While mounting a TV to Drywall is fairly simple, mounting it onto concrete is a whole different ball game that requires different tools.
Concrete anchors are an essential part of holding your TV up on a concrete wall due to their higher durability.
In this post, we’ve gathered some of the best concrete anchors you can find in the market so you can choose the right one for your TV mount.
Once you know what our top 3 picks have to offer, it’s a good idea to browse through the entire list so you don’t miss a product that could be perfect for you.
Best Concrete Anchors for TV Mount - Top 5 Reviews
#1: Best Overall Concrete Anchor for a TV Mount - Ansen Tools AN-133 Diamond Tip Hex Head Concrete Screw Anchor Review
As mentioned earlier, the feature that sets these concrete anchors apart is the fact that they don’t come with expanders. Expanders are typically used to set concrete anchors in place in the wall.
However, with this anchor, you’re supposed to drill it into a slightly smaller hole than itself in the concrete. It comes with a 5/32” masonry bit that will help you drill these anchors into place.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Ansen Tools AN-133 Diamond Tip Hex Head Concrete Screw Anchor
Anchor material: The anchor itself is constructed from hardened steel. It’s the perfect material to allow it to securely jam itself into the concrete wall and hang your TV mount firmly.
Base material: As the name suggests, the anchor is designed to fit onto concrete walls with ease. You must first make a slightly smaller hole with your drill in the wall before you can drill the anchor in.
Anchor category: It’s a regular masonry or concrete screw. This makes it relatively simple to install and you can completely remove it from the wall once it’s not in use.
Pros
- Diamond-tipped to penetrate extra hard walls
- Comes with a masonry bit
- Easily available
- Can support a large amount of weight
- Sturdy construction
Cons
- Holes for it have to be pre-drilled
Best Overall Concrete Anchor for a TV Mount
The best overall concrete anchor for a TV mount is the Ansen Tools AN-133 Diamond Tip Hex Head Concrete Screw Anchor since it can easily be inserted into all concrete walls and it’s highly durable as well.
#2: Best Outdoor Concrete Anchor for a TV Mount - CONFAST LDC383 3/8" x 3" Zinc Plated Large Diameter Concrete Screw Review
This screw is constructed from zinc-plated carbon steel that really raises its durability a step above most concrete anchors that are available.
Not only that but it also makes it rust-resistant. Both these properties make this concrete screw perfect for the outdoor mounting of TVs.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy CONFAST LDC383 3/8″ x 3″ Zinc Plated Large Diameter Concrete Screw
Anchor material: As mentioned earlier, it’s rust-resistant because it’s made from zinc-plated carbon steel.
Base material: You can use this concrete screw anchor not only on concrete walls but also on brick walls or any other type of masonry.
Anchor category: This zinc-plated screw is just a typical concrete or masonry screw. You will need to pre-drill a hole in the wall in order to install it properly.
Pros
- Works with standard drill bits
- Affordable
- Great for outdoor mounting
- Can support a fair amount of weight
- Long-lasting and rust-resistant
Cons
- Holes need to be pre-drilled
Best Outdoor Concrete Anchor for a TV Mount
The best easily installable concrete anchor for a TV mount is the CONFAST LDC383 3/8″ x 3″ Zinc Plated Large Diameter Concrete Screw thanks to its rust resistance and long-lasting nature.
#3: Best Heavy-Duty Concrete Anchor for a TV Mount - Simpson Strong-Tie Wedge Anchor Review
This concrete screw wedge anchor is definitely one to get if you are dealing with a heavier TV. This could just be a large TV or an older TV as they’re much heavier compared to newer ones.
The Simpson Strong-Tie Wedge Anchor can withstand extremely tough conditions. Hence, you can use it to mount large TVs both indoors as well as outdoors.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Simpson Strong-Tie Wedge Anchor
Anchor material: The anchor itself is constructed from zinc which ensures that it will be resistant to rust. You can use it indoors as well as outdoors with no worries.
Base material: The screw can easily be mounted onto a concrete wall along with brick walls and other types of masonry.
Anchor category: It’s a wedge anchor. Wedge anchors are also known as stud anchors and they come with a built-in expander that secures the screw into the wall. It can be installed with any standard drill bit.
Pros
- Works both indoors and outdoors
- Does not require specialized drill bits
- Easy to install
- Rust-resistant
- Works in both cracked and uncracked concrete
Cons
- Might be overkill if you just want to mount a standard-sized TV inside
Best Heavy-Duty Concrete Anchor for a TV Mount
The best heavy-duty concrete anchor for a TV mount is the Simpson Strong-Tie Wedge Anchor thanks to its ability to withstand harsh environments and strong zinc construction.
