What are the best screws for hanging a TV on a stud?

alinois

Hi everyone,

I'll be hanging my TV on a TV wall mount but I wanted to know, what are the best screws to use when hanging this thing on a wall stud? I've heard standard wood screws would do, but I'd like some advice on what brand and thickness of screws to use.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

kirving

The thickness of the screw itself isn't really what matters (a tiny screw will physically hold up a TV), it's that you need something big enough that can bite into the stud behind.

The second thing is that most TV mounts wouldn't work well with normal general purpose "wood" screws, even big ones, as the bottom of the screw head is normally angled (to match the drill bit). What you want is a screw that has a large, flat head to press against the flat metal frame of the TV mount - these are called Lag Bolts or Coach screws.

From Sanus' website, they show these bolts as included, and I imagine most other brands would included bolts/screws too.

https://www.sanus.com/en_AE/products/tv-mounts/

If you can't find a second stud, or your house/apartment uses metal stud frame, you can use the below GripIt mounts. Don't believe the 113kg for a second, and I wouldn't put up any kind of adjustable frame with them, but a flat TV mount that a child can't reach to pull off the wall is absolutely fine.

https://www.diy.com/departments/gripit-grip-it-blue-tv-hanging-kit-for-plasterboard-hollow-wall-113kg-capacity/5060434881298_BQ.prd

alinois

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123156131#Comment_123156131

Got it. Lag bolts or coach bolts it is then!

The mount I have doesn't see to be wide enough to stretch across two studs. Would it be a problem to have it set with two screws displayed vertically across one stud? Like this:

Or should I do those plus some fixings on the plasterboard as well?

awec

How big is the TV?

What sort of mount is it, does it hold the TV flush to the wall or is it one of the swivel mounts with an arm?

alinois

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123156529#Comment_123156529

The mount I'll be using is this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AYBLPNA/ref%3Dox_sc_act_image_2?smid=ATCTQCVJ3PM1T&psc=1

The TV has a 48'' screen.

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123156218#Comment_123156218

Do you have a link to the mount, or even a picture?

With correctly mounted lag bolts, it should be very strong - but the lever arm of an adjustable/pull out mount adds a lot extra.

If the mount is wide enough (like blue below) I'd go with the GripIt mounts, but if it's it's narrow, you can't have too many large holes in a small area as the area between each hole (Green) isn't very strong.

awec

You are going to need more than 2 fixings for that.

Are you sure it doesn't fit across 2 studs? It looks like there are holes up to 406mm apart for fixing based on the photo on Amazon. Studs are usually at 400mm centres in walls.

Failing that, 2 into the stud in the centre and then 4 grip-its around should be ok.

Other options, depending on the wall construction:

1. If there's block work behind the plasterboard then fix into that instead.
2. Remove some plasterboard behind the mount and fit some noggins (horizontal studs) between the studs where you need them to be then re-board that bit.

alinois

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123156572#Comment_123156572

The mount I'm going for is this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AYBLPNA/ref%3Dox_sc_act_image_2?smid=ATCTQCVJ3PM1T&psc=1

would you say this is a wide shape?

kirving

The TV out at distance from the wall will be too heavy, and pulling it from left to right won't be good if you have a narrow fixing alone.

See highlighted section below says you can use plasterboard fixings - but if you'll be moving the TV in and out a lot, or if kids can reach and pull it, I'd be hesitant to rely on them. If either of those are true, try to get to concrete behind if you can. Messier job, but I'm always hesitant of plasterboard.

Lumen

Don't overthink it.

I have a 55" TV on a pull out mount attached to a single stud and it's going nowhere. I think I just used the screws that came with it.

I'm not particularly recommending ordinary screws, but even a couple of 4mm wood screws will take an adults weight without snapping.

I'd guess the mount will break before the fasteners.

GreeBo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123157612#Comment_123157612

I'd agree, once you get a couple of screws/bolts into a stud I wouldn't worry, though I would use gripit or otherwise to fix the sides of the mount to the wall, just to stop it moving around the stud fixings as they might work themselves a little loose if you are swinging the TV in and out (it wont fall down, just might wobble a bit as the plasterboard moves)

alinois

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123156644#Comment_123156644

Hey, after looking behind the wall with a small camera, I found that the studs are not at equal distances between each other, meaning I can't place the mount on two studs.

Any ideas on what to do? Should I open the wall and fit horizontal studs to hang the mount on?

Like this: