If you want to have a wall mounted TV, you need TV brackets, but not all TV bracket types are the same. In this guide to wall mounted TVs, we explore which TV bracket types you need to get the best from a wall hung TV in your home.
The Wall Stud Mapping Strategy That Prevents Bracket Failures
Most people focus on choosing the right bracket type but overlook the critical foundation: proper wall stud placement. The difference between a secure mount and a catastrophic failure often comes down to a few inches.
Pre-Installation Wall Assessment:
• Use a stud finder to mark all studs within your desired TV placement zone
• Measure stud spacing (typically 16″ or 24″ on center) to determine bracket compatibility
• Identify any electrical wiring or plumbing behind the wall using a multi-scanner
• Test wall material—drywall requires anchoring to studs, while concrete needs masonry anchors
The “Triangle of Support” Method
Position your bracket so at least two mounting points hit solid studs, creating a triangular support structure. This distributes your TV’s weight across multiple anchor points rather than relying on a single stud or wall anchors.
Red Flag Zones to Avoid:
• Areas directly above radiators (heat can damage electronics)
• Exterior walls in cold climates (condensation risk)
• Walls adjacent to staircases (vibration from foot traffic)
TV bracket types: Flat brackets
In a modern living room, a TV can look effective when it’s mounted and hung on a wall. Thanks to technology, the thickness of TVs has shrunk immensely over the years, so now TVs blend in effortlessly on the wall.
Plus, if you’re short on space in your living room, a wall hung TV can be the perfect solution, as it doesn’t take up valuable room on a specialist stand or placed on other pieces of furniture.
Whether you choose to mount your TV on a chimney breast or wall in your living room, at eye level directly in front of your sofa, then the best TV mounts to choose are flat brackets. They’ll help your TV look like it could be a picture hanging on the wall and provide an ideal angle for viewing in line with your seating arrangements.
Flat Bracket Compatibility by TV Size and Weight
| TV Screen Size | Typical Weight Range | Wall Clearance Needed |
| 32″-43″ | 15-25 lbs | 0.5″-1″ |
| 50″-65″ | 30-50 lbs | 1″-1.5″ |
| 70″-85″ | 55-90 lbs | 1.5″-2″ |
TV bracket types: Tilting brackets
A wall mounted TV can be a luxury in a bedroom. There’s something comforting about being able to settle down to rest and relax on your bed at the end of a busy day and enjoying your favourite film before going to sleep.
If you want to be able to get the best angle for watching TV in bed, then tilting brackets are a great choice. These TV bracket types mean that you won’t have to get a stiff neck watching TV in bed as your mount is positioned at the perfect spot and the bracket at the ideal angle for viewing.
As a bonus, tiling wall brackets can be tilted when needed to help to deflect reflections or sunlight, ensuring that your viewing pleasure isn’t hampered by natural elements.
Optimal Tilt Angles for Different Viewing Scenarios
| Viewing Position | Recommended Tilt | Primary Benefit |
| Lying in bed | 5-10° down | Reduces neck strain |
| High wall mount | 10-15° down | Improves viewing angle |
| Bright room | Variable adjustment | Deflects glare/sunlight |
| Above fireplace | 12-20° down | Compensates for height |
TV bracket types: Full-motion brackets
If you’re keen to have a wall mounted TV in an open plan living-dining room, or dining-kitchen room, then you may need your mount to be more flexible. The rooms can be bigger and serve several purposes so you could potentially watch your TV whilst either cooking, eating or relaxing.
In such a scenario, a fixed bracket won’t be practical, as you may be unable to see your TV from certain points in the room and even a tilting bracket can be limited. Enter a full-motion bracket.
A full-motion bracket does as its name suggests – it moves and swivels to any position so you can enjoy your TV from a variety of angles. The screen can be turned and tilted, so you can avoid getting sunlight on the screen and still get to watch whilst you’re cooking in your kitchen or eating your meal in your dining room.
The Viewing Angle Science: Why Your Neck Hurts After Movie Night
Most people mount their TVs based on aesthetics rather than ergonomics, leading to neck strain and eye fatigue. The ideal viewing position follows a precise formula based on room dimensions and seating height.
The 15-Degree Rule
Your eye line when seated should meet the TV screen at a downward angle of no more than 15 degrees. Measure from your seated eye height (typically 42″ from the floor when sitting on a standard sofa) to determine the center point of your TV screen placement.
Distance-to-Size Calculator:
• 40-50″ TV: Sit 5-8 feet away
• 55-65″ TV: Sit 7-10 feet away
• 70-85″ TV: Sit 9-14 feet away
Multiply your TV’s screen size by 1.5 to get the minimum viewing distance in inches, then convert to feet.
The Bedroom Exception
Bedroom TVs should be mounted higher (10-15 degrees above eye line when lying down) because you’re viewing from a reclined position. The tilting bracket becomes essential here, angled downward 5-10 degrees toward the bed.
Corner Placement Geometry
For corner-mounted TVs using full-motion brackets, measure the viewing angle from your primary seating position. The bracket should extend far enough to create a perpendicular viewing line, typically requiring 20-30 inches of extension from the corner walls.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of the type of TV mounts you choose, always remember to ensure that they’re the right size for your TV screen and will properly support its weight. The last thing you want is your expensive TV crashing down, not least as it could injure someone.
Once you’ve chosen the right TV bracket types for your needs, ensure they’re properly and securely fitted to the wall and follow the instructions on the packaging. If you’re not confident at DIY, it’s worth hiring the services of a professional to do it for you.
When the TV brackets are fitted and your TV has been mounted it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy watching your favourite TV shows in style.
Mini Glossary of TV Bracket Terms
Flat Bracket: A low-profile TV mounting system that positions the screen nearly flush against the wall with minimal clearance, typically 0.5 to 2 inches, providing a sleek, picture-like appearance ideal for fixed viewing positions.
Tilting Bracket: A TV mount that allows vertical angle adjustment, enabling the screen to tilt downward or upward (typically 5-20 degrees) to optimize viewing from different heights or deflect glare and sunlight.
Full-Motion Bracket: An articulating TV mount with extending arms that swivel, tilt, and rotate in multiple directions, providing maximum flexibility for viewing from various positions within a room.
Wall Studs: Vertical wooden or metal framing members inside walls, typically spaced 16 or 24 inches apart, that provide the structural support necessary for securely mounting TV brackets and supporting the weight of the television.
VESA Pattern: The standardized mounting hole pattern on the back of TVs and brackets, measured in millimeters (e.g., 200×200, 400×400), ensuring compatibility between different brands of televisions and mounting hardware.
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