When you have metal studs, mounting a TV or hanging a heavy picture on the wall becomes slightly more challenging.
Unlike wood studs where you can simply drive lag bolts or screws straight into the 2×4 studs, metal studs are hallow and have thin walls. There simply isn’t enough material for the threads to grab securely.
So the key to mounting anything heavy to metal studs is to get the right fasteners.
Which leads us to the first step…
Step #1 – Get The Right Fasteners
Here are three different fasteners that will work:
#1 – Toggle Bolt
#2 – Self Drilling Toggle Anchor
#3 – Snap Toggle (Recommended)
I recommend the snap toggle, because I’ve tried all three and it seems to be the most robust option. You can find these at most hardware stores including Home Depot and Lowe’s, or you can click the links above (affiliate links) and get them online right now.
Step #2 – Locate the Metal Studs
It’s important that you find the EXACT CENTER of the stud. Metal studs aren’t very wide (typically about 1.25″).
Since you will be drilling a 1/2″ hole in the stud, that only leaves about 3/8″ of metal on either side of the whole. And if you’ve ever tried to drill into the edge of metal, you know that it’s impossible without a drill press.
Bottom line, find the exact center.
You can do that by first determining the approximate location with a stud finder. Then, take a small drill bit – the smaller the better – and use that to probe for for the edges of the metal stud. Mark each edge with a pencil. I demonstrate this in the video above.
I guess I should mention that before you start drilling a bunch of wholes in the wall, make sure you know where you will be attaching the wall mount bracket to the wall. That way you can strategically drill behind where the bracket will be, saving you from having to patch a bunch of holes in the wall.
Step #3 – Determine the Mounting Location for the TV
You probably want your TV at a certain height and at a certain location side-to-side on the wall. So before drilling your holes, figure out exactly where you want to mount the TV so you know where to attach the tv wall mount bracket.
Here’s a video to walk you through the process of determining the right location for you TV.
Step #4 – Drill Some Holes!
For most of the fasteners I recommend, you’ll need a 1/2″ hole in the wall. So, you’ll need a 1/2″ metal drill bit to drill those holes. Click here to see a metal drill bit.
Make sure you’ve taken care to plan the position of your wall mount. Also be careful and don’t let the dill bit “walk” around while you’re trying to drill through the metal. It’s often better to pre-drill the holes with a smaller drill bit first which will create a hole that will guide the larger drill bit and keep it from walking.
Step #5 – Insert the Snap Toggle Vertically
Since the metal studs are installed vertically, you’ll want to position your toggle bolt vertically as well. Otherwise the toggle bolt will run into the side of the metal stud and the connection will be all funky and not as robust.
It takes a little patience to get the snap toggle in place, especially when there is insulation in the walls. Take your time here and if you have to, remove some insulation to make it easier.
Step #6 – Attach the bracket to the Wall!
You’re almost done. Now simply attach the bracket to the wall. You’ll also need some metal washers (which usually come with your TV wall mount). Also, split washers are a good idea so your bolts don’t come loose over time.
And that’s it. You’ve successfully wall mounted a TV to metal studs. As you can see, it’s not that hard. You just need the right fasteners and a careful approach.
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Hello Dan, I really like the way you wrap all your blogs. I have forwarded this to my other tv colleagues. Unfortunately, many of the buildings we visit are surprisingly old and every here and there we have to decline tv installations, maybe it would be worth mentioning that not all walls can support a tv mount.
Will this method for older walls that are plaster?
Thanks for this informational, but short video. I had never heard of these toggle screws and though it would’ve helped me before installing a shelves in my basement (which has metal studs), this will help make mounting a TV to the studs much easier! So thank you!
Do you think is possible to mount a full motion tv wall mount on metal studs?
Useful information. May I suggest you correct a few words:
“metal studs are hallow” – try “hollow”
“either side of the whole” – try “hole”
No discussion of checking for electricity and cables from the back of the TV to the sockets. Need to check length of cables before installing otherwise you’ll have a problem once they are mounted.
Dan are there any other steps you need to take if you are mounting a TV bracket that extends.
Hi Dan,
How do you take these toggles back out of the wall? We used this method to mount a tv but ended up moving the tv to another wall and are unsure how to get this type of bolt out of the wall without causing a lot of drywall damage
Thanks!
The best and easiest way to do this is to unscrew the bolt and let the toggle fall into the wall and then patch the hole with spackle. For the others, I simply use a drywall knife and cut around the head just deep enough to cut through the paper. Then I tap the head slightly with a ball peen hammer and spackle over the indentation Either way, you then sand it down and paint over the spackle.
I used a mount that I purchased on amazon called Condomounts. All all the parts to mount on drywall or drywall with metal studs. Came with toggle anchors and many order screws for all kinds of walls. Pretty great idea. Hung my tv in my condo with these anchors which go in through a 1/2 “ hole. 1/2 drill bit was provided. And use a 1/4-20 screw was also provided . The Condomounts anchors are strong and I hung my self on it before putting the Tv and very strong . I’m around 185lbs.
Great video Dan.
Used your instructions to hang a TV on metal studs with no problems.
Thanks!
Glad to hear it!