In this article
Why choose a full-motion TV mount
A full-motion mount — also called an articulating or swivel mount — puts the TV on an arm. You can pull it out from the wall, swing it left or right, tilt it and fold it back. It's the mount for rooms that don't have one obvious viewing spot: an open kitchen and living area, a corner position, a bedroom where you watch from the bed and from a chair.
It's also practical: a full-motion arm makes it easy to reach the ports on the back of the TV when you plug in a console or change a cable.
Where full-motion makes sense
- Corners. A TV mounted in a corner has to be pulled out to clear both walls and angled toward the room. Only an articulating arm does that; see corner and ceiling mount solutions.
- Open-plan rooms. Face the sofa in the evening, turn toward the kitchen island while cooking.
- Bedrooms and offices where the TV needs to aim at a specific seat.
- Outdoor kitchens and patios — turn the screen toward the pool or the grill. See outdoor TV installation.
If the TV only ever faces one direction, the arm adds depth and cost for nothing — a fixed or tilting mount is better. Our comparison of tilt versus swivel mounts walks through it.
Anchoring: the most important part
On a fixed mount, the TV's weight pulls straight down. On a full-motion arm extended 20 inches, the same weight becomes a lever pulling the top of the wall plate out of the wall. That's why:
- The plate must span two studs, with lag bolts of the length the manufacturer specifies, or go into solid masonry with sleeve or wedge anchors.
- Drywall anchors are never used for a full-motion arm.
- Metal studs need rated toggle bolts across several studs or a plywood backer — our guide on toggle bolts versus lag bolts explains when each is right.
- The mount's weight rating must cover the TV with margin; we check it against your TV before installing.
Rather have a pro do it?
Send a request — we'll confirm the exact price and a time that suits you by text or call. 3-year warranty on every install.
Leveling and cable management
Arms flex slightly under load, so a TV that's level against the wall can tilt when extended. Good full-motion mounts have a level adjustment at the TV head; we set it with the TV both folded and extended so it stays straight wherever you leave it.
Cables are the other detail. A moving TV needs slack, but loose loops hanging behind the arm look messy. We route cables along the arm with ties or the arm's cable channel, leave a controlled service loop at the wall, and conceal the run below the TV in the wall or a raceway — see TV cable concealment. A soundbar can ride on the TV with a TV-attached bracket so it follows the screen.
Matching the arm to your TV
Check the VESA pattern, the weight and the maximum screen size of the arm against your TV — the mount finder does this for your model. For 75-inch and larger TVs, choose a dual-arm mount: single-arm mounts for big screens tend to sag.
Free tools Mount Finder Pick the brand and screen size to see the pattern that lineup uses, the weight range and mounts that fit. Add the model code for an exact match. Open the tool →Full-motion mount installation in our regions
We install articulating mounts in Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, Las Vegas, Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, San Diego, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Raleigh–Durham — concrete condo corners in Florida, metal-stud high-rises in Las Vegas, framed walls in LA and Texas. Send a request and we'll confirm the price and a same-day slot.
