If you are looking to mount a new tv on your wall, it’s crucial that you know the weight limits of the wall mount ahead of time.
Not all tv wall mounts are the same, and they vary in the maximum amount of weight they will support.
Placing a tv that is too heavy for the mount can cause damage, injuries and will be a costly mistake. This can be avoided by researching the weight limit of the tv mount before purchasing.
If you already own the wall mount, you can research the make and model of the mount to find out its exact weight limit to ensure it’s suitable to support the weight of your tv.
How Much Weight Does A TV Mount Hold?
Tv wall mounts vary in size, shape, and design. The amount of weight a tv mount can hold varies and certain mounts are designed to hold higher weights. Each tv wall mount will have a maximum weight limit as shown by the manufacturer’s specifications. The weight limit will be clearly marked on the packaging.
On average, a tv wall mount will support between 30-175 pounds. Although I have seen certain heavy-duty wall mounts hold up to 280 pounds.
For example, the Sanus Premium Universal 3-Stud Heavy Duty wall mount will support up to 280 pounds.
Certain tv wall mounts will show the maximum tv size as well as the weight limit. For example, the SANUS Advanced Tilt tv wall mount is suitable for TVs between 46″ and 90″ screen size.
What are the VESA mounting standards?
Before choosing a tv wall mount, you will also need to adhere to the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) mounting standards for your specific tv. VESA is a set of guidelines used to ensure that TVs for various manufacturers and mounting hardware are compatible with each other.
Basically, the VESA standard shows the screw-hole patterns on the back of a TV that can be used to attach a mount. You will notice two numbers that indicate the distance between the screw holes, measured in millimeters.
For example, a VESA 100 x 100 pattern means that the distance between the screw holes horizontally and vertically is 100 millimeters.
Where do I check the VESA pattern for my tv?
To find the VESA pattern for your tv, you can check the user manual. If unable to do that, you can measure the hole pattern on the back of your tv. The screw holes will be placed in a square or rectangular pattern.
Simply measure the distance in millimeters between the holes to determine the corresponding VESA pattern.
VESA patterns include:
- 75 x 75
- 100 x 100
- 200 x 100
- 200 x 200
- 300 x 200
- 300 x 300
- 400 x 200
- 400 x 300
- 400 x 400
- 600 x 400
- 800 x 600
Generally, the larger the screw hole pattern, the larger the tv and mount size.
TV wall mount weight examples
If you are looking for a wall mount that is suitable for the weight of your tv, here are some examples along with the maximum weight limits and tv size.
- USX Full motion tv mount – 37″-75″ TVs up to 132 pounds with 600 x 400 hole pattern.
- MOUNTUP Full Motion TV Wall Mount – 26″-50″ TVs up to 55 pounds with 300 x 300 hole pattern.
- SANUS Advanced Tilt 4D Premium – 42″-90″ TVs up to 150 pounds with 600 x 400 hole pattern.
TV wall mounting considerations
Wall location
Not only does the wall mount need to be strong enough to hold the weight of your tv, but so does the wall. To properly wall mount a tv, ensure you are positioning it using the wall studs.
The wall studs will hold much more weight than mounting the tv into gyprock. The studs can support a heavier tv with the supplied anchoring equipment. Mounting a tv into gyprock even with anchors is not recommended.
Location of power outlets
Before you start drilling holes in your wall, ensure the location has proper power outlet access. Ensure there is plenty of space for power bars and cable management systems.
Availability of ports
Many people forget about this one. Before buying a wall mount, consider the location of the ports on the tv. If the tv has back ports only, you may need to use a telescoping or tilting tv wall mount as accessing the ports once mounted will be difficult.
A standard fixed wall mount might not be an option.
Reaching behind the tv with HDMI cables once the tv is mounted could be impossible. This is not a concern with ports located on the side of the tv.
Mounting over a fireplace
It may seem like a great idea to mount a tv over a fireplace as it is esthetically pleasing. But this should never be an option. Not only is this is a fire hazard, but you can cause serious damage to your tv and accessories.
Measure accurately and use the proper tools
To properly mount a tv to your wall it’s important to take extra time to measure precisely and ensure the tv is level. You will be drilling holes into the wall and studs and making an error in measuring will cause you to patch and paint the wall.
You will need certain tools as well. Most tv wall mounts will require a drill and bits, a socket set, measuring tape, and a level.