Why would you want to mount a TV without drilling holes in the wall? Well, making holes may not be allowed by your landlord, suitable for your brick wall, or you may want to move the TV later.
I installed dozens of TVs while working as an AV installation engineer, but I always used a wall mount. There aren’t many good alternatives. But some are worth considering, like stands or furniture designed to hold TVs.
Let’s look at installing a TV if you can’t or don’t want to drill holes and find the best way.
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How to Mount a TV Without Drilling Holes
Before going any further, you should be clear on a simple fact.
While you could mount a TV without drilling holes in your wall in several ways, you should avoid most of them.
While they may work in theory, in practice, you are in danger of your TV falling off the wall unless you are very careful.
The best ways to mount your TV without damaging your wall in any way are to use the following:
- a floor stand with mount attachment
- a table or cabinet to stand the TV on
- a ceiling mount, if you don’t mind drilling into the ceiling instead of the wall
Failing that, the only way to attach a TV to a drywall or brick wall without making holes is by gluing it in place or using brick clamps.
While you can use adhesives to secure your TV on the wall, only use this option as a last resort.
There will always be a certain level of risk of your TV falling off the wall, so you should only do this if you are prepared to accept the consequences.
Using a dedicated TV wall mount should always be your first choice, and you can even learn how to hide the wires for a wall-mounted TV to make a sleek and professional look.
But, if drilling is not an option, here are eight ways to mount a TV without drilling holes in the wall.
1. Sticky Situation: Making Sense of Adhesives for Wall Mounting
Some specially formulated adhesives adhere to metal, wood or masonry. While primarily used for lighter objects like paintings and small mirrors, the stronger adhesives can now support the weight of an average-sized flat-screen TV.
Also known as grab adhesives, they provide high levels of bonding strength with products like “No More Nails” from Henkel, one of the more popular brands worldwide.
Each UniBond No More Nails Click & Fix cartridge produces 20 uniformly sized shots of glue that each fixes up to 44 pounds (20 Kg).
Therefore a complete cartridge contains 882 pounds (400 Kg) of adhesive strength – enough for most TVs.
You even have 10 minutes to reposition the glue before it sets. So ensure you have measured accurately before gluing the brackets in place (to avoid a sticky problem!).
Ensure the wall is clean for the best results by wiping it down with a brush and damp rag.
Avoid leaving dust or bits of loose plaster in the area where you attach the bracket, as it will weaken the bond.
But should you use this method for securing your TV to the wall? Probably not, so only try this at your own risk if you’ve exhausted all other options.
2. Double Trouble: The Magic of Double-sided Mounting Tape
Another option for small TVs is to use heavy-duty double-sided mounting tape.
Gorilla manufactures an extremely strong tape suitable for both rough and smooth surfaces.
Whether you have a brick wall, stone, or wood, their thick padded tape will stick fast – remove any dust or loose debris before applying the tape.
The tape is resistant to variations in moisture and temperature. It can support around 1 pound per 2 inches of tape, meaning you can hold up to 30 pounds of deadweight just by using the tape.
With the average flat-screen TV weighing less than this, supporting its weight with Gorilla tape is undoubtedly possible.
Scotch Extreme mounting tape is another option that works well and can support up to 30 pounds at 1 pound per 2-inch section.
However, I don’t recommend you mount your TV this way – even if it is only a small screen. Proceed with caution and be aware of the potential risk of the TV falling off the wall.
3. Smooth Operator: The Art of Using Adhesive Screws
Adhesive screws are for a smooth and rough-surfaced brick or concrete wall.
The mounting is adhered to the wall using epoxy injected into a recess in the back of the mounting plate.
Each small bracket has a threaded bolt that will accept a washer and nut, allowing you to position them and place a TV bracket over the mounting plate screws.
To attach an adhesive wall mount, clean the surface thoroughly and press the adhesive taped bracket against the wall.
Once it is in place, inject the accompanying glue into the holes. The glue ensures you fill the cavity behind the mount, and a small amount starts to come out of the top hole.
It usually takes about 12 hours for the glue to cure fully.
Once the glue has cured, you can hang your TV bracket on the wall screws.
