The common question we get asked by our customers is "What TV Mount will suit a ...?" or "How will I know if this wall mount bracket will fit my TV?"
The fact is that when your shopping for a TV Wall Mount Bracket the manufacturers quoted TV size is just a suggested size this bracket would be suitable to hold, to know if it will suit your particular model of Television you must check the supported VESA Mounting Dimensions of the product. As unfortunately, all the different manufacturers use different mounting dimensions for their different models and sizes. So while one bracket may be perfect for a 55" LCD Display from one brand it will not support a 55" LCD Display from another brand due to different mounting dimensions.
We've written this guide to give you some information on the VESA mounting standard and also tell you how to determine the mounting dimension used by your display to help you find the perfect mounting bracket.
What is VESA?
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) is a professional association comprised of professionals in the video electronics segment. The purpose of VESA is to develop standards and review proposals that promote uniformity throughout video electronic manufacturers. Since its founding in 1989, VESA has sought to establish industry-wide standards for interface among a wide variety of products including monitors and flat panel TVs.
VESA Mount Standards
Most manufacturers voluntarily comply with VESA mounting standards by manufacturing their PC monitors and flat screen televisions with a standard hole pattern on the back of the displays for the purpose of mounting. Some of the most common VESA hole patterns for flat screen displays are the following dimensions:
- 75 mm x 75 mm
- 100 mm x 100 mm
- 200 mm x 200 mm
- 400 mm x 400 mm
- 600 mm x 400 mm
- 800 mm x 400 mm
It's quite simple to determine the VESA mounting of your Television. You can either refer to the specifications in the product manual or you can measure them for yourself on the back of your screen. There should be four bolt holes on the rear of your television or monitor, you just need to measure these from left to right and top to bottom. This will then give you your VESA mounting dimensions (left to right) x (top to bottom). Look at the diagram bellow to show you where you need to measure.
For example: You measure the mounting holes on your television and determine it to be 600mm from left to right and 400mm from top to bottom. Therefore you will need to look for a wall mount bracket which supports 600mm x 400mm VESA Mounting Dimensions.
In addition, VESA sets specific standards for wall mounted TVs through its Flat Display Mounting Interface (FDMI) segment. For the purposes of VESA, FDMI represents a broad description of the basic specifications for any type of mounting device for computers and flat panel TVs. This includes mounting devices for overhead mounts, desktop flat screen mounting arms, pivots, poles, mobile mounts, arms and wall mounts. VESA maintains two sets of standards for wall mount screws, one for screens up to and including 50kgs and one for screens weighing more than 50kgs. The screen and mounting bracket manufacture take care of these screw standards so you don't need to worry about them, but some consumers may still find this standard interesting.
Screw Standards: Up to and Including 50kgs
Screws for mounting screens that up to 50kgs must have at least a diameter of 6 millimetres, or one-quarter inch, and a pitch of 1.0. The pitch of a screw refers to the quantity of ridges on the screw per unit of measurement. The screws must have threaded length of a minimum of one and a half times the diameter of the mounting screw. The threaded length does not include the length of the screw head or any portion of the anchor.
Screw Standards: More than 50kgs
For TVs and monitors that weigh greater than 50kgs, VESA standards require at least a screw diameter of 8 millimetres and a pitch of 1.25. Similar to equipment that weighs less than 50kgs, the standards require at least a thread length of one and a half times the diameter of the mounting screw for these higher weights. VESA recommends a length of 16 millimetres, although electronic manufacturers may set the length themselves as long as it complies with or exceeds the standards.
Manufacturer Standards
A VESA wall mount may come with different screw sizes as long as the manufacturer stayed within the minimum required standards. For example, a TV that weighs 29kgs may provide 16-millimeter mounting screws that meet VESA standards. However, these screws many exceed the minimum standards for even larger TVs.
Most monitors now conform to VESA standards and the manufacturers of these monitors have accepted an industry interface standard as well. This means a hole pattern on the back of the screen, display or monitor that will fit any mounting device for desktop, ceiling and VESA wall mounts. These are the VESA standard mounting hole patterns currently in use:
- For small to medium flat panels, LCD monitors and screens from 12" to 22.9" diagonal, and falling within a weight range up to 14 kgs : 75 x 75 mm or 100 x 100 mm
- For large monitors with viewing screen from 23" to 30.9" diagonally and a weight range up to 23kgs: VESA 200mm x 100mm and 200mm x 200mm
- For large Plasma screens and LCD TV displays 31" to 90" diagonal, but weights not heavier than 114kgs. the hole patterns are set in 200 mm increments: 400mm x 200mm, or 600mm x 400mm, or 800mm x 400mm.
Types of Wall Mounts
TV wall mounts vary from those with an almost unlimited flexibility to basic fixed mount designs. The type to choose depends upon the user’s needs, and what he or she wants the brackets to do. Some mounts allow for adjusting the TV for better viewing from different seats. Some allow the user to set the optimum angle yet remain close to the wall. These are the basic types and their uses:
- Flat mount: this is the most basic mount, and it is usually the least expensive as well. It holds the TV close to the wall, as close as 1 inch away. At flat wall mount has no angling options, and the TV screen remains parallel to the wall. This can be an excellent option for plasma TVs, which have the widest vertical and horizontal viewing angles.
- Tilt mount: this wall mount provides vertical angle adjustment; however, the tilt feature causes the TV to be spaced further out from the wall. Generally, this can be at a minimum of 6cms. Common applications for this TV mount include high on a bedroom wall for watching TV in bed or above a fireplace. The angle adjustment is practical in rooms that are brightly lit as the angling can counteract the light reflections on the screen.
- Tilt/swivel mount: By having side-to-side swivel capabilities, this type of wall mount makes an excellent solution for TVs that need to be angled towards seating areas. It works well for rooms with different viewing areas as well.
- Articulating mount: This versatile, multi-dimensional TV mount provides the most tilt/swivel capability and flexibility. When in use, the arm can move the TV out from the wall by several inches allowing for maximum viewing range; however, the arm folds back close to the wall when the TV is not in use.
Whatever type of mount chosen, VESA standards ensure the safe installation of the equipment and prevent accidents that can cause damage to the equipment and physical harm to anyone in the way of falling electronics.
We stock a large range of TV Mounting Brackets and Monitor Mounting Brackets and Stands.