The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right TV Wall Mount
By the Pros: Strength, Safety, and the Perfect Viewing Angle for Your Tampa Home.
Choosing the right TV wall mount is the single most important decision in your installation project—not just for aesthetics, but for the long-term safety and security of your investment. As professional installers, we are dedicated to transparency. While we stock a selection of standard brackets for convenience, we always prefer our customers to purchase the mount that perfectly fits their needs. To help you make the best choice, we’ve broken down the four essential categories of standard TV mounts.
| Type of Mount | Best For | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Motion (Articulating) | Rooms needing maximum flexibility or corner placement. | Must hit studs correctly for centering. |
| Fixed/Flat | The sleekest, most secure, "picture-like" look. | Requires the perfect TV height for eye-level viewing. |
1. Full-Motion (Articulating) TV Mounts
Full-Motion mounts (also known as articulating or swivel mounts) allow you to extend the TV out from the wall, tilt it vertically to eliminate glare, and swivel it horizontally to achieve the perfect viewing angle.
A. Single-Stud Full-Motion Brackets
These mount to a single wall stud. They are compact and offer excellent motion. **The Caveat:** Because the bracket must anchor into one specific stud, it is often impossible to center the TV perfectly on the wall. The movement of the arm can compensate, but the resting position may be off-center.
B. Double-Stud Full-Motion Brackets (Standard vs. Wide)
These utilize a larger wall plate that spans two adjacent studs for maximum stability.
- **Standard Wall Plates (16 inches):** Used when studs are 16 inches apart and the desired center point is aligned correctly.
- **Wide Wall Plates (24+ inches):** **Crucial for Centering!** These wider plates are essential when the desired center of the TV doesn't align perfectly with the studs. The wide plate allows the TV's mounting head to be slid laterally to the exact center location after securing the plate to the studs.
2. Fixed (Flat) TV Mounts
Fixed mounts are non-moving brackets that keep the TV extremely close to the wall—often less than an inch. They provide a clean, secure installation that makes your TV look like a piece of hanging artwork. The primary difference is the length of the wall plate, which is crucial for supporting heavier loads and wider VESA patterns.
| Bracket Name (By Wall Plate Size) | Wall Plate Size | Typical VESA Support | Recommended TV Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Flat Bracket | **16-inch** | Up to 400mm x 400mm | Small to Medium (32"-65") |
| Large Flat Bracket | **24-inch** | Up to 600mm x 400mm | Large (65"-85") |
| Extra Large Flat Bracket | **36-inch** | Up to 1000mm x 800mm | Extra Large (85"+) |
For extra-large displays (75 inches and up), we strongly recommend using a robust, large or extra-large flat bracket. These TVs are so big that it is best to have them flat to the wall—nice and neat looking like a picture. You eliminate the risk of children playing with the TV, moving it around, and potentially breaking it, as large TVs put immense stress on articulating arms.
3. The Essential TV Mount Gallery: Recommended Brackets
We encourage customers to purchase their mounts through our links to ensure a high-quality product. **Note:** If you arrive on-site with the wrong bracket, we do stock standard brackets and offer them at a reasonable price for your convenience.
| Mount Type | Description | VESA Support/Size Range | Purchase Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Stud Motion | Premium single-arm articulating mount for TVs up to 55 inches. Perfect for tight spaces. | Up to 400x400mm | Buy on Amazon |
| Double-Stud Motion | Heavy-duty full-motion mount with 16-inch wall plate for standard centering. | Up to 600x400mm | Buy on Amazon |
| Wide Double-Stud Motion | Extra-wide wall plate articulating bracket (24+ inch span) for off-center stud installations. | Up to 800x400mm | Buy on Amazon |
| Standard Fixed | Low-profile, fixed bracket with a 16-inch wall plate for a neat, close-to-wall finish. | Up to 400x400mm | Buy on Amazon |
| Large Fixed (24") | Large fixed mount with a 24-inch wall plate, ideal for 65"-85" TVs needing stability. | Up to 800x400mm | Buy on Amazon |
| Extra Large Fixed (36") | Ultra-heavy duty fixed mount (36-inch wall plate) for the biggest TVs (85"+). | Up to 1000x800mm | Buy on Amazon |
| Universal Tilt/Fixed | A versatile tilting bracket offering a slight downward angle, good for glare reduction. | Up to 600x400mm | Buy on Amazon |
| Premium Full-Motion | High-end articulating mount with smooth operation and extended arm reach. | Varies by Model | Buy on Amazon |
| Budget Flat Mount | An affordable, standard fixed bracket for lightweight TVs and monitors. | Varies by Model | Buy on Amazon |
Got Your Bracket? Now Get Professional Installation.
Don't risk your new TV (or your wall!) trying to install a complex mount. We handle all bracket types—from single-stud to 36-inch plates—with a security guarantee.
Book Your Professional Mount Now