The Best TV Wall Mount Buying Guide

Thinking about a flat-screen TV wall mount can really set the heart racing! It is exciting, isn’t it?

No? Oh, well, maybe you’re right!

TV wall mounts might not be the most exciting thing in the audio-visual world. However, getting the right wall bracket can be essential for getting the best out of your flat-panel TV.

You know, the one you’ve spent a small fortune on. You really should try and get the best from it.

There are a few ways to place a TV screen in your room, but one common method is to hang it on the wall. After all, being able to put the screen on a wall is one of the great things about buying a flat-panel TV.

So, if you’re thinking, ‘what size or type of wall mount do I need for my TV?’ you’ve come to the right place.

This article will look at how to mount an LED or OLED TV – and what you need to consider when choosing the best TV wall mount.

You will also get several recommendations for the top wall mounts currently available.

Top 10 TV Wall Mounts Comparison Table

How to Choose the Best TV Wall Mount

These are the essential things to bear in mind before buying a TV wall mount:

• Mount Type: what type of wall mount will suit your needs? Fixed, tilting or articulating?
• TV Size: every mount will give a guideline screen size. Use this as a quick way to see if the mount is suitable for your television. However, you should also double-check the mount’s maximum weight and the VESA mounting support.
• TV Weight: check that the wall bracket will hold the weight of your TV – the mount will specify the maximum weight it can support.
• VESA Support: make sure the mount will fit the back of your TV – your TV will specify the VESA mount sizes it supports.
• Wall Type: the wall mount you purchase may only suit specific wall types. Before buying, always check the wall where you plan to install your TV. Do you need wall studs? How far apart are they? This isn’t an issue if it’s a solid brick or concrete wall, but you may need to purchase the correct mounting accessories.
• Corner TV Wall Mount: if you want your TV in a corner, you will need an articulating TV wall mount with an extension arm, a full-motion wall mount, or a ceiling mount. A fixed mount won’t work in this location.

Read on to look at each of these in more detail.

TV Wall Mount Buying Guide

It doesn’t matter if you’ve got an LED or OLED screen; most wall mounts will be suitable for any type of flat-panel TV.

But there are a few things to consider before choosing the right one.

The first thing is the type of wall bracket most suitable for your room.

These can be split into three main categories, each with advantages and disadvantages.

So, what are the different types and the differences between them?

Fixed TV Wall Mounts

A fixed wall mount is the most basic type of TV wall mount, and in many situations, it can be all you need.

It is also commonly referred to as a flat or low-profile TV wall mount.

You can see an example of the Mounting Dream MD2163-K Low Profile TV Wall Bracket pictured here.

These mounts place the TV as close to the wall as possible without sticking out into the room.

It looks neater and works well for all types of TV, especially very thin models, which are designed to be discreet.

Just make sure you allow enough room to install cables behind the TV.

If the HDMI connections on your TV are on the rear, then you might need to consider buying right-angle HDMI adapters or cables:

If the HDMI ports are on the side of the TV, then this shouldn’t be a problem.

You will need a good-sized wall area to use this type of wall bracket.

This will allow you to place the TV in precisely the correct position and height for your viewing position.

Some wall brackets of this type allow more options for positioning as they can slide from side to side – but not all mounts will do this.

Therefore, if you buy a low-profile wall mount, you will need to be very precise when you fix the mount to the wall.

Once it is in position, there is no going back – without a lot of trouble!

Go to the fixed TV wall mount guide for more information on low-profile wall mounts.

Tilting TV Wall Mounts

A tilting wall mount is like the low profile wall bracket, except it allows the screen to tilt up or down while attached to the wall.

The tilting angle is usually around 15 degrees each way, but this can vary between models.

As you can see from the picture of the Everstone WLT103M-ES tilt TV wall mount below, it looks very much like a fixed wall mount.

The difference is the ability to tilt the screen up or down while positioned on the wall.

The ability to adjust the vertical angle of the screen gives an advantage in many situations.

