How to choose a TV wall mount

There are thousands of mounts for sale and most of them are fine. The ones that cause trouble are the ones that don't fit the TV or the wall. Check four numbers first, then choose the style.

1. Weight

Look up your TV's weight without the stand and pick a mount rated comfortably above it. The rating on the box is a maximum, and the cheap end of the market is optimistic. For full-motion arms, leave extra margin — the rating applies with the arm extended, which is when the stress is highest.

2. VESA pattern

The four threaded holes on the back of the TV form a rectangle measured in millimetres: 200×200, 400×400, 600×400 and so on. The mount must list your pattern. A "universal" mount covers a range; check that yours is inside it. Details in weight limits and VESA.

3. Screen size range

Mounts list a size range such as 37–75″. It's a guide to whether the plate will hide behind the TV and whether the arms reach the holes. Weight and VESA matter more, but stay inside the range.

4. Your wall

• Wood studs at 16″: almost any mount.
• Studs at 24″: you need a wide wall plate or a single-stud design.
• Metal studs: specific hardware; not every mount is suitable.
• Masonry: any mount, with masonry anchors instead of the lag bolts in the box.

Now pick the style

• Fixed (low-profile): TV sits about an inch from the wall and doesn't move. Cleanest look, cheapest, strongest. Right when the screen is at eye level and you watch from straight ahead.
• Tilt: angles down 5–15 degrees. Right when the TV is above eye level — over a fireplace, in a bedroom — or to cut reflections from lights.
• Full-motion (articulating): pulls out, swivels and tilts. Right for corners, open-plan rooms, kitchens and anywhere you watch from more than one spot. Also gives access to the ports. Costs more, sits further off the wall, and loads the wall harder.

Our comparison of the three goes deeper: fixed vs. tilt vs. full-motion.

Features worth paying for

• Post-install levelling: a few degrees of rotation adjustment after the TV is hung.
• Lateral shift: slide the TV left or right on the plate to centre it when studs aren't centred.
• A locking bar or screws so the TV can't be lifted off accidentally.
• Cable clips on full-motion arms.
• UL or TÜV listing, which means the mount was tested well beyond its rated load.

Things that don't matter much

Bubble levels built into the plate (use a real level), bundled HDMI cables (usually short and basic), and "premium steel" claims.

Or skip the shopping

Pick fixed ($39), tilt ($59) or full-motion ($89) when you book and the technician brings a bracket matched to your TV's size, weight and VESA pattern. If you already own one, choose "I have one" and pay labor only.