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Checked and updated on February 26, 2021 by Aaron Barnett
Installing an extendable t.v mount as a DIY project is an easy project, that can help de-clutter, save space, and add functionality to your work-space or living area. Here is a quick video about why I find an extendable t.v wall mount useful, and why I use one to save space in my tiny house.
Below is a comparison of the best full-motion TV brackets to help you get the right one for your area and LCD. Following a quick how-to install a t.v wall mount guide.
Best TV wall mount [32-65 inch]
#1 Best long arm TV wall mount
Solid Mounts 36 inch long extension tv mount
- Direct your t.v exactly where you want it!
- Easy install as it supports wider studs (16” to 24”).
- The TV can be rotated 95° in either direction.
- Stretches out to 36” and takes a load of 120 lbs.
- Takes t.vs from 32 inches to 65”.
- More expensive than mounts with less extension.
#2 Best value TV wall mount
Mount-It MI-310B heavy-duty tv wall mount
- Double arm for extra stability.
- Continuous tilt feature ensures better viewing angle and reduces glare.
- Takes t.vs from 32” to 60 inches.
- A large open wall plate provides easy access to cables.
- Extends out 20.25 inch.
- Takes weight up to 175 lb.
- Nuts require loosening and greasing for free movement.
#3 Flexible and extendable TV wall mount
Mount-It! MI-2171L tv wall mount
- Has a pretty good load capacity of 165 lbs.
- Easier to extend in and out than a double arm with less friction.
- Built-in level.
- Takes t.v from 32 inches to 65″.
- Extends out 26.25 Inches from the wall.
- Single-arm T.V can slightly tilt with. weight at full extension.
- Less weight capacity as the MI-310B.
#4 Cheap wall mount TV bracket
Mount-It! TV wall mount bracket black (MI-346L)
- Includes all hardware necessary for installation.
- Allows for a good range of viewing angles.
- Can be used for corner installations.
- From 32” to 65” sized t.vs.
- Supports only up to 110 lbs.
- Extends to 17.3” only.
- Single-arm can tilt out of level with weight.
Best tv wall mount [42-70 inchs]
#2 Longest TV wall mount extension
Mount-It! Longarm tv mount, full-motion wall bracket with 40-inch extension
- Good choice for large and heavy TVs.
- Extends up to 39.8 inches!
- Good range of adjustments.
- Takes t.v from 42” to 80”.
- Surprisingly heavy.
- Only handles 110 lbs.
#1 Strongest TV wall mount
Aeon Stands and Mounts, tv wall 32-inch extension for 42 to 80 inch, double-arm
- Good choice for larger TVs.
- Good load capacity with the double arm to take 150 lbs.
- Pretty good reach of 32”.
- Takes TVs from 42” to 80 inches.
- The frame may block the input ports of some TVs.
- Arms are a bit tight.
#3 DIY TV wall mount
ECHOGEAR full motion articulating tv wall mount bracket for 42″-80″
- Provides up to 130º of the swivel.
- Supports TVs up to 80” and 125 lbs.
- Double arm.
- Pretty heavy and may require assistance for installation.
- A bit hard to adjust.
- Only 22-inch extension.
#4 Another TV corner wall mount
Mount-It! Tv wall mount with 26-inch extension
- Full motion capability makes it suitable for corner installation.
- Supports up to 220 lbs.
- Screws are a bit flimsy.
- Supports t.v sizes from 42 inches to 70″.
- Some screws need tightening.
- Sags a bit with heavy TVs.
Introduction
Installing a TV mount is a great way to get a lot more functionality and versatility from your TV. It could also save you a lot of space by making use of an oftentimes underutilized area of your interior: your wall.
Most people place their TVs on a table or a stand, and this usually works out pretty well if there is sufficient space. But if you live in a tiny apartment–or if you already have a lot of furniture taking up floor space–having your TV up on the wall is usually a better option.
Even if you have sufficient space to set your TV up on a table or a counter, there are other good reasons to consider installing a TV mount instead. They can make it easy to see the TV screen from more areas in the room and reduce neck fatigue when watching TV for long periods.
TV mounts also allow you to extend your TV over a table or a desktop, which gives you a better view when playing video games. This even lets you use your TV as part of a dual monitor setup for your computer, giving you the advantage of a much bigger viewing area.
It would be best to get a wall mount with an extendable arm that you can pull out from the wall. These designs usually cost a little more than fixed wall mounts, but the added functionality makes them well worth the extra cost.