For example, if you need to install the screen higher than ideal (such as over a fireplace), you can angle the screen towards your viewing position.

You can also adjust the viewing angle slightly if you need to move your seat forward or backward.

Angling the screen up or down can also allow you to reduce glare from windows and lights.

Older-style plasma screens and many modern flat-screen LED TVs can be reflective, so this can be a simple but effective solution.

If you are unsure between a fixed bracket and a tilting wall mount, maybe a tilting mount would be best.

It will cost a similar amount to a fixed wall mount and have a similar low-profile design – however, it has the added advantage of being able to tilt if required.

You can get a more detailed overview at is a tilting TV wall mount best for your room?

Articulating TV Wall Mounts

Articulating TV wall mounts allow greater flexibility for changing the screen’s position.

The best articulating TV mounts allow a wide range of movement.

They can range from a simple pivot mount which allows the screen some movement from left to right, to the more flexible tilt and swivel TV mounts.

These allow the screen to be pulled away from the wall and angled up or down.

Most articulating TV wall mounting brackets will allow some, or a combination, of these movements.

Here, you can see an example of the PERLESMITH PSMFK1 articulating swivel & extend TV wall mount.

This mount has an arm allowing you to pull the TV away from the wall, and it will also swivel left and right.

The end bracket also tilts up and down.

In some rooms, TV wall brackets like this are handy as they will allow the screen to be installed in a corner.

This is a significant advantage over the fixed and tilting models, which need a large flat wall area and require you to view the TV straight-on.

With this type of mount, you can push it against the wall when not in use but then pull it out and angle it towards the room when viewing.

As mentioned earlier, the term articulating wall mount does cover a wide variety of mounts.

The most flexible type is a full-motion TV mount – also called a fully articulating or cantilever wall mount.

These wall mounts are the most versatile type that you can buy, and they allow you to move the screen to almost any position you could possibly want.

This allows easy day-to-day alterations to the position of the screen – like the USX Mount XML008-K full motion TV wall mount pictured below:

These mounts are fixed against the wall like a standard flat wall bracket – although not quite as close due to the folded extension arms.

However, they allow the screen to be pulled right out, turned left or right, and tilted up or down.

Some models even allow the screen to be turned completely upside down. Very useful for those occasions when you need to watch TV while doing a handstand!

These models are generally the most expensive. Yet, if you need the extra movement they allow, a fully articulating mount may be perfect.

The vital thing to consider is what type of extra movement you need to alter the position of your screen – and different models will offer various types of movement.

Up or down – or left to right? What position will you need your TV to take when you are watching?

You should also be able to push the screen back to the wall when it is not in use.

Go to the best articulating TV mount buying guide for more detailed information.

Choosing the correct type of TV wall mount is only one thing to consider.

What else do you need to think about when looking to buy a mount for a flat-screen television?

Choosing a Mount by TV Screen Size

Each wall bracket you see will be rated for a particular screen size – or, more commonly, a range of screen sizes.

For example, a wall mount may suit any screen from 22 to 40 inches.

So, just double-check that you know what screen size you have before choosing a wall mount.

If you’re unsure, you can measure the screen yourself. The size of the flat-screen TV is measured diagonally from corner to corner.

However, the range of recommended screen sizes is only a rough guide.

Yes, any TV screen within that range will probably be suitable.

However, you should look at the maximum supported weight and the available VESA patterns to get a better idea (discussed later).

One of the main points about screen size is that a wider screen will reduce lateral movement.

If you can’t pull the screen far from the wall, you will have less space to pivot the screen from side to side.

Check the Weight of Your TV

All wall mounts are designed to support a maximum weight, and this is one of the most important things to check.

If you get this one wrong, you are setting yourself up for a problem down the line.

You really don’t want to buy a wall mount that can’t support the weight of your TV.

You may wake up in the middle of the night because of a loud crash from the lounge – where your expensive flat-screen TV has just fallen off the wall. Oops!

