How to Find Studs to Mount a TV on the Wall
Mounting a TV on the wall is one of the most satisfying home improvement projects — and one of the most potentially damaging if done wrong. Getting the mounting bracket into wall studs is non-negotiable. Drywall anchors alone cannot reliably support a large TV over years of vibration and temperature changes. This guide covers exactly how to find studs to mount a TV, using the free Wall Scanner & Metal Detector app as your first detection tool.
Start by downloading Wall Scanner & Metal Detector on iPhone (App Store) or on Android (Google Play) — it's free, offline, and requires no account.
Why Mounting in Studs Matters
A typical flat-screen TV weighs between 10 and 40 kilograms, plus the mounting bracket adds another 2–5 kg. The combined load, multiplied by lever arm physics when the TV projects out from the wall, means the screws holding the bracket experience significant shear and pull-out forces.
A wood stud (typically 38mm × 89mm in North American construction) can handle screws driven 30–50mm into its face, rated for loads of 50+ kg per screw. Drywall alone cannot. Over time, even if drywall anchors seem to hold initially, the vibrations from sound systems and thermal expansion can cause progressive loosening — until the TV falls.
Tools You'll Need
- Wall Scanner & Metal Detector app (free — download above)
- Painter's tape and a pencil for marking
- A level (or use a bubble level app)
- A drill with appropriate bits
- TV mounting bracket with hardware
- A stud screw driver or impact driver
Step 1: Decide on Mounting Height
The ideal viewing height places the center of the screen at eye level when seated — typically 100–120 cm from the floor to the center of the TV for most sofas. Mark this height on the wall with painter's tape.
Step 2: Find the Studs with Your Phone
Open Wall Scanner & Metal Detector. In stud finder mode, hold your phone flat against the wall and move it slowly across the area where you want to mount the bracket. The magnetometer will spike when you pass over metal screws in the drywall — each spike is a stud fastener.
Mark every spike location with a pencil mark or painter's tape strip. Then look for a pattern: in North American construction, studs repeat every 16 inches (40.6 cm). In European construction, spacing varies — typically 60 cm center-to-center in modern builds, but older buildings differ.
Confirm by scanning at two different heights — the spike pattern should repeat at the same horizontal positions. Once you have two or three confirmed stud positions, you can trust the measurements.
Step 3: Confirm with Knock Test
With your marked positions, tap the wall firmly with your knuckle. Over empty drywall, you'll hear a hollow thud. Directly over a stud, the sound is more solid and muted. This confirms the phone app results without spending a cent.
Step 4: Make a Test Drill
Before committing the full bracket holes, drill a 2mm pilot hole at one of your marked stud positions. If the bit meets resistance after penetrating the drywall, you've hit the stud. If it goes through freely into empty space, the stud is not where you marked it — adjust by 5–10mm and try again.
Step 5: Mount the Bracket
With confirmed stud positions, position the TV bracket so that the mounting holes align with the studs. Use the bracket template or measure the hole spacing from the bracket. Mark the exact screw positions, drill pilot holes slightly smaller than your screw diameter, and drive the mounting screws into the studs.
For most TVs up to 65 inches, four screws (two per stud, two studs) driven 40mm into solid wood provides more than adequate strength.
Step 6: Hang the TV and Level It
With the bracket mounted, attach the TV mounting plate to the back of the TV (following the VESA pattern holes for your TV size), then hang the TV on the bracket. Check the level and adjust as needed. Most tilt-and-swivel brackets allow a few degrees of adjustment after hanging.
Tips for Tricky Situations
No Studs Where You Need Them
If the perfect viewing height doesn't align with studs, consider using a horizontal spreader plate that spans between two studs. This is a metal plate that attaches to both studs and provides mounting points at any horizontal position.
Older Plaster Walls
If your walls are old plaster over wood lath (common in pre-1960s homes), the phone scanner will be less reliable. The lath pattern confuses the reading. Use a hardware stud finder or try the drill-test method with more reference holes.
Tile Walls
Mounting on tile requires specialized hollow-wall anchors rated for the load, plus ensuring the tile substrate (cement board) is structurally sound. The phone scanner may detect the reinforcement mesh in cement board — use a hardware stud finder instead.
Safety Checklist Before Drilling
- Check for cables and pipes using the EMF detector mode in Wall Scanner & Metal Detector
- Know where your electrical outlets and switches are — cables run vertically from them
- Avoid areas directly behind light switches and outlets
- Check the wall on both sides if possible
Download Wall Scanner & Metal Detector
Your TV mounting project starts with knowing your wall. Wall Scanner & Metal Detector is free, works offline, and requires no account or subscription. Use it to scan your wall, confirm stud positions, and drill with confidence.
Get it free: iPhone App Store | Android Google Play