Mounting a TV on Metal Studs
Metal studs are common in apartments and newer builds. What hardware they need, why wood screws are unsafe in them, and how to tell what your wall is.
Yes, and it is completely safe when done with the right hardware. Metal studs are thin hollow steel, so a lag bolt has almost nothing to bite into. The fixing has to be a toggle rated for the load, which spreads the force behind the stud instead of relying on thread grip. Done that way a metal stud wall holds a large TV without issue.
How to tell if you have metal studs
Three quick checks, none of which need tools you do not have.
- Age and type of building. Apartments, condos, offices, and newer builds very often use metal. Older single family houses almost always use wood.
- The magnet test. A magnet sticks to drywall screws either way, but on a metal stud it will also drag along the whole length of the stud rather than catching at intervals.
- The sound. Knocking over a metal stud is a slightly higher, thinner sound than the dull thud of wood. Not conclusive on its own, but it adds up with the other two.
You do not need to work this out before booking. We check before choosing hardware.
Why wood screws are the wrong answer
A wood stud is a solid piece of timber, so a lag bolt cuts a thread through an inch and a half of material and holds by friction along its whole length.
A metal stud is typically around 25 gauge steel, roughly half a millimetre thick, and hollow. A screw driven into it grips almost nothing. It may feel tight while you are driving it and still pull straight through under a static load hanging off the wall for months.
This is the failure people mean when they say a TV "fell off the wall". It is not usually the mount failing, it is the anchor.
What actually holds
Toggle style anchors rated for the load. Rather than gripping the thin steel, they pass through it and open out behind, spreading the weight across a much larger area of the back of the stud.
The rating matters more than the type. We check the mount and anchors against your TV's actual weight, not against the screen size printed on the mount box, because two 75 inch TVs can differ meaningfully in weight.
Does it cost more?
No. Metal studs do not add a charge, they just need different hardware which we carry as standard. Pricing is the same as any drywall install, starting at $99 for screens up to 55 inches.
If you are renting
Metal studs and rentals overlap heavily, so the same two things come up together. Check your lease about wall fixings before booking, and know that a standard mount uses four to six holes, all hidden behind the TV, which patch and paint easily at move out. More for renters.
Common questions
Can you safely mount a TV on metal studs?
Yes, using toggle hardware rated for the load rather than wood screws. Anchored correctly a metal stud wall carries a large TV without any problem.
Why can you not use normal screws in a metal stud?
A metal stud is thin hollow steel, around half a millimetre thick, so a screw has almost nothing to grip. It can feel tight going in and still pull through under a load that hangs there for months.
How do I know if my apartment has metal studs?
Apartments and newer builds very often do. A magnet dragged along the wall will follow the full length of a metal stud rather than catching at points, and knocking sounds thinner than over wood. We check before choosing hardware either way.
Does mounting on metal studs cost more?
No. It needs different anchors, which we carry, but the price is the same as a standard drywall install, from $99.
Ready to get your TV mounted?
Send your TV size and wall type and you will usually have a flat price back the same day. No site visit needed for most jobs.