It is advisable to keep on the safe side and buy a mount that can easily support the weight of your TV. So, to be sure, give yourself a little bit of headroom.

If your TV weighs 40 pounds, then don’t buy a bracket that supports a maximum weight of 40 pounds.

Go for a little extra and get one that supports 50 or 60 pounds to be safe.

That being said, you will probably find that most wall mounts have actually been tested by the manufacturer at much more than the listed maximum weight.

Better to be safe than sorry, though.

What Is a VESA TV Wall Mount?

A common rating you will see is the VESA mounting interface standard – also known as the Flat Display Mounting Interface (FDMI).

The VESA standard indicates the distance between the holes on the mount – which need to match the mounting holes on the back of your flat-screen TV.

If they don’t line up with each other, you won’t be able to screw them together.

Standard sizes are 75 x 75 mm (VESA 75) and 200 x 200 mm (VESA 200) – although there are many more.

For example, VESA 75 has four holes laid out in a square 75 mm apart.

You may see the term, ‘100 mm VESA mount.’ This simply refers to a VESA 100 or 100 x 100 mm mount.

So, how can you tell what VESA standard your TV supports?

The manual for your TV will tell you which hole configurations are on the back of the screen.

And, if you can’t find the manual, just go to the manufacturer’s website, and find the specification for your TV there.

Failing that, if you have the TV already, you could just measure the distance between the holes yourself.

Then, you just need to find a wall mount with the same VESA spacing.

Most wall brackets will support more than one hole configuration; just ensure all the supported configurations include the one you need.

You can also buy universal wall mounts that are adjustable and will fit any hole configuration that isn’t a VESA standard.

Consider the Type of Wall

The final thing you should think about is the type of wall where you are planning on installing your TV.

Almost any wall bracket should be fine if you have a concrete wall. In this case, you just need to ensure you have the correct fittings for concrete.

Most TV mount manufacturers will supply fittings with the mount – but these may not cover all wall types.

Other brands will send you the proper fittings for free if you get in touch and tell them what you require.

It gets a little trickier if you have drywall – also known as a plasterboard wall.

The first point is – unless the wall mount instructions explicitly say that you can – never try and fix a TV wall mount to drywall alone.

No, really, don’t. It will end in tears. Probably yours.

Standard drywall will have vertical wooden studs behind the plasterboard at regular intervals along its length.

Typical distances are 16 or 24 inches apart. However, this may vary.

You need to find where these studs are and drill into the center of a wall stud.

To find the wall studs, you can either buy a suitable wall stud detector:

Or you could follow this guide about finding wall studs without a stud finder.

Your TV wall mount will probably support a wall stud spacing of 16 and 24 inches. However, check the specs before buying to be sure.

Some wall mounts are designed for attaching to a single wall stud.

This can be a more straightforward solution – as long as you adhere to the mount’s maximum weight guidelines – because you don’t have to worry about securing the mount to different wall studs.

Unless you know what you are doing, you should probably consider employing a professional to do the hard graft while you drink a beer (beer is optional).

They will probably do it in 20 minutes – and they will know the correct type of fixings required for your wall.

The bottom line? If in doubt, get in touch with the helpline for the wall mount manufacturer. They will be able to point you in the right direction.

And do this before getting your drill out of the toolbox!

5 Top TV Wall Mounts

You now understand the different types of TV wall brackets and the other considerations you need to look out for.

So, you are now in a great position to choose the perfect mount for your requirements.

The problem is, there are so many to choose from it is no easy task!

But never fear; here is a detailed list of the top-rated TV wall mounts around – with all the different types covered.

1. Mounting Dream MD2268 Tilting TV Wall Mount

Thumbs Up

• 1.5″ slim profile from the wall
• 8° tilt for reducing glare
• 16″, 18″ and 24″ studs
• Max weight: 132 lbs
• Cable management

Thumbs Down

• Not for drywall alone
• No level adjustment

This Mounting Dream MD 2268 model is a low-profile tilting wall mount.

