Mounting a TV by yourself can definitely be a challenge but with the right planning and execution, it’s definitely doable.
With televisions becoming lighter and lighter every year, mounting a TV solo is not as difficult as it used to be.
Quick summary
In this post, we will discuss how you can mount a TV by yourself safely and with ease.
We will also provide a list of all the tools and supplies you will need to properly mount the TV onto the wall.
So without further ado, let’s get into it.
Tools and Supplies Needed
We always list the tools and supplies needed for a certain task first in almost all of our instructional posts.
Similarly, we recommend that you buy and gather all of the tools and supplies listed first before you actually start the mounting process.
Gathering everything first will make the installation process much more efficient and save you a ton of time. This is because you’ll have everything on hand and won’t have to go looking for it during the mounting process.
The tools and supplies you will need to mount your TV to the wall are:
- A wall-mount
- A level
- A stud finder
- Assorted screws and bolts (that you received from the wall mount)
- A screwdriver or a socket wrench
- A drill
- A pencil or marker
- Drill bits
- Drywall anchors (if your wall does not have studs)
Take your time and gather everything. Once it’s done, you can begin to install your TV onto the wall.
How to Mount a TV by Yourself on the Wall? (Step-by-Step Guide)
Please note that the instructions provided in this post are for if you’re mounting a TV into Drywall with 16-inch wooden studs.
The reason we are providing instructions for this specific type of wall is that it’s the most common wall type found in the United States.
You will notice that a majority of the wall mounts you’ll see in the market are designed to be mounted onto Drywall that has wooden studs that are 16 inches apart.
To successfully mount a TV onto the wall by yourself, follow these steps:
Step 1: Before you start the mounting process for any TV, you must first decide where you actually want to mount it.
The location where you want to mount your TV should be near an electrical outlet. It should also be a spot that allows you to comfortably watch TV; Meaning you must have enough room in front of the spot to have your sofa and sit on it.
It can also be a good idea to choose a spot that is not near a window or any other external light source as they can cause glare on your TV.
Once you’ve decided on a spot, you can get to work.
Step 2: Make use of a stud finder to find the stud locations at the spot that you decided on in step 1.
Stud finders are great tools that help you find where studs are located within your wall. They will either produce a beeping sound or light up when they find a stud depending on the model and manufacturer.
Once you find one stud, mark its location on the wall using a pencil or a marker.
The second stud will be 16 inches away from it. Use the stud finder again to find the second stud.
Ideally, you should install the mount onto two studs or more.
When you find the second stud, mark its location on the wall with a pencil or a marker as well.
Step 3: Now comes the slightly tricky part since you’re doing this all by yourself: Take your TV mount and hold it up against the wall.
You should hold it up against the wall with one hand so that its screw holes align perfectly with the stud locations that you marked in the last step.
Hold the mount with one hand and mark the locations of the screw holes with a pencil or a marker with the other.
Repeat this process for all of the screw holes of the TV mount.
Step 4: You can put the TV mount down for now.
Take your drill and drill the holes needed for mount installation. Please note that these holes will be drilled at the locations that you marked in step 3.
Step 5: Now, hold the TV mount up to the wall again at the same spot.
If you’ve done the job correctly, the mount will align perfectly with the drilled holes you made in step 4.
Hold the mount with one hand and insert screws into each of the holes. Tighten each of them using your other hand as much as you can.
Once you’ve reached the extent of how much you can tighten them with your hand, use a screwdriver to finish the job.
Please note that during this entire ordeal, one of your hands should be firmly holding the TV mount in place.
Step 6: After you have tightly screwed in all of the holes for the mount, gently let it go to check if it’s properly mounted or not.
Once you’re sure it has been properly installed, you can mount your TV onto it.
Hold your TV up to the mount so that its mounting holes align with the mount properly. Next, insert screws into each of the mounting holes and tighten them by hand as much as you can.
Once you reach the extent of how much you can tighten them with your hand, take your screwdriver and use it to finish the job.
Be careful not to overtighten because that can damage both the TV as well as the mount.
Step 7: After you tighten all of the screws, gently let go of the TV to check if it’s properly installed.
Shake it slightly to check its stability. If it’s wobbly, you must go back and tighten any screw that’s loose and causing the shakiness.
Once you’ve tightened all the screws and the TV isn’t budging, you’re ready to go.
Wrapping Things Up…
As you can see, there’s really not a whole lot to it when it comes to mounting a TV by yourself.
We highly recommend that you take your time and do things slowly when you’re doing them alone. As long as you’re careful and follow the instructions provided above, you’ll be golden.
If you have any confusion regarding the mounting process, please reach out to us 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.