Look into cantilever mounts as well, which are much more efficient than other designs. These have extendable arms that let you pull the TV horizontally away from the wall, and they give you a wider range of positioning options. They allow you to tilt, swivel, and rotate your TV, and even let you position them around corners.
Another option is to instead consider a ceiling TV mount, these mounts hang your TV from the ceiling and are another way for saving space, you could also opt for a motorized flip down tv mount but we don’t you have the same maneuverability as a good wall mount.
Features to consider first…
Double vs. Single-arm
Wall mounts typically come with one or two arms, which connect the TV to the wall plate. Two arms will obviously carry more weight than a single-arm–they can carry as much as 200 pounds in fact.
But there are good reasons to go for a single-arm design if it can handle the weight of your TV. Single-arm wall mounts can usually pan a full 180°, as opposed to double-arms, which are usually limited to 160°.
The wall mounting bracket size.
The size of the brackets is especially important if you need to mount your t.v onto drywall. With such surfaces, you will need to install the wall mount on one or two studs. You will also need to screw the wall plate into the center of the studs, so you will need to make sure that the bracket will cover the necessary span.
Most brands of TVs nowadays adhere to the VESA Interface Standard, which defines the horizontal and vertical distance between the four mounting holes on the rear of the set. VESA-compatible wall mounts will accommodate TVs with mounting holes spaced 200 mm by 200 mm, 400 mm by 400 mm, and 600 mm by 400 mm apart.
Your TV size compatibility.
It is always a good idea to get a wall mount that can accommodate TVs bigger than your current model. Most big wall mounts will accommodate smaller TVs with no issues, but the opposite isn’t always true. Wall mounts are usually rated by the screen size and weight of the TV they can accommodate.
Weight is always the more important factor to consider. So when choosing between two wall mounts that can accommodate the same size of a TV, always choose the one that can support the weight of your TV.
Get a nice wall extension length.
You will want to be able to extend your TV as far from the wall as possible. But you also want to be able to retract it and have it as unobtrusive as possible. Getting a wall mount with a large extension range will let you get your TV as close as you need it to be, and let you fold it back out-of-the-way as well.
A long reach will also enable you to turn the TV 90° to the side without having it bump up against the wall.
TV corner wall mount options
If you want to position a t.v in a wall corner, you want a single t.v arm bracket where the extendable arm pivot point isn’t too close to the corner side of the wall plate.
A TV corner bracket like this will make it less likely that the t.v mount will be seen when the TV is positioned in the corner of the wall.
Both the long arm articulating TV wall stands below can do this.
What is the longest tv wall mount?
This tv mount can take TV’s sizes between 32 Inch- 65-Inches and is capable to extend a long reach of 36 inches from the wall! Made to take Samsung LG and Sony TVs as well as others it is built to a higher quality than most other mounts.
With a huge base plate, it is easy to find fixing in your wall, and with a single-arm, it can be moved to face different directions with little to no resistance.
36 Inch Extension
For bigger t.vs sized from 42″- 80 Inches. This TV mount extends even future at 38.8 Inches from your wall. If your TV is less than 65Inchs I recommend the one above though as it’s better build-quality with only 4 Inches less reach.
40 Inch Extension
Best places for your tv on the wall
Any place you have your TV it is better to have it attached to the wall rather than sitting on a stand. This saves space, is tidier, while giving you better and a movable viewing angle, while being safer in an earthquake as your TV won’t fall down.
Offices
Most workplaces have very little available space, to begin with, making them perfectly suited for TV wall mounts. Whether they are necessary for work or they are used for recreational viewing, TVs can be mounted on a corner of the room.
This keeps them out-of-the-way yet viewable from most areas of the office.
Small rooms or apartments
Living areas with limited space are perfect candidates for TV wall mounts. Most such places have very little floor space available, but the walls are usually underutilized. By mounting your TV on a wall, you can keep it from taking up any more valuable floor space and probably make your bare wall look more attractive besides.
Like my tiny house and many others, a t.v wall mount can help save space and de-clutter in a tiny house design. I find a 32 inch sized screen I find is perfect.
On the wall of your kitchen
If you like watching TV while preparing your meals, placing a TV in your kitchen is a no-brainer. Of course, you probably don’t have a lot of space on your kitchen counter, and a small portable TV simply won’t do.
Installing a wall mount will let you enjoy your favorite cooking shows while leaving your counter space free for kitchen essentials.