Therefore, it won’t be suitable for mounting your TV in a corner but offers extra movement over a standard fixed wall mount.

When installed and in a vertical position, the TV will only be 1.5″ from the wall. This should be enough to install cables from behind, but not so far that it looks like it sticks out in the room.

With this mount, you can tilt your TV down by 8°. So, if you have glare on the screen from the vertical position, this should be enough to adjust the angle to reduce reflections.

Not only that, but this mount also offers lateral movement from side to side. So, you can slide the TV for optimal placement even after the backplate has been fixed to the wall.

It is rated for TVs from 37 to 70 inches, so a pretty good range, which should be fine for most people.

However, this is a guideline only. The critical rating is the maximum supported weight – which is 132 lbs for this mount.

Mounting Dream MD2268 Specifications

Screen Size (inches)	37 – 70
Max Weight (lbs)	132
VESA Support (mm)	200×100 – 600×400
Wall Type	Wood Stud / Concrete
Stud Spacing (inches)	Up to 24
Retracted Distance From Wall (inches)	1.5
Tilt Angle (degrees)	8

Also, don’t forget to check the VESA pattern for your television.

This mount supports a minimum size of VESA 200 x 100mm – up to a maximum of 600 x 400mm – which should cover most TVs. But always check yours first.

Dig out the manual for your TV and take a look (it won’t bite).

The manufacturer specifies that this mount will be suitable for wall studs that are 16, 18 and 24 inches apart. Of course, this is only relevant for drywall.

You should never install these mounts on drywall without fixing to wall studs. However, you can mount it on any concrete wall with suitable fixings.

These aren’t supplied, but Mounting Dream will ship some to you if you request them.

2. ECHOGEAR EGLF2 Full Motion TV Wall Mount

Thumbs Up

• 130° swivel from side to side
• 22-inch extension from the wall
• 5-year warranty
• Post-installation leveling
• Drilling templates and comprehensive fixings

Thumbs Down

• Not lockable
• No offset positioning when retracted

The next contender is a full-motion articulating wall mount.

This heavy-gauge universal wall mount will support TVs up to 125 lbs – which is pretty heavy.

Therefore, ensure that you attach this to a wall that can support the weight if you have a TV anywhere near that load.

This is a heavy-duty TV wall mount.

It’s not one of the cheapest wall mounts you can buy, but ECHOGEAR makes high-quality products that are built to last.

Plus, this mount has the versatility to support many different types of TV – and has a wide range of movement options.

As for screen size, the suggested range is 42 to 85 inches. So not for smaller TVs.

If you have a TV smaller than 42 inches, you won’t need anything this robust anyway.

When fully pushed in, this will be 2.4 inches from your wall and will extend out to 22 inches. It will also swivel from side to side to a maximum of 130°.

As is always the case, the actual swivel amount may depend on the size of your TV.

ECHOGEAR EGLF2 Specifications

Screen Size (inches)	42 – 85
Max Weight (lbs)	125
VESA Support (mm)	200×100 – 600×400
Wall Type	Wood Stud / Concrete
Stud Spacing (inches)	Up to 24
Retracted Distance From Wall (inches)	1.5
Extended Distance From Wall (inches)	22
Tilt Angle (degrees)	5 Up / 15 Down
Swivel Angle (degrees)	130

If you need to tilt your TV up or down, you have some decent movement – it moves up 5° and down by 15°.

ECHOGEAR specifies that this mount is suitable for walls with studs 16″ and 24″ apart, and you should always check this before buying a wall mount like this.

Of course, you can also install it on a concrete or brick wall.

There are many supported VESA patterns with this mount. From 200 x 100 and 200 x 200 at the smaller end – to 400 x 400 and 600 x 400 at the other end of the scale.

To stand out from the competition, ECHOGEAR also highlights their 7 days a week support helpline.

