An often ignored – yet no less important – element of digital signage is finding the right wall mount for your screens. And with hundreds of models to choose from, it can be difficult to know which one best suits your screen. Here is our guide of what you need to consider before buying a TV mount, and also some of our top recommended mounts.

TV screens are truly the backbone of any digital signage setup. They can be a great investment opportunity when appropriate accessories – like mounts – are purchased to suit their size and intended location.

TV mounts not only provide an appropriate level of support for your TV, but they also have the ability to dramatically enhance the viewing experience and create more viewing angle options that wouldn't normally be possible if using a standard entertainment stand.

(Credit: Home Decor Bliss)

If you have a limited amount of office space to work with, mounting a TV can be a smart, effective, and aesthetically pleasing solution to gain more space. TV mounts can also make a bad floor layout easy to work with as they can be placed in otherwise awkward places like corners, ceilings, or even above fireplaces.

As long as you purchase the right mount to support the weight of your TV, extending out and retracting back your TV should be no problem; and, if you're fond of that clean minimalistic look, then a TV mount will be the way to go.

It's important to understand the advantages of finding the right mount and to also consider the possible complexities that could arise if the wrong mount is chosen.

Breaking a law is surely the last thing on your mind when it comes to mounting your TV. But if you're living in the United States, the "Americans with Disabilities Act" (specifically title III (public accommodations)) requires displays or hardware to protrude no more than 4 inches from a wall.
If you plan to place your TV in a public area you need to think about whether or not your TV interferes with – or disrupts – the public’s ability to move freely. For more information on what the regulations are, check out this ADA checklist for more help.

It’s been said that (correctly) mounting a TV is actually a much safer alternative than placing your TV on an entertainment center. As technology advances, TVs are being made thinner – which makes them more susceptible to tipping over.

Unfortunately, these accidents do happen; a study conducted by CPSP found that in the US alone between the year 2017 and 2019, roughly 11,300 children were treated in emergency rooms annually due to furniture and appliance tip-overs with 75% of those cases involving a TV.

When choosing your mount you must make sure that it supports the weight and size of your TV.

Many manufactures categorize their mounts by the maximum amount of weight and size the mount can support. To mitigate your TV snapping off the wall, always check the weight of your TV and the mount specifications.

Important to note: make sure to take into account the extra weight your mount may hold if you plan to attach accessories like soundbars or digital signage media players as this might overwhelm your mount and cause it to fail.

If you're unfamiliar with mounts, you're probably thinking of using the standard fixed wall mount. This is a great idea if your seating area is placed right in front of the TV. But if you have a wide seating position or slightly lowered viewing angle, you may not see the best picture. Image distortion can be especially noticeable if you have a light source coming through a window.

So before choosing a fixed wall mount, be sure you know exactly where your viewers will be seeing the screen as you won't be able to adjust the TV afterward. (We cover this in more detail in this guide to achieving the maximum ‘dwell time’.)

A tilting mount is another type of mounting style that allows you more movement to adjust the angle of the screen, even after you install your TV. Some mounts come with more tilting abilities than others, so make sure to check the product description to see if the degrees match your preferences.

If you require more mobility like extension and swivel capabilities, then a full-motion mount could be for you. A full-motion mount is great if you want to interchange landscape or portrait orientations or extend your TV from the wall to get closer to the screen. This mount is ideal for TVs placed in awkward locations like corners.

VESA standard is a mounting standard adopted by many TV brands and mount manufacturers; this defines the distance between the mounting holes on the back of the TVs and the screws used to fit into those holes. This standard dictates the hole pattern or "sizes" on displays, measuring horizontal x vertical distance in mm, most commonly seen as 200x200, 400x400, and 600x400.

The quickest and most accurate way to identify the VESA pattern of your TV is to check the product description – or you can measure it on your own. Some TV manufacturers don’t follow VESA standards. If this is the case then you will need to purchase a universal mounting bracket to find the perfect alignment for your TV mounting holes.

Concealing a few cables at home is pretty straightforward, you can either place them inside the wall or purchase some plastic tubing from your local hardware store. But concealing cables in a public setting may be harder than you think.

When displays are in public it's rare that you see power cords or HDMI cables sticking out; these could otherwise be a major safety hazard. Some mount manufacturers actually offer cable management built into the design to help combat this, so make sure to check the product description if this is something you are interested in.

Once you choose your mount, It is important to check what materials your walls are made out of. In principle, you can install a mount onto any type of wall material, but each wall type has different properties. Therefore, extra measures need to be taken to ensure your mount is anchored down safely.

Fixed wall mounts (also known as "flat" mounts) are simple, inconspicuous, entry-level mounts that are placed flush against the wall. These mounts are best for flat surfaces and provide a clean and minimalistic look as they generally sit an inch or two off the wall.

Fixed wall mounts are typically low-budget because they do not have the sophisticated moving mechanisms that some mounts have, and they require fewer materials to make the mount. A fixed amount can be a fine choice but take into consideration that these types of mounts restrict access to the back of the TV and lack adjustability post-installation. If you need to reach the ports at the back or need to glare coming off the TV, a fixed mount may not be the best for you.

Tilting Mounts are low-profile mounts that have a tilting mechanism. This is a great option if you're placing displays where the direction of light changes frequently and you need to combat glare often.

This mount is also a great option if you want to place your display higher up to then be angled down for a better viewing experience. It also frees up space behind the TV as it tilts up or down, giving you a bit more room to easily change HDMI cables; a welcome benefit for store clerks or offices that need to adjust their displays without taking off the TV completely.

When choosing a titled mount it is important to note that the degree of tilt varies between different manufacturers, so make sure to check the product specification sheet to ensure the mount fits your needs.

A full-motion mount (or articulating mount) has much more mobility and complex features that allow the mount to extend, retract, swivel left and right, tilt up and down – and sometimes rotate. However, not all brands adhere to these criteria and will sometimes leave out one or two features. A full-motion mount is a great option for users with multiple seating areas, is a great solution to combat glare, and can give you the most room to access the back of the TV compared to other mounts. There are various types of wall mounts to choose from price to aesthetics, construction to $20 up to $1000. If you are unsure of what to look for, take a look at some of our top recommended full-motion wall mounts below.