Each adhesive mount can support up to 5kg, so at least four adhesive wall mounts are required to support an average TV safely.
Like all the adhesive options mentioned here, this isn’t an option you should try unless you have run out of other choices. And even then, think twice (or maybe, three times!).
4. Brick Clamps: A Stone-Cold Solution
Brick clamps (or brick clips) fit between the gaps in the bricks.
The clamps have a saw tooth edge at the top and a spring or clip that presses against the lower brick.
The clips can hold about 30 pounds (13kg), so using two or three might support the weight of a small TV.
You must ensure that your bricks have nice straight edges; otherwise, the clamps may not hold securely.
There also needs to be enough space between the front edge of the bricks and the mortar.
You’ll find that the minimum distance required is one-eighth of an inch (3.2mm).
Once the clips are in place, you can use them to take the weight of your TV, although you might still need to buy a wall mount bracket that will screw into the VESA mounting holes on the back of your television.
You can then hang this bracket from the brick clips.
Could you use a brick clamp to hang a TV? For a small screen, maybe.
Should you? No, probably not.
5. The Unsung Hero: Using a No-Stud Wall Mount
If you don’t want to drill a hole for a drywall anchor but are okay with using a nail, you can use a no-stud wall mount secured with small nails.
The no-stud wall mount will still damage the wall, but the holes are much smaller and easier to fill than large drilled holes.
What is a No Stud Wall Mount, and How Do You Install It?
Depending on the type of wall you have, no-stud wall mounts are designed for drywalls with no wall studs. So there is nowhere to screw a mounting bracket.
They are an excellent alternative to using a drywall anchor.
These mounts are usually an extended aluminum profile with many nail holes along the top edge. The rail is nailed through the holes using tiny nails that spread the load across the entire length.
Once you nail the rail in place, the other half of the wall mount is attached to your TV and then hung on the bracket.
The weight the no-stud wall mount will hold depends on the thickness of your drywall. You can expect it to hold around 1.2 to 1.6 pounds per square foot of drywall.
So, hanging the average small TV is relatively safe on a no-stud wall mount.
Here is a helpful explainer video about no-stud mounts from Mount-It, the popular TV wall mount brand.
For more detail on this, see how to wall mount a TV without studs.
6. Down to Earth: The Stability of Floor TV Stands
If you want to save space and still have your TV close to the wall, a TV stand will allow you to do this without damaging the wall’s surface.
Depending on the stand you purchase, the TV will look like it is attached to the wall, and you’ll have a few shelves to place any additional audio-visual equipment, such as a soundbar.
You can hide the TV cords inside the stand for a more aesthetically appealing look.
Many colors, sizes, and materials are available in TV stand construction. So you have plenty to choose from.
You can also buy stands with swivel mounts to position the TV exactly where you want it for the best view.
You can see the type of TV stand in this video by Kanto Solutions:
Another elegant solution I like is the Acadia Wall Stand by Salamander Designs.
Image Credit: Salamander Designs
This sleek, modern stand is an excellent solution for mounting a flat-screen TV in any space, home or office, without drilling holes in the wall.
It’s a dream come true if you dread getting your toolbox out of the cupboard!
The ACADIA Wall Stand comes in two sizes, the Acadia Large 400 and Acadia X-Large 600. Although, there is also a portable version, the Acadia Mobile Stand.
Here are the main differences between the wall stands:
| Acadia Large 400 | Acadia X-Large 600 | |
|---|---|---|
| TV Size Range | 30″ – 65″ | 40″ – 85″ |
| Maximum Weight | 66 lbs (30 kg) | 99 lbs (45 kg) |
| VESA Compatibility | 200-400 | 200-600 |
| MSRP | $399 | $499 |
Both models have an anti-tip device for extra safety, meaning you can be sure it will stay in place once you have installed everything.
And you can adjust the screen height to five positions in two-inch increments. The flexible screen height will allow for fine-tuning the viewing position depending on where you sit.
The Acadia Wall Stand also comes with Salamander Designs’ premium service and a full 5-year warranty, a testament to the company’s confidence in their product.