If you are a little unsure about all this installing hardware lark, that might be a great reason to pick one of their products.

There’s no doubt this is right up there if you are looking for the best full-motion TV mount.

3. Mounting Dream MD2380 Full Motion TV Wall Mount

Thumbs Up

• Heavy duty with 6 articulating arms
• 17.5-inch extension from the wall
• Post-installation leveling +/- 3°
• Easy to install with numerous fixings
• Good value

Thumbs Down

• 16-inch wood studs only
• Not for drywall installation only
• Concrete anchors not included (available on request)

This wall mount from Mounting Dream is a fully articulating wall mount.

It has full motion support with a 5° upward and 15° downward tilt. As for the swivel, it will allow up to 45° movement, either left or right.

This is a heavy-duty wall mount that is really well-made.

When it is fully pushed back, your TV will be 3 inches from the wall, and it will pull out to 15.2 inches into the room.

It supports TVs from 32 to 55 inches in size. They are not the largest sizes available these days but should be suitable for many people.

The maximum TV weight it supports is 99 lbs.

Your TV will need to support a VESA mounting pattern of between 75 x 75, up to a maximum of 400 x 400. Therefore, it should be fine for most TVs.

However, always check your TV before ordering to ensure it will fit.

Unlike most, the manufacturer also offers some practical installation guidelines. This is very useful in helping you make the right decision when buying a wall mount.

Mounting Dream state that this mount shouldn’t be attached to drywall alone.

Because of the potential size and weight of the TV, they suggest only fixing this mount to a concrete wall or into 16-inch wood studs.

Mounting Dream MD2380 Specifications

Screen Size (inches)	32 – 55
Max Weight (lbs)	99
VESA Support (mm)	75×75 – 400×400
Wall Type	Wood Stud / Concrete
Stud Spacing (inches)	Up to 16
Retracted Distance From Wall (inches)	3
Extended Distance From Wall (inches)	15.2
Tilt Angle (degrees)	5 Up / 15 Down
Swivel Angle (degrees)	±45

Finally, you also get some valuable extras with the package.

A 6-foot HDMI cable is included, along with a bubble level. There’s no excuse for a wonky TV now!

It also comes with all the necessary fixings for wall and TV mounting.

In 2019 Mounting Dream released an updated version of this mount – the Mounting Dream MD2380-24K articulating TV wall mount:

It has many of the same specifications as the MD2380, but it has updated a couple of features that might be useful to you.

The newer MD2380-24K supports TVs from 26 to 55 inches in size, allowing for a slightly smaller TV.

Plus, you can fix it to a broader range of wall stud spacings – 16, 18 and 24 inches. This is compared to just 16 inches with the original.

The original is still available and slightly cheaper. So, you only really need to buy the newer version if you need the extra flexibility of wall stud spacing – or want to use it for a 26-inch TV.

Either is a good choice for a full-motion wall mount.

4. PERLESMITH PSMTK1 Tilting TV Wall Mount

Thumbs Up

• Great value
• Low profile design 1.2″ from wall
• It fits 8″ and 16″ studs
• Spacers included for avoiding cables
• US-based customer support

Thumbs Down

• No support for 24-inch studs
• Not suitable for a single-stud installation

The PERLESMITH PSMTK1 is a great value tilting TV wall mount that will fit the bill for many people.

If you think a tilting wall mount is the best choice for you, then you can’t go far wrong with this popular brand.

The screen will only be 1.2″ from the wall when the TV is positioned vertically. This is comparable to many fixed wall brackets, which often have the lowest profiles.

This bracket allows for up to 7° from the vertical when tilted.

However, you must remember that this depends on your TV’s size and the distance from the wall.

If you have trouble getting enough tilt distance, you can add spacers when attaching the bracket to the TV.

This will move the TV slightly further away from the wall and allow more tilt.

The mount comes with 5mm and 10mm spacers for adding more room to move the TV.