Boats and RV’s
Having a TV on the road or in the wilderness is essential if you have children along for the trip. With a TV wall mount, you can enjoy your favorite movies without taking up any more of the already-cramped space.
How to install a swing arm tv wall mount
Installing a TV wall mount is a fairly simple task, but there are some important things to keep in mind. Choosing the right wall mount and knowing how to install it properly will give you the best possible viewing angles and provide maximum functionality.
More importantly, it will keep your expensive TV from crashing down onto the floor! For a full guide click here – How to mount a TV on the wall
Before you get started, you will need the following tools:
- A Cordless drill.
- Hand level or a self-leveling laser level.
- Stud finder.
- Mounting hardware.
- Wrench.
- Tape measure.
Most of these are pretty self-explanatory, but the type of level you will use requires some consideration. Many TV wall mounts actually come with a level, either as part of the kit or built-in to the mount itself. But these aren’t usually very accurate, so it might be better to use a level that you know is reliable.
If you need to install your TV mount in drywall, you will need a good stud finder that can locate the studs’ center. I’m going to go into more detail on this later.
Installing a wall mount on concrete is a bit more challenging. You won’t need to look for studs obviously, but you do need to make sure that the wall plate is mounted securely. For this, you will need to use a masonry bit with your drill. And provided plastic plugs to hold the screws into the concrete.
Here are the steps to installing your tv, wall mount:
- First, you want to attach the t.v bracket to the wall without the t.v connected. Measure the spot where the mount will go. Keep in mind that the brackets will fit onto the wall plate, so they will determine where the mount should go. Measuring the distance from the top of your TV to the edge of the brackets will tell you where the mount needs to go
- Using your level mark the appropriate spot on the wall. positioned the wall plate straight and then screw it in.
- Attach the second bracket directly to the TV’s rear panel. Most flat-panel TVs will have four holes on each corner for this purpose.
- Now that you have the bracket on the wall and the second TV plate is connected you simply lift the t.v and the tv plate on top of the wall bracket and it hocks in place. Depending on how heavy your TV is, you might need assistance at this point. Doing a 32 inch sized tv by yourself is easy.
Some thoughts on installing wall mounts to specific types of walls: Attaching your wall mount directly onto drywall generally isn’t a good idea. If you don’t have any other wall available, it would be best to attach the mount to two studs at the very least. For this, you will need a stud finder that enables you to locate the studs’ center.
Comparing the top TV wall mounts
Mount-It! Long Arm TV Mount | Long Extension Mount | Aeon Stands TV Wall Mount | Mount-It MI-310B | Mount-It! MI-2171L | Mount-It! TV Wall 26 Inch Extension | EchoGear Articulating Mount | Mount-It! MI-346L | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TV Size: | 42” to 80” | 32” to 65” | 42” to 80” | 32” to 60” | 32” to 65” | 42” to 70” | 42” to 80” | 32” to 65” |
Weight Capacity: | 110 lbs | 120 lbs | 150 lbs | 175 lbs | 165 lbs | 220 lbs | 125 lbs | 110 lbs |
Extendable Length: | 39.8” | 36” | 32” | 20.25” | 26.25” | 26” | 22” | 17.3” |
Conclusion
After installing a swing arm t.v mount you will wonder why you didn’t install one sooner as T.v mounts are cheap and don’t take long to set up.
You can have any t.v on a wall mount but I highly recommend a 32inch HD t.v as a computer screen. A bigger 42-inch screen is too big to comfortably see. The 32inch tv screen size can make any work on a PC quicker by allowing more desktop display, to stop the need to flick back and forth on tabs, you can instead simply have two or three windows up on the screen at once.
This hack is a simple thing, you can do to greatly improve your time efficiency doing any computer-related tasks. And if you are after something more portable consider instead the best mobile tv stand.
Longest extending TV wall mount
Pros:
- Robust solid and easy to install TV mount bracket.
- The longest extending swing arm at 40 Inches!
- Great value to buy online.
Cons:
- Too big for small TVs.
#1 Best TV wall mount
My name is Aaron, and welcome to Bangingtoolbox.
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I have a corner wall unit with a fireplace underneath, the space for a tv will only fit a 28” and the back space for a back plate is 12” and all units are min 16” for a 32” arm length (I need the arm to be at least 28”so that the tv can cover the space and can mount a 49” tv.
Any suggestions on what could be used or built in the space?
I can send you pictures if that helps?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Feel free to send an email though via the “contact” menu