- Sleek form factor with complete cable management
- Sturdy anti-tip, anti-fall device with stabilizing pad
- Adjustable screen height with five positions in 2-inch increments
- 3 simple parts for a 5-minute installation
- More expensive than some alternatives, but it's built to last
In addition to the wall stand, you can buy some useful accessories that will help if you have extra devices to install or if you use external speakers (please say you are!):
- Tech Shelf: adds a shelf above or below the screen for devices
- Technology Box: creates a storage area behind the screen
- Glass Shelf: adds a shelf below the TV for a center speaker (or any other device)
- Universal Soundbar Mount: for securing a soundbar above or below the screen
- Box-Up: adds more storage space for peripherals on the side of the column
7. Old School Charm: Using a TV Cabinet or Table for Mounting
The easiest option is to place the TV on its stand on a table or TV cabinet.
It may be a little old-fashioned, but it prevents you from making holes in the walls or ceiling. So, who cares if you keep your walls looking as good as new?
You can buy a dedicated AV cabinet with compartments for your equipment, ventilation holes and cable management features – or use a table or desk you already own.
The main thing to consider is getting the TV at the correct height for viewing when sitting down.
Ideally, this should be around eye level because watching a TV that is too high or low for long periods can be uncomfortable.
As with the floor stands mentioned previously, you can also buy table-top TV wall mounts for more positioning options.
These stand on the table or cabinet, allowing you to hang the TV as if you had fixed it to the wall.
8. Sky’s the Limit: The Appeal of Ceiling TV Mounts
Another alternative is to use a ceiling TV mount. Ceiling mounts will require drilling holes, but not in the wall, so I can get away with including it here! 🙂
These full-motion mounts are attached to the ceiling and secured to the beams or joists in your roof – or directly into the concrete.
You must drill holes in your ceiling and accurately locate the joists or beams. The bracket is then attached to the ceiling using extra-long screws. You then connect the TV mounting bracket to an extension arm.
Adjust the extension arm for your desired height and viewing angle.
Here is a helpful guide to installing a ceiling TV mount.
Ceiling mounts come with an adjustable TV bracket for various TV sizes.
Once you have measured the mounting holes on the back of your TV, you can adjust the ceiling mount bracket to fit.
Then attach the TV to the ceiling mount after you bolt the bracket to the rear of the TV.
Installing a TV this way is a 2-person job for most people as getting everything to line up at eye level when you have the TV in the air can be awkward.
FAQ: More Queries About Drill-Free TV Mounting Answered!
How Do You Mount a TV on the Wall Without Damaging the Wall?
A TV could be mounted on the wall using glue or mounting strips, but it’s not advisable in most scenarios. A heavy-duty adhesive designed for weights between 25-30 pounds (12-15 Kg) will support the average weight of smaller flat-screen TVs. However, a proper TV wall mount would be advised in most cases, as adhesives will always be prone to failure. You could also use a TV ceiling mount or floor stand.
Can You Wall Mount a Television Without Drilling?
Yes, you can mount a TV on the wall using a no-stud wall mount nailed to the drywall, brick clamps that fit between the bricks, double-sided tape or industrial-strength adhesive. However, most of these methods involve some risk of your TV falling off the wall. Hence, drilling holes for a suitable TV wall mount or using a floor stand is the best solution.
Can You Velcro a TV to the Wall?
There are Velcro mounts for attaching TVs to a wall bracket, although you will still need to secure the bracket to the wall with proper fixings. While you could use Velcro alone for a tiny screen, you shouldn’t use it as a way of mounting a TV on the wall in most cases.
Can You Hang a TV with Command Strips?
You could hang a TV with Command Strips, but you should only do it in rare circumstances. Command Strips double-sided tape can support weights up to 16 pounds (7.25kg). Therefore it could be considered for very small screens. But a proper wall mount would be better most of the time, or you will risk the screen falling off the wall.
About The Author
Paul started the Home Cinema Guide to help less-experienced users get the most out of today's audio-visual technology. He has been a sound, lighting and audio-visual engineer for around 20 years. At home, he has spent more time than is probably healthy installing, configuring, testing, de-rigging, fixing, tweaking, re-installing again (and sometimes using) various pieces of hi-fi and home cinema equipment. You can find out more here.
