The Best TV Mounts to Level Up Your Space

You don’t want to mess around with chintzy TV mounts. Nothing can ruin your day faster than seeing your $2,000 OLED hitting the floor because you were stingy. Get a mount that’s rated for your TV’s weight and size—and maybe even go one size up if you’re on the borderline (or if you plan to upgrade in the future). Those full-motion articulating mounts are worth the extra cash too, letting you pull the TV out, swivel it around, and tilt it down to kill glare when the sun’s blasting through your windows. And for crying out loud, mount that thing into actual wall studs.

Mount type: There are three mount types, including fixed, tilting, and full-motion:

• Fixed: A fixed mount is the most basic option. It’s cheap, it’s simple, and it gets the job done. The upside is it’s rock-solid since there are no moving parts to eventually get loose or squeaky. The downside? Once that sucker’s installed, it’s not going anywhere. No tilting, swiveling, no adjustments whatsoever. So you better be damn sure about your placement before you start drilling holes, because the only way to reposition it is to start the whole process over.
• Tilting: Tilting mounts let you adjust the vertical angle of your screen, which is clutch when you’ve mounted your TV above the fireplace. When your neck starts cramping from looking up at the screen, you can tilt that sucker down for a more comfortable view. They’re also lifesavers if your living room gets a lot of sunlight, helping to cut down on glare. Not as flashy as those full-motion mounts, but definitely more useful than the fixed option for only a few more bucks.
• Full-motion: These let you pull your TV away from the wall, swivel it left or right, and tilt it up and down. Basically position that screen exactly where you want it, whenever you want it. Is your neighbor coming over but your couch is at a weird angle? No problem, just swing that bad boy out. They cost more than basic options, sure, but it may work way better depending on your setup.

Size and weight support: After you find the mount type that works for your space, it’s time to check the weight and size limits it can support. Your mount’s product description should tell you what it can support (like “32–65 inches” and “up to 100 pounds”). Do yourself a favor and don’t cut it close; if your TV weighs 65 pounds, don’t buy a mount rated for exactly 65 pounds. Go a size up for some breathing room, especially if you’re planning to add a soundbar or other accessories to your setup.

Next, you need to check your TV’s VESA pattern, those mounting holes on the back. It’ll be listed as something like 400 x 400 mm or 600 x 400 mm in your TV manual or on the manufacturer’s website. If you’ve already lost the manual (of course you have), just grab a tape measure and check the distance between the holes yourself. Most decent mounts are compatible with a range of VESA patterns, but double-check before you buy.

Post-mounting adjustments: Look, not everyone is Tim “the Toolman” Taylor, so if you mount your TV only to find it’s not quite level, you don’t have to start all over. Some premium mounts come with post-installation adjustment features, allowing you to make small tweaks after everything’s already up. Trust me, even a slight degree of crookedness will drive you absolutely insane. Without adjustment options, you’re looking at taking everything down and starting from scratch.

UL certification: When a mount is UL certified, it means it’s undergone comprehensive testing protocols by Underwriters Laboratories, an independent safety science company. They’ve stress-tested these mounts beyond normal usage parameters to verify structural integrity, weight capacity claims, and long-term durability. While it might represent a marginally higher investment upfront, it sure beats having to replace a TV that fell in the middle of the night. That said, a mount without UL certification isn’t automatically bad—plenty of good options exist without the stamp.