Get your home theater ready for movie night
If you’ve had enough with unsightly cables and a media console that takes up half the living room, it’s time to hire someone to mount your TV to the wall. A professional installation can ensure that your flatscreen TV is properly mounted. Not only will you reclaim your living room, but you’ll also get a streamlined look and reduce tripping hazards.
When you hire someone to wall mount a TV, you can enjoy greater peace of mind that the job will be done correctly. A properly-trained professional has the experience to provide a clean and safe installation. Some reasons why professionals are well-suited for this type of project include:
Secure installation: They can assess the wall structure and make sure the TV mount is installed securely.
Cable management: Whether or not you want to hide the wires in the walls, a professional can provide a clean and tidy appearance.
Precise alignment: Achieving a perfectly level and aligned TV can be challenging for inexperienced installers.
Preventing wall damage: An improper installation can lead to costly wall repairs. Professionals take the necessary precautions to minimize the risk of wall damage.
Troubleshooting: Skilled technicians are better equipped to handle any unforeseen challenges during installation, like unique wall structures or unexpected obstacles..
Peace of mind: Most professional installers offer warranties or guarantees for their work. If any issues arise later on, you can rest assured you’re covered.
A handyperson is typically a generalist and may not know what it takes to mount a TV safely and securely. They may not have the experience needed to avoid damaging the wall or best hide the wires. Similarly, you may have questions to ask an electrician about electrical safety and cable management. But, they may not know how to install a wall mount so it can safely support the weight of a TV.
For best results, hire a TV mounting specialist. This helps to ensure you get a professional with the right mix of skills for the job.
There are several reasons why you may choose to wall mount a TV yourself:
Cost savings: You can save hundreds of dollars on labor costs.
Knowledge: You can learn how the wall mount works, so you can make adjustments later.
Scheduling: You can complete this project on your own time and not wait for a professional to come and do it.
Sense of accomplishment: Successfully mounting a TV can be a rewarding experience.
Equally, there are reasons why you may not want to take this on as a DIY project:
Safety: An improperly installed TV bracket can come crashing down from the wall, destroying the TV and damaging the wall.
Appearance: Skilled professionals have the experience to offer the cleanest-looking installations and hide unsightly wires in the walls.
Warranty: Installing a wall mount yourself may void the warranty on your TV if anything goes wrong during the process. Licensed professionals often offer a guarantee on their work.
Efficiency: Mounting a TV can be time-consuming and confusing for beginners. Hiring a pro often ensures a quicker and more efficient installation.
Mounting the TV might sound like an easy enough job, but hanging it improperly can lead to problems. Trust us—you don’t want to be at a season cliffhanger when the TV slides down the wall or worse—it falls onto the floor.
There are a few ways to find the right TV mounting services near you. Read online reviews or ask friends and family members for suggestions. You can also use Angi to find the right company. Aim to get at least three quotes for the job's cost and how long it will take before making your final decision.
The labor cost to mount a TV on the wall ranges from $160 to $360, or an average of $260. You’ll also need to factor in the price of the TV mount itself.
Before you call a pro, there are a few things you need to do first.
One big difference between TV stands and wall mounts is it’s much easier to move or replace a TV stand. To mount a flatscreen TV, you need a specialized bracket to secure the TV to the wall. This becomes much more of a permanent fixture in your home.
TV wall brackets can range from $30 for a lightweight one to $250 or more for a more durable one with more features. Full-motion wall mounts for TVs can tilt or change angles. Others have articulated arms to move the TV away from the wall, lowering it to eye level or swiveling it around corners. There are even fully-powered TV wall mounts with remote controls.
The backs of most TVs have mounting holes in a square or rectangular pattern. VESA Mount Compatibility numbers represent standardized vertical and horizontal patterns for those wall-mount holes.
VESA numbers are metric and range from 50mm to 800mm. If you have your owner’s manual, the VESA numbers should be listed. A bracket’s VESA numbers should match or be larger than the TV’s VESA numbers.
If you cannot find your TV’s VESA numbers, get your measuring tape and convert those measurements to metric. Note the screen’s diagonal measurement, the TV’s weight, and the distance between the two vertical mounting holes and the two horizontal ones.
If the pattern is rectangular, the vertical measure is the smaller number. Each bracket has a TV weight limit. You’ll want a bracket that can comfortably hold your TV. It’s better to have a bracket with a higher weight limit than one that isn’t enough.
