Flat TV wall brackets are the simplest – they attach your television to the wall in a fixed position and don’t move in any way. Then there are the articulating or full-motion TV mounts. They’re capable of turning and swiveling to face other directions. Lastly, tilting TV brackets can be angled up or down, which can be useful when you’re trying to avoid screen reflections or glare. If you bought a TV during the holidays or plan to have one for the new year, we analyzed the market to find the best TV wall mounts available right now. Also: The 5 best wireless surround sound systems
If you’re looking for a full-motion mount that can tilt and swivel, USX Mount’s model is strong enough to hold televisions up to 84 inches and 132 pounds. Plus, it extends as far as 16.49 inches from the wall and angles up to 45 degrees. The size allowances mean that even larger 4K TVs can be adjusted to face other areas of a room or tilt away from irritating glare. Keep in mind that the range depends on the television itself. Larger televisions may not have as much clearance to swivel as smaller TVs, but the flexibility this full-motion TV wall mount provides is still worthwhile. If you don’t need a fully articulating TV mount, Mounting Dream’s fixed wall bracket is a great option. Installation is simple and takes about half an hour using the provided hardware and directions. The TV snaps into place and can be unlocked for removal with no additional tools required. Plus, this TV bracket is the slimmest of all the models reviewed, jutting out only 1 inch. That small clearance can, however, make it difficult to access the back of the television when mounted. One of the biggest issues when installing your own TV wall mount is the final look. Despite your best efforts, you may find that the television doesn’t sit perfectly level, or it could have been better to hang a bit higher or lower. This can also be an issue when you’re working with a full-motion bracket that may need extra adjustment when placed at a certain angle. Everstone’s TV wall mount makes it easy to adjust the television after the fact by tweaking it a few inches higher or lower, or by angling the TV to seem eye-level. Bright, sunny rooms are a wonderful environment – until it’s time to watch TV. You may find that glares or reflections on screen make it difficult to enjoy what you’re watching. In most cases, the problem can be solved by angling the television. Mounting Dream’s MD2268-LK makes it possible to tilt the TV +/- 8 degrees, just enough to get rid of distracting glare. The bracket’s hardware is heavy-duty, ensuring that even the heaviest televisions can tilt easily – and stay in position. It can be complicated to properly space wall studs where you want your TV to hand. It may end up hanging off-center, or away from your ideal location. In other instances, you may want to hang the television in a corner but having to mount the TV on two walls makes this impossible. This TV wall mount is unique – the bracket itself is mounted vertically instead of horizontally, so you can take advantage of a single vertical wall stud. Curved TVs are hugely popular but challenging to wall mount, because not all brackets are compatible with the TV’s design. This model is extremely versatile and capable of working with flat and curved TVs up to 80 inches in size. Best of all, the fully articulating TV bracket can extend up to 16 inches and swivel and tilt for ultimate viewing flexibility, regardless of the type of television you choose to mount. Start with your television’s size. While most wall-mounting kits cover many television sizes, it’s good to know your TV’s actual size before you order. Keep in mind that the television size isn’t a simple measurement of the width of the television. TVs are classified by diagonal screen length instead. A 48-inch TV isn’t 48 inches wide. Therefore, be sure to check your television’s manual for sizing, or measure the screen diagonally, from one upper corner to the opposite lower corner, to know if the wall mount you’re looking at is compatible with your TV size. Next, consider the room’s function and overall atmosphere. If it’s a sunny room, you may want a tilting TV mount that allows you to adjust the screen a few degrees up or down to avoid reflective spots. In other situations, if the sitting area isn’t directly in front of the television or the TV is shared between multiple zones, a full-motion or articulating TV wall mount may be a better option. Full-motion TV mounts are usually the most expensive but allow you to pull out and turn the television toward other spots for added viewing flexibility.
Universality: To keep this guide as simple as possible, we chose kits that work with a variety of television models and sizes. Best of all, if your TV needs to be replaced down the road, you’ll probably be able to leave the bracket in place and hang the new television using existing hardware.Installation ease: The best TV wall mounts include detailed directions and hardware to install it yourself. We prefer models that include video directions and all the nuts and bolts you’ll need to hang your television, regardless of model and size. These kits also include a level and stud finder to help you find the strongest spot on the wall to attach the bracket. In addition, we chose models that come with a mounting template. The paper template eliminates the need for measuring and shows you where to drill, saving you time and preventing unnecessary holes in the wall.Quality: These TV wall mounts feature steel construction and the ability to hold TVs that weigh over 100 pounds. However, the highest-quality wall mount is only as good as its installation. Be sure the bracket is properly anchored into the wall’s studs to ensure safe operation. When in doubt, paying for professional installation may be worth the money. Value: We chose the most affordable models that include everything you need to install and enjoy your new wall-mounted television.Customer reviews: Customer opinions provide valuable insight into how TV wall mounts actually perform. We chose models with a high number of positive reviews, although we also read the negative to get a realistic impression.
The best TV wall mounts come with a small stud finder that helps you find where the studs are located behind the drywall. In most cases, the stud finder is nothing more than a powerful magnet that can find the nails attached to the wall studs. Make sure you screw the TV wall mount into the studs to ensure it’s securely attached to the wall. Or, you can order wall cable covers or concealers. Many concealers are even paintable for a seamless look. In most cases, you won’t need to worry about measuring. Many of the best TV wall mounts are universal and come with the hardware you need to install TVs in the most common VESA sizes.
