TV Mount Hole Patterns

Check your TV screen's product manual for the words "VESA Compatible". VESA standard is one way that LCD and plasma screen manufacturers were able to cooperate with TV mount manufacturers. They agree to drill holes in both their products at the same intervals so users can put them together later.

VESA Compatible plasma TVs and monitors have an industry standard pattern of screw holes in the back that matches a wide variety of universal mounts.

VESA Standard Mounting Patterns

75 mm x 75 mm
75 mm x 100 mm
100 mm x 100 mm
100 mm x 200 mm
200 mm x 200 mm

VESA is an industry standard that guarantees accessory compatibility across different brands. If your screen is not VESA compatible, it may be necessary to buy an adapter plate (sold separately).

Adapter plates come in several different styles.

Dedicated TV Mount Adapter Plate
Dedicated adapter plates have one hole pattern to affix to the mount and another hole pattern drilled to match the plasma or LCD TV exactly.

Universal TV Mount Adapter Plate
Universal adapter plates use a variety of methods to accept as many different TV mounting patterns as possible and affix to a TV mount. For example, the Peerless PLP-UNL adapter plate uses a rail system mounted to a VESA standard back plate to attach nearly any television to a VESA standard mount.

The Peerless PLP-UNL adapter plate has a pair of upright rails with slits down the middle. A user can use screws and spacers to attach a TV at almost any height along each rail. The vertical rails slide side to side on horizontal rails to accommodate a variety of widths, and a user a set of screws and spacers to rails at nearly any width. This rail system is relatively stable for its weight and is gaining popularity as a plasma TV mount for larger screens, 37" and up.

After the mounting pattern question is settled, it is worth considering style. It is natural a transition from "Does it work?" to "How will it look?"

LCD and plasma TV mounts come in numerous different styles. Customers have their choice of mounts that tilt, pivot, stand on the floor, hang from the ceiling, and mount flush to the wall.

Each TV mount style has relative merits and drawbacks. These limitations usually follow the standard that as articulation and possible screen positions increase, maximum weight capacity decreases.

In its simplest form, a TV mount is a flat piece of metal with a pattern of holes drilled in it. As size and complexity increases, price increases.