Who hasn’t shown up to watch the game at a friend’s house to find that their TV is basically mounted on the ceiling? After the final inning, you probably had to go home and rest your aching neck.
Don’t make your home theater like sitting in the front row at the movie theater. Your TV should sit at a comfortable viewing height. If that’s not possible where you want to mount it, consider a bracket that lets you pull the TV down and out.
Take the time to find the ideal spot to mount your TV before bringing in the pro. Then, ask their professional opinion. They’ll also have to make sure there’s a stud in the wall in your preferred spot—a must for hanging a flatscreen safely. When choosing your spot, don’t forget any gaming systems, DVRs, cable boxes, or speaker bars you’ll need to accommodate.
Mounting a TV over a fireplace can be tempting, especially because it makes couch placement super easy. But it’s something to consider carefully. Fireplace walls get hot, and heat rises.
One way to test if your TV can handle being above the fireplace is to tape a thermometer to the spot and start a fire. If the thermometer goes over 100 degrees, choose a different spot—unless you’re so committed to the TV that you’re willing to forego using the fireplace. Some electric fireplaces might not get as hot, but you still want to be careful not to mount the TV too high.
Before you call a TV mounting service, decide where you want the TV mounted, so you can get accurate quotes. For example, if you hope to mount your TV above a brick fireplace, the pro needs the proper tools. Typical home theater installation costs increase with added complexity.
Don’t forget to tell the pro how you want to hide wires. To save money, you can buy cable covers that adhere to the wall (rather than hiding cords in the wall itself). Cable cover kits cost about $10 to $40.
Hiding cables in the wall is more complex and can cost up to $1,000, but it provides a cleaner look and could significantly reduce tripping accidents.
Before entrusting your TV mounting job to a service provider, it’s essential to check their qualifications and references. Verify that the company is licensed, bonded, and insured. This way, you can be sure they meet industry standards for safety and professionalism. Refer to their website or Angi listing page for this information. While there, read online reviews from past customers. When you call for a quote, you may also ask for references.
Some pros might offer general handyperson services. In that case, be sure to ask:
How many TVs have you mounted?
Is your business insured to cover any damages to my house?
When is payment due?
Do you require a contract or a down payment before beginning work?
Do you supply a mounting bracket, or do I need to order one myself?
How will the wires be concealed?
Will you show me how to take the TV off the wall mount?
Once you find a TV mounting professional you feel confident and comfortable with, the next step is to schedule your service. Booking a service usually involves contacting the provider to discuss your requirements, if you haven’t already done so when asking for a quote. You may also mention any specific details related to your TV or wall type. Then, it’s a simple matter of booking a date and time.
During this interaction, you can ask questions about the entire process, like how long the installation should take and any preparation steps you should take in advance. Use this opportunity to discuss related services too, like the installation cost for a surround sound system. It’s often cheaper to do this at the same time than booking two separate service calls. It also lends itself to a more seamless and cohesive home theater setup.
Ask if the service charges per project or by the hour. If you’re paying by the hour, make note of what time the pro arrived and left—keeping in mind that you might owe for travel time, too. You can also make a note of any materials they provided.
After your TV is mounted, be sure to give it a gentle shake to make sure it’s safe and secure. If you’re satisfied with the pro’s work, ask for a business card and snap a picture with your phone. That way, you can share the contact with friends and colleagues looking for a similar service. It’s always nice to leave a helpful review online, too.
The labor cost to mount a TV on the wall ranges from $160 to $360. You can expect to pay an average of $260. Don’t forget that you’ll need to factor in the price of the TV mount itself. Contact a local TV mounting service to get an accurate estimate for the cost of mounting a TV in your area.
It’s worth hiring a TV-mounting professional to hang your TV to ensure the safety of your device and long-lasting results. If you’re investing in a large or smart TV, it’s worth preserving your investment to guarantee that it’s hung safely and correctly. Plus, a TV mounting professional can recommend the right wall mount based on the wall type and TV size and weight.
As with any service provider, it’s customary to tip professional TV mounters after they complete your TV mounting service. Consider tipping 20% of the service cost, or $10 to $20 per professional. Tipping is always appreciated, especially for a labor-intensive mounting job or one that requires multiple people and hours.
