceway or cable management cover along the wall, (Pro tip: Use a level to make sure its stright then drill it into place using with 3 drywall screws, 1 near the top, near the bottom 1 in the middle. As glue can lose its stickiness and fall off the wall.) Use it to hide the HDMI and power cables for a clean look. Tip: Make sure the raceway or cable management cover is large enough to fit all your cables.
- For an even sleeker finish, consider running cables inside the wall, although this is more advanced. It requires cutting holes in the wall in addition to checking local building codes and using an in-wall-rated kit that is code-compliant.
- Test and Adjust:
- Power on the TV to confirm it works.
- Adjust the tilt or swivel (if using a tilting/full-motion mount) to get the perfect viewing angle.
- Double-check the mount’s stability by applying gentle pressure (don’t yank!).
Tips for Success
- Safety First: Ensure the mount and wall can support your TV’s weight. A 60” TV can weigh 50+ pounds, and falling TVs are a hazard.
- Double-Check Measurements: Misaligned mounts or off-center TVs are hard to fix once holes are drilled.
- Wall Type Matters: Drywall needs studs or anchors; brick and concrete require masonry tools. Plaster walls are trickier and may need special anchors.
- Get Help for Large TVs: Lifting a 60”+ TV alone is risky—enlist a friend to avoid injury or damage. Even if you’re buff and can easily lift the weight, given the size, it’s still very awkward to carry, and there is a high risk of dropping it, or putting pressure on the screen, thus damaging or breaking your brand new living room center piece.
After reading all that, you’re likely either hyped for your next DIY project, or thinking That Sounds Like Work…
Mounting a TV yourself can be rewarding, but it’s time-consuming, requires the right tools, and leaves no room for error. One misstep—like missing a stud, using the wrong anchors, or damaging your wall—can lead to a costly fix or a fallen TV. Why take the risk? Call the professionals at TVmountinghelp.com, and we’ll handle everything with precision, backed by our 10-Year No Fall Guarantee and Price Match Guarantee. Our triple-certified installers, trusted by Meta, Amazon, and JP Morgan Chase, will mount your TV in under an hour, conceal wires for a pristine look, and even add soundbars, shelves, or full home theater setups if you want. We’ll ensure you’re thrilled with the end result, whether it’s a single TV, a multi-TV setup, or a corporate install.
Ready for a Perfect Install? Text “MOUNT MY TV” to 512-764-1880, or give us a call, we’d be happy to talk with you to figure out how to best elevate your space with a seamless, professional TV mounting experience!
Want pricing and other info? Check out TVmountinghelp.com