The Complete TV Mounting Guide 2026 — Mounts, Soundbars, Cable Concealment & Frame TVs

Mounting a TV is the #1 service we get booked for, and it is also the #1 thing homeowners get wrong on their own. Wrong mount for the TV size. Drywall anchors instead of studs. Cables dangling down the wall. Soundbar three inches off-center. Below is everything we wish every homeowner knew before they bought a TV mount on Amazon.

Pick the Right Mount Before You Touch the Wall

There are four mount types, and 90% of homeowners pick the wrong one for their situation:

• Fixed (low-profile) — flush against the wall, cheapest, no adjustability. Right when your TV faces the seating dead-on and there is no glare.
• Tilting — pivots up and down. Required for above-fireplace and high-mount installs to reduce neck strain.
• Full motion (articulating) — extends, swivels, tilts. Right for corner mounts, kitchens, or rooms where you watch from multiple seating positions.
• Ceiling mount — for kitchens, gyms, garages, and commercial.

Samsung Frame TV Is a Different Beast

Frame TVs use a flush bracket called the No-Gap Wall Mount. The included Samsung mount is fine for drywall studs, but if your TV sits over a fireplace or on a brick wall, you need a heavy-duty Frame-specific mount like the Sanus WSSAM1 that holds the no-gap aesthetic. The One Connect Box also needs to be routed somewhere — most customers want it concealed.

If you are doing this yourself, the Samsung Frame install can take 3+ hours because of the One Connect cable routing. We do these as a service starting at $249.

The Soundbar Decision

If you have a soundbar (or are about to buy one), mount it. Soundbars sitting on the entertainment console look messy, vibrate the surface, and rarely sit at the right height. A wall-mounted soundbar centered under the TV is the cleanest setup we install.

Soundbar mount install starts at $99 when paired with a TV mount, $49 standalone.

Hide the Cables — In-Wall vs. Raceway

This is what separates a DIY mount from a professional install. Wires dangling from the TV down to the outlet ruin the look. There are two ways to fix it:

• Full in-wall concealment — power, HDMI, and any other cables route through the wall. Code-compliant kits include a power relay so you do not run an extension cord behind drywall (that is a fire risk and a code violation).
• Cord cover raceway — surface-mounted plastic cover, paintable, removable. The right choice for renters, brick walls, or anyone who does not want to cut drywall.

Above-Fireplace Mounting — Read This First

Mounting above a fireplace is one of our most-booked services, but it requires three things most homeowners miss:

• Heat check — many gas fireplaces vent heat directly upward. We use a thermometer to confirm the wall above does not exceed 95°F during peak fireplace operation.
• Tilt mount — flat mounts above a fireplace put the TV too high for comfortable viewing. A 15° tilt is the difference between neck pain and a setup you love.
• Cable routing — most fireplaces have a stone or brick face. Cables go in the wall above the fireplace material, then transition to the side.

Outdoor TV Mounting — Don't Use an Indoor TV

If you mount an indoor TV outside, it will fail within a season. Use an actual outdoor TV (SunBriteTV, Furrion Aurora, Samsung Terrace). The mount also has to be 304 stainless steel — anything else rusts in California marine air.

Tools We Use on Every TV Install

When to Hire a Pro vs. DIY

DIY-friendly: standard wall mount on a stud wall, no cable concealment, no fireplace, TV under 65".

Hire us: Samsung Frame TVs, above-fireplace, in-wall cable concealment, outdoor mounts, brick or concrete walls, TVs over 75", and ceiling mounts.

Our standard TV mounting service starts at $89 for a basic install (including bringing the right hardware for your wall type), $149 with cable concealment, $249 for Samsung Frame, and $349 for outdoor TVs. Same-day available across LA, OC, Bay Area, San Diego, and Inland Empire.