How to Hang Television Brackets

Determine where the television will be mounted then use a good quality stud finder that can pinpoint the center of each stud behind the drywall. If you cannot find a stud in the desired area, look for the nearest one. On exterior walls, they should be no more than 16 inches apart. Interior wall stud placement varies depending on the home builder. Once you have located the stud, mark the center of the stud with a pencil.

Measure upward to the desired height, using the measuring tape, then make another small mark with the pencil. Most television manufacturers recommend mounting the TV at eye level so that when you are seated, your direct gaze hits the center of the screen. Refer to the television and mounting bracket instructions to determine where the mount will rest on the wall in relation to the center of the TV screen.

Refer to the bracket kit's specific mounting instructions to determine the bolt pattern you will need to create on the wall. When purchasing your bracket kit, make sure to consult your television owner's manual for bracket requirements and recommendations. Not all bracket kits work with all TVs.

Hold the wall portion of the bracket against the wall and use the pencil to mark the mounting holes. Make sure they line up with the stud you marked in Step 1 and that it will rest at the desired height noted in Step 2. Make sure these marks are over the center of the stud and not on the edge of it. Set the level on top of the bracket, before marking for the holes, to ensure everything will be straight and even.

Drill pilot holes in the wall using a drill bit that is roughly half the size of the mounting fasteners. Once done, have a helper hold the bracket in place and attach the fasteners through the bracket holes and into the wall using the drill on low speed with a screwdriver bit.