Choosing a TV Wall Mount

1. VESA pattern — will it physically attach?

VESA is the horizontal and vertical spacing, in millimetres, between the four threaded holes on the back of the TV. Common patterns are 100×100, 200×200, 400×400 and 600×400. The mount must list your TV's pattern, or a range including it.

Find it in the TV manual, on the manufacturer's spec page, or by measuring hole centre to hole centre yourself. Note that some curved and very large TVs use non-standard patterns needing an adapter plate.

2. Weight rating — with margin

Check the TV's actual weight, not an estimate from screen size; panel weights vary widely between models and years. Choose a mount rated comfortably above it. Ratings assume ideal fixing into solid material, so margin covers the difference between the lab and your wall.

3. Mount type — match it to the room

4. The details worth checking

• Wall gap when folded. Full-motion mounts sit 2–5 inches off the wall even closed. If a flush look matters, that decides it.
• Post-install levelling. Mounts offering a few degrees of roll adjustment after hanging save considerable frustration on an imperfect wall.
• Cable routing provision. Better mounts include channels or clips through the arm.
• Included hardware. Check whether lag bolts and masonry anchors are supplied and appropriate for your wall.
• Stud spacing compatibility. US framing is typically 16 inches on centre; confirm the mount's wall plate spans two studs.

Do not buy on price alone at the low end. The difference between a budget and a mid-range mount is usually steel thickness and weld quality — precisely the properties that matter when something heavy hangs off it for a decade.