There are several great reasons why you should consider elevating your LCD monitor above your desk. For one thing, it frees up a ton of desk space, making your workstation feel less cluttered. Besides, it gives you more flexible viewing angles and improves your overall line of sight which ultimately means your neck can be in a more natural position to avoid pain or discomfort over time.
Before you go off and grab your stud finder, level, and drill, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. Here’s everything you need to know about how to wall mount a monitor and a few things to keep in mind before you do.
Ensure Your Computer Monitor Is VESA Compliant
The first thing you need to establish is whether you can wall mount your computer in the first place. That’s where the VESA standard comes in. Only flat screen monitors that meet VESA compliance guidelines can be mounted.
VESA, which is short for the Video Electronics Standards Association, is the institution that defines the criteria for mounting flat panel displays like TVs and monitors on stands or wall mounts. These criteria make it easier for manufacturers to comply with the needs of consumers by creating products that are compatible with any bracket and monitor stand or mount regardless of the brand.
VESA standards allow for affordable installation and general interchangeability between different mounts to improve viewing flexibility and ergonomics.
How to Tell if Your Computer Monitor Is VESA Compliant
Monitors and TV displays that meet the VESA criteria usually have four mounting holes at the back, whose pattern is measured vertically and horizontally. These holes are drilled into the monitor’s steel frame. VESA standards generally define three things:
- The pattern of the holes at the back of the monitor
- The size of the screws required to attach the monitor to the mount
- The maximum weight capacity the monitor or TV mount can hold
These criteria vary depending on the monitor’s screen size and overall dimensions.
While modern flat panel displays are designed to be VESA compliant, it doesn’t hurt to check the back of your LCD monitor to confirm that it meets those standards. You should see a four-hole screw pattern measuring 75 x 75 mm, 100 x 100 mm, 200 x 100 mm, or 200 x 200 mm for larger monitors.
Monitors that come with their own mounts usually have the VESA holes hidden, so you might need to remove the rear panel or the attached mount, as per the manufacturer’s instructions provided in the user manual. It should also contain information on whether the monitor in question is VESA compliant. If you’re not sure whether your display is mountable, get in touch with the manufacturer or check online although it USUALLY will say on the box itself (if you’re buying new and still have it laying around).
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Mounting a Non-VESA-Compliant Monitor
Apple monitors are not usually VESA compatible; overly thin monitors tend to have hole patterns that don’t meet VESA standards. The same applies to curved monitors. More often than not, these displays usually come with custom mounts or stands provided by the manufacturer.
If you would rather use a VESA mount for your screen, you can purchase adapters for the manufacturer-provided mounts. They are usually easy to install.
Some adapters, such as those available for Apple displays, are generally aftermarket VESA plate attachments that you can screw directly to the back of the monitor before attaching them to a VESA mount or stand. Other adapters are designed to clamp onto your display to avoid drilling straight into your monitor.
How to Wall Mount a Monitor: Step-by-Step DIY Guide
When installing a monitor wall mount, pay special attention to its ratings and make sure it fits the size and weight of your display. Here’s how to wall mount a monitor.
Things You’ll Need
- Stud finder – Whatever you do, don’t mount your monitor to drywall. That’s an expensive disaster waiting to happen. Always ensure there’s a stud to mount it on to get the maximum possible support for your unit.
- Level – Before drilling the mounting holes, use a level to make sure they’re straight. Don’t eyeball it. Trust us on this one. It avoids you drilling unnecessary holes into the wall or ending up with a crooked display.
- Power drill – You could use a screwdriver, but that might take all day. Using a power drill speeds up the process.
- Drill bits – Use a carbide-tipped masonry bit to create pilot holes into which you’ll drill the mounting screws and a Phillips Head drill bit to drive the screws into the holes.
- Monitor or TV wall mount – Make sure that the VESA wall mount you get is rated for the model of your monitor. Refer to the manufacturer’s manual just to be on the safe side.
- Someone to help (optional): If you’re well-coordinated and can do this on your own, good for you! It doesn’t hurt to get someone to line up the brackets and hold the monitor while you drill and screw. Help comes in handy, particularly when mounting heavy monitors or working with multiple monitors.
Method
- Decide on the best screen position – Choose the optimum viewing angle that achieves the best line of vision while you’re seated at your desk.
- Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs – Place your stud finder on the wall and move it around until it locates a stud. Use some painter’s tape to mark the position.
- Mark your pilot holes and start drilling – Place the mount on the wall and use a level to ensure that it is straight. Next, use a pencil to lightly mark the points where you’ll drill the holes to attach the mount onto the wall. Finally, attach the masonry bit to the power drill and start drilling pilot holes into the points you had marked.
- Attach the mounting bracket – Position the mount where you want it to hang and drill the screws into the mounting holes you created in step 3 above.
- Secure the mounting plate to the computer monitor – Locate the attachment holes on the mounting plate at the back of the monitor. These may already have screws in them, or they may be covered in plastic. If that’s the case, take them out first. Next, attach the mounting plate to the back of your monitor.
- Mount the monitor to the wall – Carefully lift the monitor and line it up with the monitor arm on the wall mount bracket. Then, connect them as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This process varies depending on the specific type of monitor wall mount you have, so always follow the instructions provided in the manual.
- Adjust the gas spring mount arm – Finally, adjust the tension in the wall mount arm to ensure you get the perfect viewing angle. The tension screw is located at the joint of the wall mount monitor arm. If you make it too tight and your monitor is too light, the arm will gradually lift it up. The opposite applies to heavier monitors on a single or dual monitor arm with loose tension. It’ll take a bit of trial and error to get it right.
Wall Mount Your Monitors to Get More Work Done
Mounting your computer monitor to the wall raises your eye level, which in turn improves your posture. A better posture means less fatigue, so you can get more work done. With how much people are working from home these days having an optimal home office setup is key to professional success and personal well-being.
Use the tips in this guide today to wall mount your monitor the right way, you won’t regret it!
Check out our blog for more ergonomic tips.