#4: Best Machine Screw Concrete Anchor for a TV Mount - CONFAST 1/4" (Inside/Screw 1/4-20 Diameter) Machine Screw Anchor Review
This machine screw anchor has shallow embodiment properties so you don’t need a lot of time to pre-drill its hole.
It has consistent holding values in most different types of masonry materials.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy CONFAST 1/4″ (Inside/Screw 1/4-20 Diameter) Machine Screw Anchor
Anchor material: The machine screw anchor is constructed from heavy-gauge carbide steel which makes it suitable for concrete walls.
Base material: Not only can this machine screw anchor fit onto concrete walls but it’s also suitable for most other masonry materials as well.
Anchor category: It’s a machine screw anchor that comes with a pre-assembled expander cone. You will need a setting tool to install it properly and it’s provided with this product.
Pros
- Fits onto most masonry materials
- Can support larger TVs
- Comes with a setting tool
- Sturdy construction
- Affordable
Cons
- Installation may be difficult for most
Best Machine Screw Concrete Anchor for a TV Mount
The best machine screw concrete anchor for a TV mount is the CONFAST 1/4″ (Inside/Screw 1/4-20 Diameter) Machine Screw Anchor thanks to its durability. The setting tool you need to install is provided with it.
#5: Best Large Diameter Concrete Anchor for a TV Mount - Red Head LDT-1240 Large Diameter Tapcon 1/2-Inch by 4-Inch Anchor Review
Similar to our other rust-resistant screw anchors, this one is also constructed from zinc-plated carbon steel.
You don’t have to worry about back-out with this concrete screw anchor as the fasteners have effective anti-rotation serrations.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Red Head LDT-1240 Large Diameter Tapcon 1/2-Inch by 4-Inch Anchor
Anchor material: The anchor is constructed from carbon steel that is zinc-plated. This makes it great for both indoor and outdoor TV mounting.
Base material: It can fit onto concrete walls along with brick walls and most masonry materials.
Anchor category: The anchor is a standard masonry or concrete screw.
Pros
- Works both indoors and outdoors
- Large diameter for a stronger hold
- Can handle a lot of weight
- Rust-resistant
- Durable
Cons
- Relatively expensive
Best Large Diameter Concrete Anchor for a TV Mount
The best large diameter concrete anchor for a TV mount is the Red Head LDT-1240 Large Diameter Tapcon 1/2-Inch by 4-Inch Anchor thanks to its well-thought-out design. It’s very resistant to back out so you don’t have to worry about your TV mount becoming loose.
Buyer’s Guide
If you’ve tried to browse the market for concrete anchors for your TV wall mount, you will know that there are a ton of different varieties available.
While this is definitely a good thing for most people, for beginners, this can be highly confusing. Which concrete anchor would work best for your needs?
Luckily, there are some factors you can take into account which can help you identify which type of concrete anchor would work best for you.
These factors are:
The Base Material of Your Wall
First of all, you need to consider the base material of the wall that you will install the anchors into.
While concrete anchors, as their name suggests, are meant for concrete, they can also be used in brick, block, or mortar.
Here are some examples of concrete anchors that work best with different types of walls:
- Concrete: Pretty much all the concrete anchors you can find in the market will work well with all concrete walls.
- Brick: You can use most of the types of concrete anchors that you’ll find in the market on a brick wall. Just don’t use a wedge or drop-in anchors.
- Block: Similar to brick walls, you can use almost all types of concrete anchors on a block except for wedge and drop-in anchors.
- Mortar: For mortar as well, you can use most types of concrete anchors except for wedge and drop-in anchors.
The Weight of Your TV and TV Mount
Of course, the heavier your TV and the TV mount are, the stronger your concrete anchors need to be.
The amount of weight that a concrete anchor can hold is determined by its diameter.
Hence, the heavier the combined weight of your TV and TV mount, the larger the diameter of your concrete anchors should be.
Here’s a brief breakdown of the typical diameter sizes you should go for different levels of weights:
- Smaller, lightweight TVs: Use 3/16 in (0.48 cm) and 1/4 in (0.64 cm) anchors.
- Medium-weight TVs: Use 3/8 in (0.95 cm), 1/2 in (1.27 cm), or 5/8 in (1.59 cm) diameter anchors.
- Heavy TVs: Use 5/8 in (1.59 cm), 3/4 in (1.91 cm), or 1 in (2.54 cm) diameter anchors.
The Weather and Other Environmental Conditions of the Mounting Spot
Of course, you need to take into account the sort of weather conditions that the anchors will be subjected to at their installation site.
This isn’t really much of a concern if you’re indoors but in other types of conditions, you do need to give this some thought.
