How to Mount a Heavy TV on the Wall for Those Who Love a Big Screen

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, tvs have come a very long way since they were first invented in the late 1920s. From better picture quality to Although you may not have an actual behemoth of a tv, like the Sony 34-Inch of the early 2000s that weighed a staggering 200lbs, tv-viewers still love to watch their favorite shows and teams on a nice, big screen tv.

Now, however, despite tvs having a more streamlined look and feel, the weight of a particularly big screen can still pose a challenge when transferring a tv to a different room, packing it up for a move across town, or even mounting a tv on the wall.

If you own a big screen tv, or you’re in the market for a new one, and you’re curious how best to mount a heavy tv, what kind of equipment is needed and what type of mount you might need, read on! We have some answers for you. 

Can You Mount a Heavy TV On a Wall?

The answer to this question depends entirely on the strength of the wall to which you are mounting your heavy tv. If the wall you’re considering doesn’t have any studs, it’s better to be safe than sorry, forgo mounting your heavy tv on the wall or use the appropriate anchor to support the tv’s weight.

Toggle anchors and toggle bolts look like regular screws, but they come with a butterfly toggle at the end. When placed in the wall, the toggle anchors work by attaching to the back of the drywall. Pulling at the screw or applying some external force has little impact as the toggle causes the whole sheet of drywall to respond, rather than just the crumbly center.

Screws are another dependable option great for hanging heavier items, like a tv wall mount for a heavy tv. What you need to remember about screws though is that they should be drilled at least 1” into a stud.

Testing Your Stud Material

Not only do you need the right tools to safely install your tv mount for a heavy tv to the wall, it’s also important to first test the strength of the studs and the wall before you begin the installation process.

First, figure out what type of studs your home has. If you live in a typical single family home, odds are your home has wooden studs. On the other hand, if you live in a high rise in a city, your building likely has metal frames which require different tools and instructions for mounting pictures, mirrors, and tv mounts to the wall. Not sure the make of your studs? That’s okay, there are a number of ways you can test and plot the layout of the studs in your home.

Wood studs are typically heavier and can support more weight than metal studs. If you do have metal studs, however, there’s no need to despair, metal studs can still hold heavy objects if you use a bracket and mounting materials with the appropriate weight distribution for the item you’re hanging, whether that’s a tv wall mount for a heavy tv or a stunning, large piece of art.

Considerations for a Wall Mount for a Heavy TV

The first checkbox for when you’re looking to purchase a wall mount for a heavy tv is to guarantee the weight of the wall mount can sustain the weight of your television. If there is a discrepancy between the two, it’s best to continue looking for the ideal mount.

When it comes to MantelMount tv mounts, our mounts have a range for the amount of weight each mount can support. Our popular MM540 Enhanced TV Mount has a weight capacity of 90lbs with the tv dimension being at most 80” diagonal. If you’re looking for a more visual representation of what the MM540 has to withstand and the specifications, we have a handy spec guide.

If you have a slightly heavier television, our MM700 Premier Pull Down TV Mount has a weight capacity of 115lbs and the largest diagonal dimension at 90”. Is your heavy and larger flat screen tv used for movies, video games, and sports watching? If there is some weight that you can still add to the mount, even with the mounted tv, consider mount accessories like a sound bar, a recess box, or a thin tv gap spacer.

How to Mount a Heavy TV

This is where a friend or family member will need to step in to help out. Even though modern tvs may not be as heavy as the Sony 34-inch, flat screens are a bit top heavy, and while a person may be capable of lifting the tv on their own, balancing it alone can be kind of tricky.

If you decide to buy a MantelMount for your heavy tv, the process of hanging your mount on the wall is quite simple. We have installation guides and addendums at the ready for anyone who purchases one of our mounts. If you’re still struggling and using the guides, take a brief watch of this installation help video.

MantelMount Installation Tips from MantelMount on Vimeo.

Regardless of installation guides and videos, it’s vital to make certain that you prepare the space around where you will be placing the wall mount, by not just finding the stud to use, but clean up the area so you have enough space to work with. Additionally, similar to removing a wall mount, have all of your tools and equipment readily available so the installation process is as simple as it can be. Here are some of the tools you’ll need.

• Painter’s tape
• Tape measure
• A level
• Concrete anchors and lag bolts — these items come in every MantelMount box
• Concrete screws and washers
• Drill with a hammer drill function
• Concrete drill bit
• Socket adapter, ratchet, or rubber mallet

Step 1. Locate the studs in your wall.

The most efficient way to find studs in the wall is to use a stud finder. These can easily be purchased at your local hardware store or online. Once you have your stud finder, hold it to the wall you wish to use to display the tv. If the stud finder beeps while scanning the wall, this indicates there’s a stud under the drywall.

You can also test by knocking lightly along the wall with your knuckles to hear for any hollow spots — these are spots to avoid. Once you’ve confirmed you’ve found studs, mark the stud’s center with a pencil.

Step 2. Make sure your measurements are level.

You’ll need to grab your partner for this step. Once you’ve indicated where your pilot holes will go, have a friend or family member hold the bracket’s slats over the marks. Place your bubble level on top of the bracket and ensure it sits level. If not, you may need to adjust one of the pilot holes slightly up or down so your tv sits straight. It’s important to verify this before drilling because once you start creating holes, it can be very difficult to troubleshoot without causing additional damage to the wall.

Step 3. Mark and drill your pilot holes.

To properly mount your flat screen, you’ll have to create drill holes that are the correct size for your tv mount for a heavy tv. Typically, a ¼” drill will work, but this can vary depending on the unique specs of your tv mount.

As the saying goes in sewing, “measure twice and cut once”. Remeasure your tv, the bracket and mount, and double check that the drill hole marks you’ve made on the wall line up with your tv mount’s slats. When all of your measurements look correct, drill your holes into the studs.

Step 4. Attach your bracket to the wall and the tv to the bracket.

Clear the drill dust out of your freshly-made pilot holes, add washers to the end of your screws, and secure the bracket to the wall through the bracket slats. Attach the tv mounting plate to the back of the tv and, with a partner, line up the tv mount with the bracket on the wall according to the manufacturer’s instructions.