TV Wall Mounting: DIY or Hire a Professional?

Mounting a TV on the wall looks simple. Drill some holes, attach a bracket, hang the TV. What could go wrong?

Quite a lot, actually. But that doesn't mean you always need a professional. Here's how to decide.

When DIY Makes Sense

You can probably do this yourself if:

• You have a stud wall and can locate the studs
• You're comfortable using a drill and spirit level
• You're okay with visible cables (or just running them in a cable cover)
• The TV isn't huge (up to 55" on a simple bracket)
• You don't need power or aerial points moved

Basic TV mounting on a plasterboard stud wall is genuinely straightforward if you have basic DIY skills. Buy a decent bracket (not the cheapest Amazon option), find your studs properly, and use the right fixings.

When You Should Call a Pro

Brick or Concrete Walls

This requires masonry drill bits, the right rawlplugs, and confidence in your drilling. Get it wrong and you've got holes that won't hold, or worse, a TV on the floor surrounded by shattered glass.

Hidden Cables

This is the big one. If you want a clean look with no visible cables, someone needs to chase out the wall, run the cables through, and make good the plaster afterwards. That's a different skill set from just mounting a bracket.

We also need to consider where your power socket is. If there's no socket behind where the TV will hang, an electrician needs to add one. Definitely not a DIY job.

Large or Heavy TVs

A 75"+ TV can weigh 30-50kg. That's a lot of weight to hang on a wall, and getting it on the bracket is a two-person job at minimum. The bracket needs to be absolutely secure—if it fails, you're looking at a destroyed TV and potentially injured people.

Above a Fireplace

Looks great, but there are complications. Heat from the fireplace can damage the TV. Viewing angle is often awkward (you're looking up). Cable routes are limited. And chimneys have different wall construction. This really should be planned properly.

Articulating/Full-Motion Brackets

These let you pull the TV out and angle it. Great for corner mounting or rooms with multiple viewing positions. But they put more stress on the wall fixings (leverage from the extended arm), so they need proper installation.

What Can Go Wrong?

We get called out to fix DIY mounting jobs fairly regularly. Common issues:

• Bracket not level. Small errors become very noticeable. And once you've drilled the holes, you're committed.
• Wrong fixings for the wall type. Plasterboard anchors in brick. Screws too short. Wrong rawlplug size. The TV falls off.
• Hit a pipe or cable while drilling. This is why we use cable detectors. A burst pipe or tripped circuit is not how you want to spend your Saturday.
• Cables look messy. Running cables down the wall in a white plastic conduit isn't the clean look you had in mind.
• Bracket doesn't fit TV. VESA patterns vary. Not all brackets fit all TVs. Check before you buy.

What Does Professional Mounting Cost?

Typical prices in Sussex:

Basic mounting (bracket supplied, visible cables)	£80 - £120
Mounting with cable hiding (chase wall)	£150 - £250
Full install with new power point	£250 - £400

For a clean, professional job with hidden cables, you're typically looking at £150-250. Given the cost of a modern TV and the difficulty of making good a botched job, it's often worth it.

Our Verdict

Simple bracket on a stud wall with visible cables? DIY is fine if you're comfortable with basic tools. Take your time, check twice before drilling, and use quality fixings.

Hidden cables, brick walls, large TVs, or anything above a fireplace? Get a quote from a professional. The cost is modest compared to the value of your TV and the quality of the finished result.