Living rooms
The most common setting. The TV goes on the main wall at seated eye level, freeing the floor and giving the room a tidy, finished look.
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The TV mounting
guide.
Everything worth knowing before a television goes on the wall — what mounting is, how it's used, why people choose it, and where to find the parts and help. Written to inform, not to sell.
1 · What it is
What TV mounting actually means.
At its simplest, mounting is holding a television against a wall with a bracket rather than resting it on furniture. A few standard parts make it work.
A TV mount (or "wall bracket") is a metal fitting in two halves. One half screws to the wall; the other bolts to the four threaded holes on the back of the television. The two halves then lock together, so the screen hangs from the wall with nothing underneath it.
Those four holes follow a worldwide standard called VESA — a simple measurement, in millimetres, of the spacing between them (for example 200 × 200 or 400 × 400). Because almost every flat TV and almost every mount use the same VESA system, brackets and televisions from different makers generally fit one another. It's the reason mounting is a generic task rather than a brand-specific one.
The other half of the job is the wall. A television's weight has to be carried by something solid — the timber studs or steel framing behind plasterboard, the joists behind a ceiling, or rated fixings in brick or concrete — never the thin plasterboard alone. Getting that anchoring right is what separates a mount that lasts for years from one that works loose.
In one sentence: a mount is a standard metal bracket that transfers a TV's weight into the solid structure of a wall — turning a screen that used to sit on a cabinet into one that appears to float.
2 · How it's used
Where mounting shows up in real homes.
The same basic idea adapts to very different rooms. These are the situations where people most often mount a screen, and what each one is trying to solve.
Bedrooms
Often mounted a little higher, and sometimes tilted down, so the screen is comfortable to watch while lying in bed rather than sitting upright.
Above a fireplace
A popular but demanding spot: the screen sits high, so a tilting or pull-down mount is used to angle it down, and heat and mantel clearance need thought.
Kitchens & corners
Where seating isn't centred on the screen, a full-motion arm lets the TV swing out and turn toward wherever someone happens to be standing or sitting.
Offices & gyms
Home offices use mounts for a second display or video calls; home gyms mount a screen high and tilted so it's visible from a treadmill or mat.
Open-plan & commercial
Cafés, waiting rooms, and open spaces without a suitable wall often use ceiling mounts to place a screen where no wall can reach.
3 · The benefits
Why people mount instead of using a stand.
Mounting isn't automatically better than a table or unit — but there are clear reasons it's so common. Weighed honestly, here's what it offers, and what to keep in mind.
Saves space
The screen no longer needs a cabinet or stand beneath it, which frees floor area and suits small rooms where furniture is at a premium.
Better viewing
A mount fixes the screen at a chosen height and angle, so it can be set to comfortable eye level and tilted to cut glare from windows or lights.
A cleaner look
A flush screen with the cables routed out of sight gives a minimal, built-in appearance that many people prefer to a stand full of visible wires.
Can be safer
A screen anchored to structure can't be knocked off a unit by children or pets. This depends entirely on correct fixing — a poor mount is less safe, not more.
Tidier cables
Mounting is usually paired with running cables inside the wall or in a slim cover, so nothing dangles between the screen and the devices below.
Trade-offs to know
Mounting means drilling permanent holes, it's harder to reposition later, and above-fireplace or in-wall cabling adds complexity. Worth weighing before you commit.
4 · Availability
Where mounts and help are available.
Both the hardware and the labour are easy to find, at a wide range of prices. These are the general channels — described by category, not by brand.
Electronics & hardware stores
Physical shops that sell televisions almost always stock a range of mounts nearby, along with the screws and tools to fit them. Staff can usually point you to a bracket rated for your screen size.
Online retailers
The widest choice and the clearest specs are online, where mounts are listed by VESA size, weight rating, and movement type. Reviews and fitting guides usually come with them.
Handypeople
General handypeople and odd-job services will fit a mount you've bought. A good fit for straightforward jobs on a solid wall where no cable-hiding is needed.
Professional installers
Specialists who mount screens all day, and the usual choice for tricky walls, fireplaces, in-wall cabling, or large and expensive televisions where getting it right matters most.
Not sure which route fits your situation? The Compare page sets the mount types and the ways of getting them fitted side by side, with the trade-offs of each.
Common questions
Things people often ask.
General answers to the questions that come up most — informational, and not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional about your specific wall.
Can any TV be mounted?+
Nearly all modern flat-screen televisions have the standard VESA holes on the back and can be mounted. Very old or unusually shaped sets, and a few designs meant to sit on a stand, may not — the maker's manual states whether a set is "wall-mountable" and which VESA size it uses.
Can a TV be mounted on any wall?+
It depends on what's behind the surface. Walls with solid timber or steel framing, or solid brick and concrete, can carry a television with the right fixings. Hollow partition walls, some plasterboard-on-batten walls, and certain older constructions need extra care or aren't suitable. When in doubt, a qualified installer or builder can assess it.
What is VESA and why does it matter?+
VESA is the standard spacing of the mounting holes on the back of a TV, given as width × height in millimetres. It matters because a mount must match the television's VESA pattern and weight rating to fit safely. Matching them is the single most important check before buying a bracket.
How high should a mounted TV be?+
A common guideline is to place the centre of the screen at seated eye level — often roughly 100–130 cm from the floor, depending on the room and seating. Higher placements, such as above a fireplace, usually pair with a tilting mount so the screen still angles toward the viewer.
Can the cables be hidden?+
Often, yes. On suitable walls, cables can be run inside the wall to a relocated outlet so nothing shows. Where in-wall routing isn't safe or allowed — some masonry, rentals, or fire-rated walls — a slim surface cover (a "raceway") that can be painted is the usual alternative. Mains wiring should always follow local electrical rules.
Is it better to mount it myself or get help?+
That's exactly what the Compare page is for. Broadly: a simple mount on a solid wall is within reach for a confident DIYer with a stud finder and a drill; fireplaces, in-wall cabling, heavy screens, and uncertain walls are where professional help earns its cost.
Keep reading
Ready to compare the options?
See the mount types and the ways of getting one fitted set side by side — with the effort and trade-offs of each laid out plainly.