Choosing a Flat Panel TV Wall Mount

wall mounted flat screen television mounted above wooden cabinet with stereo

Flat panel TV wall mounts come in a number of styles and sizes. The right one can make your new TV the centerpiece of your room. The wrong one can fail, leaving you with holes in your wall and a broken TV on your floor.

Weight Capacity -- The Most Important Thing

Your new wall mount must be able to support your TV's weight. Before shopping for a mount, consult your set's Owner's Manual to find out its weight without the stand. Once you know the weight, look only at mounts which will support your set. Think about one which will also hold a heavier TV. That way, you can reuse it for your next flat screen.

Mount Sizes

Just as with weight capacities, mounts are rated as to the size of flat screen TV that they can support. If you have a 32 inch TV, buy a mount that is rated to hold it. Because mounts typically hold a range of TV sizes, you may want to buy a mount that holds a 32-50 inch set instead of a mount that holds sets sized from 20-32 inches, for example.

Flat Mounts

Flat mounts are typically the cheapest and thinnest mounting option, especially for large or heavy TVs. They hold the set very close to the wall, but do not allow you to adjust its position or viewing angle. These mounts are best if you can mount the screen in the perfect position for viewing and will not need to move it at all.

Tilting Mounts

Tilting mounts are similar to flat mounts except that they allow you to adjust the TV's tilt angle. Although thicker than flat mounts, they still mount your set relatively close to the wall for an attractive low-profile appearance. The ability to tilt the set is useful because it allows you to, for instance, aim a set that is mounted slightly high on the wall down at the viewing position.

Unless you really need the extra motion, a tilting mount is probably your best bet. It gives you some flexibility, but also features a low price and profile.

Mounts with Arms

Mounts which place your set at the end of an arm can be called articulating mounts or pivot/tilt mounts. Although the exact degree of motion varies from mount to mount, all will give you the ability to better position the set for your exact needs. On the other hand, their additional complexity typically comes with a higher price and less weight capacity.

The right wall mount can make your new TV the centerpiece of your room