Here are some suggestions for the types of concrete anchors you should use under different environmental conditions:
- Indoor, dry conditions: For the most common type of environmental condition, your best bet would be to buy zinc-plated concrete anchors. These types of anchors are long-lasting and also resistant to rust and corrosion.
- Outdoor applications: If you want to mount your TV outdoors, zinc-plated anchors may not be the right choice since they definitely could rust under those conditions. Instead, you should go for stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized concrete anchors.
- Underwater applications: Definitely not a condition that the layman would run into but if you ever face a condition where you have to mount a TV underwater, stainless steel anchors would work best.
The Anchor Type
You may need to consider the type of anchors you use to mount your TV and TV mount.
Male-type anchors are specifically designed to be inserted into pre-drilled holes. You can use them to mount your TV by first drilling the holes using a high-impact or hammer drill.
The pre-drilled holes in the concrete typically need to be slightly smaller than the concrete anchors themselves for them to be tightly held in place.
Female-type anchors are designed to have bolts inserted into them in order to hang objects from them.
To properly install them, you must insert the anchor into the hole in the concrete wall and then insert the bolt (or screw) through the mount and into the anchor.
Spacing Requirements
Lastly, something that you must always keep in mind during installation is the spacing between the concrete anchors.
There are a couple of rules of thumb that you should always be aware of during the installation of TV mounts using concrete anchors.
Firstly, you need to know that expansion concrete anchors usually exert a force outwards. If the spacing between the concrete anchors is incorrect, then these outward forces may overlap. This results in an overall decrease in the effectiveness of the concrete anchors.
Secondly, if you install a concrete anchor too close to an unsupported edge of the concrete, then this tends to reduce their effectiveness as well.
This is because there’s a chance that the concrete anchor may easily blow out of the wall after it expands.
To avoid these two problems, it’s recommended that all anchors should be apart from each other and have a minimum space of 10 anchor diameters between them. Secondly, the distance of an anchor from an unsupported edge should not be less than 5 anchor diameters.
The TV Mount or TV Manual Requirement
This factor is also very important when it comes to choosing your anchors for the installation process. Usually, concrete anchors or wedge anchors are used for the installation process.
However, it can vary depending on the wall type, TV mount type, or even TV type and compatibility. Before, you purchase any anchors kit make sure you read the manual, especially the section where they specify which type of anchors are required for the installation.
Moreover, when people are mounting their TV on their own they neglect the most important part which gives all the support to your TV mount and TV.
Therefore, never opt for anchors that are not best suited for the TV and TV mount. They can also vary for the wall type as well.
Where to Buy Your Desired Anchors
This is important to know if you have decided which anchors are best suited for your project. You either go to any local hardware store, this will also provide you extra help if you are making the wrong purchase for your installation process.
Moreover, there is always the option to buy a hardware kit as they include all the materials and tools for your project. They have a combination of every item that is needed to complete your installation process.
However, the kit might not include the right type of anchors required or there might be extra stuff you do not want to pay for. For this, you can also shop online on Amazon or many other platforms to find the desired anchors.
Therefore, we recommend you shop online. You can also get the items for cheap as stores can price them high separately. You can also get deals on them if they are available online.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There is a lot to know about concrete anchors and their types if you are up for extra knowledge about them. You might have some additional questions, to address them all we have added this FAQs section to help you.
This section aims to resolve any confusion you might have. Make sure you read all of them to understand fully.
What are Concrete Anchors?
Concrete anchors are types of screws that can be utilized to fasten and hang things from concrete walls. You can easily use them without needing to damage the secured fixtures.
They can typically be used for heavy-duty applications and they can easily hold heavier TVs with their TV mounts from a concrete wall.
Why Should I Use Concrete Anchors?
Concrete anchors are by far the number one solution you can go to if you want to mount a TV to a concrete wall.
They are fairly easy to install and highly reliable since they can hold a large amount of weight relatively easily to most other alternatives.
In addition to mounting a TV on the wall, concrete anchors also have several other applications such as piping and heating support, timber framing, etc.
What Are the Strongest Anchors to Mount a TV?
The strongest anchors are the wedge anchors as all the installation and TV mounting processes do not require heavy-duty anchors. Some installations depending on the project may work fine with plastic wall anchors or nail-in anchors.
Therefore, depending on the project the strongest anchor for the process might vary.
How Deep Anchors should be in the Concrete for it to Work Properly?
Every installation project or process has there own needs, thus you can look onto the packaging of the anchors about their depth.
For plastic anchors, you have to opt for an ¼ inch deep so the anchor could fit properly as they are long. Plastic anchors are not used in the installation process of your TV.