This model supports screen sizes from 23 to 55 inches – with a maximum supported weight of 115 lbs. That should be sufficient for most modern flat-screen TVs on the market today.

However, always check the specifications of your TV before you buy the mount.

PERLESMITH PSMTK1 Specifications

Screen Size (inches)	23 – 55
Max Weight (lbs)	115
VESA Support (mm)	75×75 – 400×400
Wall Type	Wood Stud / Concrete
Stud Spacing (inches)	Up to 16
Retracted Distance From Wall (inches)	1.2
Tilt Angle (degrees)	7

One possible drawback is that this mount only supports wall studs up to 16″ apart.

So if you need to attach to wall studs, this is something to check before purchase. Other mounts do support wider wall stud spacings than this.

To be clear, this mount shouldn’t be attached directly to drywall without drilling into wall studs.

VESA support ranges from a small 75 x 75 size to a maximum of 400 x 400.

Unlike some mounts, this PERLESMITH tilting mount allows lateral adjustment once the bracket is secured to the wall.

This is especially useful if there is a reason that you can’t quite get the mount installed in precisely the right place on your wall.

It also gives you some breathing space if your initial positioning isn’t quite up to scratch!

5. Pipishell ‎PISF1 Articulating Small TV Mount

Thumbs Up

• Ideal for smaller TVs
• Retracts to 2.7″ to save space
• It fits on a single wall stud
• Flexible tilt and swivel options
• Ideal for installing in corners

Thumbs Down

• Not for large TVs
• Not suitable for drywall only

Pipishell has emerged as a popular brand online relatively quickly. They offer no-frills wall mounts at competitive prices and a range of different types.

The PISF1 is an articulating arm mount suitable for smaller TVs from 13-42 inches. Ideal for installing a smaller TV in the bedroom or kitchen.

This model has a maximum load of 44 lbs, which is less than many mounts, so be careful which TV you attach to it.

It has an articulating arm that can retract to the wall to save space but which will pull out to a 14.5-inch extension.

The native VESA sizes supported are relatively limited, but this mount should support most of the smaller TVs you can buy today.

You can attach any TV with a VESA of 75 x 75, 100 x 100, 100 x 200, 200 x 100 and 200 x 200mm.

If you are unsure what the VESA standard is, you can read more about it further up the page: what is the VESA wall mounting pattern?

Pipishell PISF1 Specifications

Screen Size (inches)	13 – 42/td>
Max Weight (lbs)	44
VESA Support (mm)	75×75 – 200×200
Wall Type	Wood Stud / Concrete / Brick
Stud Spacing (inches)	Single stud
Retracted Distance From Wall (inches)	2.7
Extended Distance From Wall (inches)	14.5
Tilt Angle (degrees)	9 Up / 11 Down
Swivel Angle (degrees)	±90

This mount supports a tilt of 11° forward and 9° backward – plus a full 180° swivel from side to side.

It will even rotate the screen 360°, allowing you to place the screen in portrait mode.

All in all, it offers excellent movement for many situations.

You can install this mount on single wood studs, brick or concrete walls, and it comes with plenty of fixings to cover most circumstances.

This isn’t a robust mount suitable for your primary home theater TV, but you will get great value if you need a cheap and reliable mount around the home or office.

The 5 Next Best TV Mounts

The top 5 TV wall mounts should give you plenty of options. However, if you want to look at a few more, here are some choices for the next best TV mounts:

Conclusion

Although not the most exciting thing you will buy for your home theater setup, finding the best TV wall mount is an important decision.

It may be that you just need to buy the cheapest fixed wall bracket that you can find, and that will do the job for you.

However, you may also need to think if you need some extra movement, like swiveling and tilting, to get the best viewing angle in your room.

The last thing to remember is to ensure you get a wall mount that fits the back of your TV and will hold its weight.

TV wall mounts might not be very sexy, but they are essential.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve learned quite a bit, but there is always something else to know. Here are some more issues people have when choosing a TV wall mount.