As TVs have become thinner, wall mounts have become more popular. It is simply more convenient to get huge entertainment consoles and wires out of the way for an organized look.
Wall mounts can be installed on concrete and brick walls as well but they have generally been designed to be suited for drywalls. The mounts hang on to the wooden studs inside the wall.
However, if you do not have studs inside the walls or you simply do not want to spend on wall mounts then you can still wall mount your TV.
Let’s discuss how that can be done in this “How To Hang a Flat-screen TV Without a Mount” post.
Quick Summary
In this article, we will discuss the following things:
- The ways to install TV mounts on walls that do not have studs
- Instructions on how to make sure your anchors and toggles stay in place
Why is it Important?
Studs are very important elements needed to support the weight of the TV in most cases. They help keep the TV balanced and avoid it from falling or damaging the wall. However, studs are only usually found in drywall structures.
Other walls made from materials such as brick, concrete, and others will not have studs inside of them. Instead, to balance the TV out, you would need to find other alternatives.
Most of the methods discussed in this article include how to fix the TV’s mounting plate securely into the wall. This will offer many benefits such as added security.
Now that we know why it’s important to know how to hang a TV on a wall without studs, let’s get right into the process.
Methods to Install a TV Mount Without Studs
There are several different ways through which you can mount a TV without using a mount.
Anchors
Anchors are the easiest and simplest way to install a TV wall mount without studs. They help prevent screws from falling out of the drilled holes and damaging your wall.
You need to:
- Drill mounting holes
- Insert the sleeve
- Slide in the anchors
To lock the anchor into place when you insert the screw, you need to pull it close to the wall through a disposable pull tool.
Toggle Anchors
Toggle anchors are a type of wall anchors that have butterfly toggles at the end which cling to the back of the drywall for extra support.
Any kind of external force applied on the screw allows the toggle anchors to the whole sheet of drywall to respond. Thus the drywall does not crumble and the TV gets sturdy support.
Molly Bolts
These bolts work similarly to toggle anchors. Molly bolts are great mounting screws because they combine greater strength with ease of installation.
Tip:
We highly recommend molly bolts can hold up to 50 lbs which is a lot more than other mounting screws that can only hold up to 80-pounds.
Molly bolts have two variations:
- Pointed: These can be installed in the wall through a hammer.
- Non-pointed: These need to be installed by cutting an installation hole first.
The sleeves of the molly bolts expand as you tighten them into the wall which creates an anchor at the back of the wall.
Once the bolts are in place, you can remove the screws and replace them with the screws of the TV mount.
Ceiling Mounts
Mounting your TV with the ceiling might not be too feasible and requires more hard work. However, it is still an option.
Ceilings have joists and beams that provide a similar function to that of wooden studs. They might be further apart in the ceiling.
You may require longer screws to reach the joists in the ceiling.
Ceiling mounts are not preferred as they do not have a homely feeling to them, rather they give a more corporate feel.
Tip:
We advise you not to choose ceiling mounts as they are not very safe and require more labor and tools.
Factors to Consider
Before you start to mount your TV on drywall without studs, you should consider the following factors to ensure safe mounting.
Weight of TV
While wall-mounting your TV, whether through mounts or anchors, weight is always the most important factor to consider.
Once you know what the weight of your TV is, you can easily select mounts with the appropriate load capacity.
Even if the wall is strong enough to support the weight of the TV, the mechanism in place to mount the TV may be weak.
Tip:
If your wall is old or crumbling then it does not matter if you use the sturdiest anchors or mounts, eventually your wall will give away. Therefore, in that case, DO NOT mount your TV on a wall.
Type of Mount
VESA patterns are standard measurements that ensure that the mount is compatible with the dimensions of your TV.
For Example:
A mount designed to support a 32-inch TV of 25 lbs cannot support a 40 inch TV. The mount could falter and cause significant damage to your wall and your TV no matter how sturdy it is.
The type of mount is important because certain mounts give room for adjustment whilst others are fixed and rigid on the wall.
You need to select the right type of mount for it to hang steadily on anchors:
Fixed Mounts
Fixed mounts are non-stationary and do not allow any post-installation adjustments whatsoever. These are the safest bet when it comes to wall mounting your TV.
The fixed mounts securely hold your TV parallel to the wall.
Tilt Mounts
These mounts can adjust tilting levels vertically while remaining fixed to the wall. The major benefit of such mounts is that they help in significant glare reduction.
Full-Motion Mounts
Full-motion mounts have arms attached to the mounting bracket to allow:
- Swivel
- Extension
- Retraction
- Screen Leveling
- Rotation
- Tilting
These mounts are typically more useful because of their multifunctional features. You have the option to freely customize their settings post-installation.
Most anchors work best with tilt or fixed mounts. Fixed mounts remain stationary and tilt mounts allow the TV to move a few degrees slightly
Tip:
Anchors or toggle mounts should not be used with any mount except fixed mounts.
Full-motion mounts have arms to swivel and extend which automatically adds more weight.
Moreover, the continuous movement of the arms can add more stress on the anchor which might cause the wall to rip.
Tip:
There are many options to mount your TV even without studs, however, if you are still unsure about your options, it is best to call a professional who would have the most expertise to wall mount your TV without studs.
The Mounting Plate
Mounting plates are a very important part of the process of trying to mount a TV on the wall.
You need to make sure you have the right plate along with anchor screws, a toggle anchor, toggle bolts, pointed molly bolts, and drywall anchors.
The mounting plate can also influence just how much wall space your TV will take. It is also important to support a TV’s weight on a wall without studs. You would need to first determine how much weight standard wall mounts take.
How To Install a TV Wall Mount Without Studs - Final Verdict
This concludes our article on how to install TV wall mounts on walls without any wall studs.
We understand that you would want to wall mount your TV because this is the new home economics trend and it is a lot more organized.
However, if you do not have wooden studs in your wall to mount your TV on then no worries. You can still mount your TV bracket, you just need to be more cautious for a mounted TV.
The most helpful tools to mount a TV without studs are through anchors, toggle bolts, or molly bolts.
Molly bolts are a bit harder to use but they are the best option out of the three anchors. These bolts are the most sturdy and easy to install.
Let us know if you have any more questions 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.
