TV Brackets, Wall Mounts & Stands

The Complete Guide to Choosing a TV Bracket, Wall Mount or Stand in Sri Lanka

Buying a TV mount looks simple until you are standing in front of twenty of them trying to work out which one actually fits your TV. The box says “32 to 65 inch” and your TV is 55 inches, so it should work, right? Then you get home and the holes do not line up.

That happens more than people think. This guide covers everything you need to check before buying, written for how TVs and walls actually work in Sri Lankan homes.

Start with three numbers

Every mount decision comes down to three measurements. Get these right and you will not have a problem.

Write these three numbers down before you browse anything. They will narrow the options immediately.

How to find your VESA pattern

VESA is the standard that keeps TV mounting from being chaos. Every TV made in the last fifteen years follows it, which means the hole spacing on the back of your TV matches a standard bracket.

Lay the TV face down on a towel or blanket. Measure the horizontal distance between the left and right mounting holes, then the vertical distance between the top and bottom holes. If the horizontal distance is 200mm and the vertical is 200mm, your TV is VESA 200x200.

Common sizes you will run into:

• 32 inch TVs usually sit at VESA 100x100 or 200x200
• 43 to 50 inch TVs usually sit at VESA 200x200 or 400x200
• 55 to 65 inch TVs are often VESA 400x400
• 70 inch and above tend to be 400x400 or 600x400

The TV manual lists this too. A bracket that supports VESA 400x400 will also fit a TV with VESA 200x200, as long as the bracket mounting plate covers the smaller holes. Always check that the bracket VESA range includes your TV pattern.

What your TV actually weighs

Manufacturers usually list “weight without stand” separately in the specifications. You want that number, because that is what the bracket will be holding.

Once you have the weight, pick a bracket rated for more than that. If your TV is 25 kg, look for a bracket rated for at least 40 to 50 kg. The safety margin matters, especially for full motion mounts where the arm extends and puts more leverage on the wall plate.

Fixed, tilt or full motion: picking the right type

Fixed mounts

These sit flat against the wall with no movement at all. The TV ends up roughly 15 to 30mm off the wall, which gives the cleanest look. Fixed mounts are the cheapest option, starting around Rs 950. The catch is obvious: once it is up, it is up. If you want to reach behind the TV to plug in a new HDMI cable, you will be working blind.

Tilt mounts

Tilt mounts let you angle the screen down by 5 to 15 degrees, and that matters more than people realise. If your TV sits higher than eye level, a flat mount will have you looking up at an angle all evening. A tilt mount fixes that, and it also helps when windows create glare. Tilt brackets start around Rs 2,400.

Full motion mounts

Full motion arms extend the TV off the wall and let you swivel and tilt it. They solve the corner room problem, where a flat mount would have the TV facing the wrong direction. These extend anywhere from 300mm to 600mm off the wall. That extension is also the trade-off: you need a stronger wall fixing because the arm creates leverage. Full motion brackets start around Rs 950 for smaller sizes.

Ceiling mounts

Ceiling mounts suspend the TV from above using a drop pole. They are the practical answer when there is no suitable wall. Restaurants, showrooms, classrooms and clinics use these a lot. They start around Rs 4,950 and include adjustable drop poles to set the height.

Trolley and mobile stands

Trolley stands sit on wheels and carry the TV on a frame, so you can move them between rooms or reposition them for different setups. The obvious use case is presentations and events, but they also work in homes where a room doubles as an office. Trolley stands start around Rs 14,500 depending on screen size and weight capacity.

Tripod and floor stands

Tripod stands are portable, need no drilling, and can be set up in minutes. They are not as stable as a wall mount, but they are the right answer for temporary setups and rentals. Tripod stands start around Rs 10,500.

Monitor arms

Monitor arms clamp or bolt to a desk and hold a computer monitor at the right ergonomic height. They free up desk space and let you adjust the screen position through the day. Monitor arms start around Rs 6,900.

Wall mount vs TV stand: the honest comparison

Pick a wall mount if you own the place and want the clean look. Pick a TV stand if you rent or move furniture around often. Pick a trolley or tripod stand if the TV needs to move between rooms. There is no universal right answer.

Matching the mount to your wall

Sri Lankan homes are mostly brick or concrete, which is good news for wall mounting. Both materials hold a TV bracket well when you use the right anchors.

• Concrete walls. The strongest option. Use the concrete anchors and lag bolts that come with your bracket. Drill pilot holes to the correct depth and avoid over-tightening, which can crack the concrete around the hole.
• Brick walls. Also strong, but you need anchors designed for brick. Avoid drilling into the mortar joints where possible, because mortar is softer. Aim for the centre of a brick.
• Stud walls. Common in newer apartments. Locate the timber studs and fix the wall plate directly into them. For larger TVs, choose a mount wide enough to span two studs.

How high should you mount the TV?

The most common mistake is mounting too high. For a living room, the centre of the screen should sit at eye level when you are seated on your usual sofa, typically around 100 to 110cm from the floor to the centre of the screen.

Bedrooms are different because you are lying down, so the TV usually goes higher, typically 120 to 140cm to the centre depending on bed height. Before drilling, sit where you will normally watch from and mark the wall at eye level, then measure up to where the centre of the TV should be. For full motion mounts, add a few centimetres, because the arm drops the TV slightly when extended.

Should you install it yourself?

If you are comfortable with a drill and you know your wall type, you can do it yourself. You will need a drill with the right masonry bits, a spirit level, a pencil, and a stud finder if you have a stud wall. The tricky parts are getting the bracket level and choosing the right anchor.

Hire someone if any of these apply:

• You do not know what is behind the wall
• Your TV weighs more than 30 kg
• You are mounting into drywall without studs
• You want a full motion mount that extends far
• You do not own a drill rated for masonry

We offer same day delivery and installation in Colombo, covering all mount types including full motion brackets and ceiling mounts.

Frequently asked questions

Quick checklist before you buy

• Screen size, measured diagonally
• VESA pattern, measured in millimetres
• TV weight without the stand
• Wall type: concrete, brick or stud
• Mount type: fixed, tilt, full motion, ceiling, trolley or tripod
• Viewing height: sit first, then measure
• Installation: DIY or professional