Can You Mount a TV on Drywall? How to Hang a Television

It may seem tricky to hang something as heavy as a TV on drywall but there are multiple ways to do the job!

For the most part, you can screw a mount directly to your wall’s studs. If you don’t have any studs, you’ll be needing toggle bolts. The key is to make sure you hit a solid backing.

You also want to be careful not to over-tighten the screws, which could strip the drywall or cause it to crumble.

Many people would undervalue the weight capacity of drywall since they seem thin to most people but with the right hardware, that’s far from the truth.

Why should I mount a tv on drywall?

Drywall is plain sheets that don’t have much texture on them. The plainness gives way to a modern and clean look that most modern houses look for.

Not only that but it conceals any wiring behind it. It also takes less space than tv stands and you can be flexible with the placement of the television.

Things to consider before mounting a television on drywall

Know how big your television is

Even though modern technology has helped a ton in lessening the weight of bigger-sized televisions, it’s still important to figure out the exact weight so you know which hardware to use.

Most especially, you’ll need it to find the right fasteners which will support the mount. If you already bought hardware, check the manual for its weight capacity.

The condition of your wall

If you have aging or deteriorating drywall, it will most likely bend with the weight of your television, creating a very dangerous situation.

While you may be excited to hang your drywall right off the bat, it’s important to implement safety measures and recognize dangerous situations such as deteriorating drywall.

What type of wall mount you should use

The production of wall mounts has been standardized to ensure that any television will fit it. Most mounts are based on the VESA Mount Standard.

That’s why you need to figure out which wall mount is the right fit based on the width and height of the television, and not just how the hole fits.

Brackets are rated based on the different sizes of your television, never let your tv exceed the maximum capacity of your wall mount.

Check for studs

What type of mount do you want?

There are two types of mounts – the static/fixed and titled one. Static mounts are cheaper since they cannot be tilted, it’s also easier to install and you won’t have easy access to the rear cables.

Tilted mounts on the other hand are capable of being angled based on your preference. When not in use, you can simply just push it flat against the wall.

There’s also a full-motion TV mount that can be moved in different directions and angles. You can extend it here, swivel it around, and even rotate your television.

Television ports

Sometimes, mounting a television to the wall will hinder access to the ports behind it. That’s why you should have already tested out the right TV mount and spacing to ensure that you can still access it.

Can drywall hold a tv?

As a general rule yes, but it also depends on the type of hardware you’ll use to help the drywall support the tv. They can even accommodate up to 100 pounds if you use the right tools for the job.

Pounds	Comment
20 – 40	For this, you’ll need a 1 and ½-inch nail. To be more efficient, you can hammer it at a 45-degree angle, just to get that extra support.
30 – 50	For this, you’ll need a tv wall bracket, toggle or molly bolt, and a butterfly-shaped pin, though the last part is optional. Don’t mount it directly to the wall, use the tv wall bracket.
50 – 60	It’s going to be tough work but with a heavy-duty tv bracket and some toggle bolts then you should be fine. Oh, and you also need a mounting plate. If you have half-inch drywalls, use 3/8 toggle bolts. If you have 1-inch or thicker, a 1/8 molly or lag bolt will do the trick.
80 – 100	Televisions this heavy will require specialized molly bolts or hollow wall screws that expand. You’ll also probably need professional help just to safely install it.

How to mount a tv on drywall with studs

Studs are the ones that bear the weight of the television. Sure, the drywall anchors it, but the stud is the one that supports all of it.

You’ll greatly benefit by using a stud finder for this, it’s the best way to mark where the stud is so you can start hammering in your lag bolts or screws.

Step 1: Locating the stud

Find 2 -3 studs around the area where you’ll be mounting your television. Mark it with a pencil afterward.

Step 2: Line up your wall mount

This is important since it gives you an idea of the overall placement of your television. Line up any of the holes in your mount along with the studs and mark it out.

Step 3: Drill the holes

The drill you’re using should be 1/8 shorter than the diameter of the screw. After getting the right sizes, cut horizontally through the holes that were marked.

Step 4: Screw the mount

Place the mount along the drilled holes and screw it on. You can tighten it using a socket wrench or a screwdriver. Be careful not to overtighten the bolt or screw!

Step 5: Hanging the bracket

Once you’ve secured the mount, screw the bracket onto the back of your television. Make sure to use the screws that come with the bracket!

After that, clip it to your wall anchor and you’re all set. You can now enjoy television that sits directly at your eye level without the use of tv stands.

Mounting a TV on drywall without studs

While this method cannot mount a 100-pound TV, you’ll be okay with smaller-sized ones like 25 – 30 inches.

Use a drywall anchor

Drywall anchors help anchor objects to dry walls that aren’t thick. If you’re confused about how much weight drywall anchors hold, check out this article.

You’ll need to mark out the holes in your tv wall mount and make sure that there’s a 2-inch gap between all of them. After that, drill a hole and insert a sleeve.

You can tighten it using a disposable pull tool. It will help provide additional strength and ensure that it won’t go loose while you’re installing it.

Mounting plate

These are mild steel/stainless steel plates that have holes that can be used for clamps, shovels, and other hardware without the need for mount kits.

For this, you’ll be needing a wall anchor to secure it. Drill holes based on the guide and install your brackets afterward.

Make sure to get a plate that is the same/complements the color of your drywall since it will be visible. Though, you can use smaller mounting plates that will hide behind your television.

Toggle bolts

These are the butterfly-shaped screws that expand in mounting holes, forming a brace/anchor against the surfaces of drywall.

Place a mounting plate against the drywall to mark out the holes. Drill the toggle bolts directly on these holes and add a hollow sleeve anchor, this will help them expand more.

It’s better to use hollow anchors with toggle bolts so that it’s better secured. Avoid using this method for a full-motion mount.

Molly bolts

These bolts are metal-encased screws that have iron anchors, holding on to hollow drywall. It can support televisions that weigh from 60 to 80 pounds.

There are two types of molly bolts – the pointed and the non-pointed. Pointed molly bolts can be hammered directly to the wall while non-pointed molly bolts will need a pre-drilled hole.

After they are inserted into the wall, they still need to be tightened using a socket wrench. This will solidify its anchor and secure it better.

For this method, do not use a tilting mounting plate. To add more security, use a hollow anchor.

Can you screw it directly into drywall?

As much as possible, try using a stud or an anchor. While it does depend on the weight, it’s much safer and secure to just use a stud or anchor.

Screwing it directly onto drywall has the possibility of bending it, especially if you have old and/or thin drywall. The weight of your television might also cause it to fall and break.

It’s much safer to use a stud or an anchor since they provide extra support that will hold up your television better.

How much weight can drywall handle without anchors?

Drywall is considered to be brittle and even fragile. At a maximum, it can hold around 5 – 10 pounds without the use of anchors.

The only thing that helps them in carrying heavier items are the anchors, studs, and other hardware that can be used to increase their overall strength.

Conclusion

Television mounts are great to look at and practical, it doesn’t take up much space since they literally just hang on your wall.

Unfortunately, it does take some work and consideration just to mount a television. Plus, you need to make sure that your drywall can handle the job!

That’s why proper planning should be implemented before hanging one. You need to know all of the things to consider and all the right hardware to use before you can safely hang your television.