How do I mount a TV on drywall?

Mount to the studs, not the drywall

Drywall is a covering, not a support. A TV mount has to be fastened into the framing behind it. Sanus says its VLF613 mount is designed for wood stud, solid concrete and concrete block walls, and must not be installed into drywall alone.^[1] Every mount differs, so use your own manual as the final word, but the stud rule is the same for lag-bolt mounts.

This guide covers the common case: a drywall wall over wood studs and a mount that bolts to them. If your wall is something else, see the end of the page.

Check what your mount allows

Before you touch the wall, read the limits in the manual. For the Sanus model, the wall must be capable of supporting five times the weight of the TV and mount combined.^[1] The same manual says the drywall covering the wall must not exceed 5/8 in., the wood studs must be at least a nominal 2 x 4 in., and the fasteners must be at least 16 in. apart horizontally.^[1]

Weigh your TV against the mount's rating, and keep the mount's own weight in mind. If your TV is too heavy or too large, buy a mount rated for it instead of stretching one.

Find and mark the studs

Stud centers must be verified.^[1] A stud finder gives you a first guess. Then confirm it: locate the studs with a stud finder, find the edges of the studs with an awl or a small drill bit, and mark the centers with a pencil.^[1]

Do this with the TV's position in mind. Hold a piece of painter's tape up where the screen will go, step back and check the height from where you sit. Many people hang a TV too high. Mark the stud centers inside that area, then use the template that comes with the mount, or the wall plate itself, to line up the slotted holes with your center lines. Level it and tape it in place.

Do not assume studs are evenly spaced. Walls near doors, windows and corners often have extra framing, and a wall can be framed differently from the one next to it.

Drill and fasten

Drill every pilot hole into the middle of the stud, because the bolt grips best there and a hole near the edge can miss the wood. Sanus is blunt about it: be sure to drill into the center of the stud.^[1]

Follow the bit size and depth in your manual. For the VLF613, Sanus specifies a 7/32 in. drill bit and a pilot hole 3 1/2 in. deep for each lag bolt in a wood stud.^[1] A piece of tape on the bit marks the depth.

Then drive in the lag bolts with a socket or wrench, not an impact driver that can strip them. All four lag bolts must be firmly tightened to prevent unwanted movement of the wall plate.^[1] Tug on the plate before you hang anything. If it shifts, stop and find out why.

Hang the TV and manage the cords

Attach the brackets to the back of the TV, then lift it onto the plate with a helper. A heavy TV is awkward at arm's length, and a dropped screen is expensive.

Keep cables tidy and out of reach. CPSC says to keep TV and/or cable cords out of reach of children.^[2] It also reports that about 70 percent of the children's fatalities it counted between 2000 and 2010 (169 incidents) involved falling TVs, which is one more reason to get the mount right.^[2] If you want the cables hidden in the wall, read whether you can run TV cables inside the wall.

Stop and call a pro if

• You want a power outlet behind the TV. Adding an outlet is electric wiring, and installations or alterations involving electric wiring need a permit application.^[3] Virginia defines a tradesman as someone who works for the general public for compensation in the trades of electrical, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, so hire a licensed electrician.^[4]
• You cannot find solid studs where the TV needs to go. Do not substitute drywall anchors for a mount made for studs.
• The wall is concrete, block, brick or plaster over masonry. The fasteners and drill bits differ, and the manual for your mount sets separate rules for them.
• The stud finder, or the drill, suggests wiring or pipes in the stud bay. Stop drilling.
• The TV and mount are heavier than the mount, or the wall, allows. The five-times rule is a manufacturer's limit, not a guess.
• The mount sits over a fireplace, or the studs are steel. Your manual may not cover these.

Getting help in Virginia

Hanging a TV is a common handyman job, so see how much TV mounting costs in Virginia, browse more handyman answers or find help in handyman services.

When you want it done for you, describe your TV and wall and local pros will quote it.