However, for concrete anchors, it varies a lot. In case your concrete anchor is 3 inches, an inch of thread needs to be concrete. This step is important to know in case you are choosing all the hardware tools on your own.
What Type of Concrete Anchor is Considered Permanent?
Nail-in anchors, heavy-duty steel anchors, and mostly all of the wedge anchors are permanent. However, plastic anchors, lag anchors, screws, and concrete anchors are not considered permanent at all.
Moreover, you might have seen DIYers break materials that are attached by the anchors, or else they can not remove them. These types of anchors are considered permanent anchors that are difficult to remove without professional help.
What Anchors are Better? Wedge Anchors or Sleeve Anchors, How do they Differ?
Sleeve secures depend on the fixing force to make the anchor grow and hold in the substantial. The sleeve runs almost the full implanted profundity in the substantial. The bolt leisurely expansions in width towards the lower part of the opening.
Wedge secures ordinarily have a ring that is moved outwards by a bolt that is bigger in width towards the lower part of the opening. Wedge secures are typically more costly and give higher working burdens.
However, depending on the type of installation process you can choose either of them that is best suited for you.
Is Tapcons Better than the Wedge Anchors we Normally Use in the Installation Processes?
Tapcon and wedge anchors are pre-mounted mechanical anchors that connect structural gadgets to concrete structures. However, the wedge anchor fits heavier-duty packages, vs the Tapcon anchor that generally serves lighter applications or processes.
Moreover, Tapcons are for lesser weighted objects and installation that should never be used for heavier materials and applications. This can cause a lot of damage to your applications.
Therefore, we recommend you get everything size and weight compatible with your TV mounts and applications.
How Do I Install Concrete Screw Anchors?
Follow these simple steps to install a concrete screw anchor into a concrete wall:
- Use a high-impact or hammer drill to drill a hole in the concrete wall for the anchor. The hole needs to be slightly smaller than the anchor itself for it to fit properly.
- Clean out all the dust and debris from the hole using a tiny vacuum.
- Insert the pointed end of the concrete anchor into the concrete.
- Use your drill to drill the anchor into the concrete hole. Make sure to practice care at this stage as you don’t want to use too much force and damage the hole.
What Are Some High-Quality Concrete Anchors that are Available in the Market?
Some great concrete anchors that really impressed us during testing and that we use all the time include:
- Red Head Large Diameter Tapcon Anchors
- The Hillman Group Concrete Sleeve Anchors
- Confast Machine Screw Anchors
- Red Head Stainless Steel Tapcon Anchors
- Confast Zinc Plated Concrete Screws
What are Drop-in Anchors?
Drop-in anchors are a type of concrete anchor that are machine screw threaded. They come with an expansion cone that can be utilized to expand the anchor with the help of a setting tool.
They can be great if you want to mount something flush to the wall. However, as we’ve mentioned above, they should only be used if you have a concrete wall specifically.
What are Machine Screw Anchors?
Machine screw anchors are a type of concrete anchor that is fairly short than most other types. They come with a pre-built expander cone and a caulking sleeve constructed of lead.
You need a setting tool in order to push the caulking sleeve so that it expands the cone.
What can I Use Instead of Concrete Anchors, Is There Any Alternative for these?
Yes, there are alternatives for concrete anchors. One of the most common alternatives for concrete anchors is to find the wall stud and then you can insert a small screw instead of using a concrete anchor.
However, we do not recommend using the alternatives because your wall doesn’t need to have studs as the wall type may vary. This alternative can create a weak support system for your TV and TV mount.
Therefore, to avoid any mishap use the hardware items that best fit your installation process.
What Happens if the Anchors are Not Used in the Installation Process of Your TV?
If anchors are not used in the installation process, the side effects can be seen in a month or two. You might start to see a tear or crack in your wall. This tear can start from the hole where the anchor was supposed to fit in.
Moreover, this is the reason that it is important to use anchors. If you put in screws without the anchors then you will start to notice that they are extra tight and not firm which can damage your wall, TV, and TV mount.
Therefore, the pressure is the reason everything can get damaged which will create extra expenses for you.
Final Verdict
This brings us to the conclusion of our post for the best concrete anchors for a TV mount.
In conclusion, we feel that the Ansen Tools AN-133 Diamond Tip Hex Head Concrete Screw Anchor is definitely the best of the best. You can get it at an affordable price and it’s very long-lasting.
You buy it once and it will serve you for years.
Which concrete anchor did you use for mounting your TV? Let us know in the comments below.
Adam F.
A/V and Home Theater Expert that focuses on providing clear as well as concise reviews for anything and everything Audio Visual. From TV's, TV Mounts, Soundbars, and Wiring, my focus is to provide expertise in everything Audio Visual focused.
