How to Find Your TV's VESA Pattern (Even If It's Non-Standard)
The VESA pattern is the rectangle of threaded holes on the back of your TV, measured in millimeters. Here is how to measure it correctly, where to look it up, and what to do when your TV doesn't follow the standard at all.
Quick answer
Measure center to center between the mounting holes on the back of your TV, in millimeters: horizontal distance first, vertical second. Four holes in a rectangle gives you a pattern such as 200x200 or 400x300. If you find only two threads, none at all, or a spacing no mount lists, you are outside the standard and need an adapter plate rather than a bigger drill bit.
- 1.Measure hole centers horizontally, in mm
- 2.Measure hole centers vertically, in mm
- 3.Write it horizontal x vertical and match it to the mount's listed patterns
⚠ Electrical safety warning
- Unplug the TV from the mains and disconnect all cables before moving it or laying it down.
- Never drill new holes into the back of a television. The panel, the power board and the mainboard sit immediately behind thin plastic, and nothing visible from outside tells you where drilling is survivable.
- Do not remove the rear housing to reach mounting holes. Beyond voiding the warranty, power supply capacitors can retain a charge after the TV is unplugged, and internal service should be left to a qualified technician.
- Lay a screen face down only on a thick blanket over a flat surface, with nothing underneath it. Panels crack under very small point loads and are generally not economically repairable.
- Treat anything above roughly 43 inches as a two-person lift, both when measuring and when mounting.
- A wall mount's stated load capacity assumes the TV bolts directly to its interface. Adding an adapter plate or spacers increases both the weight and the distance from the wall, so the nominal margin no longer applies.
- If a TV has only two threaded holes or none, and the manufacturer offers no official bracket, do not improvise. Use a stand or consult a professional installer.
What the VESA pattern actually is (and what it isn't)
Two numbers, in millimeters, describing a rectangle of threaded holes on the back of your TV. Horizontal spacing first, vertical second. A TV listed as 400x300 has holes 400 mm apart side to side and 300 mm apart top to bottom.
The formal name is the Flat Display Mounting Interface, or FDMI, published by the Video Electronics Standards Association. It defines a rectangular pattern of four tapped holes grouped into families, with ISO metric threads that vary by family. The exact thread is set by your model's specification, not by the pattern. The parts you meet on televisions are the larger ones, where spacing runs from 200x200 upward in 100 mm increments and extending to considerably larger patterns on large-format panels; check the family table published by VESA for the exact upper limit. Smaller sets and computer monitors use the tighter 75x75 and 100x100 patterns.
What the pattern does not tell you is the screw thread, the screw length, or how much your TV weighs. Those are separate specifications. Confusing the pattern with the screw is an easy mistake to make when shopping, and it is why the pattern and the screw are treated as two consecutive steps here rather than one.
How to measure your VESA pattern in five minutes
You need a tape measure or ruler with millimeter markings and, ideally, a second person. Nothing else.
- 1
Unplug the TV and prepare a safe surface
Disconnect the power cord and any HDMI or aerial cables before you move anything. If you need to lay the TV down, place it face down on a thick blanket or towel over a flat table or the floor.
⚠ Never rest a screen face down on a bare hard surface, or on top of a remote, a screw or a cable. Panels crack under very little point pressure. Anything above roughly 43 inches is a two-person lift.
- 2
Find all four threaded holes
Look for a square or rectangle of metal-lined holes near the center of the back panel. They are usually recessed. Some televisions have more than four: a second, tighter rectangle is common. Identify the set that forms a symmetrical rectangle around the center point, and ignore holes that clearly serve a cable clip or a cosmetic cover.
- 3
Measure the horizontal spacing, center to center
Put the tape on the middle of the left-hand hole and read the middle of the right-hand hole. Not the inner edges. Not the outer edges. The center of one to the center of the other. Record the number in millimeters.
- 4
Measure the vertical spacing, center to center
Same method top to bottom, using holes in the same column so you are measuring one side of the rectangle rather than a diagonal. Record it in millimeters.
- 5
Write it as horizontal x vertical
Order matters when the pattern is not square. 400x300 and 300x400 are different mounting interfaces, and a mount listed for one will not necessarily accept the other.
- 6
Round to the nearest standard step and sanity-check the result
Above 200 mm, your reading should land close to a multiple of 100. Below that, expect 75 or 100. If you get 187 mm or 412 mm, you have almost certainly measured edge to edge or combined holes from two different rectangles. Measure again before concluding that your TV is non-standard.
The measurement mistake that is easiest to make
Many mounting instructions take it for granted that the measurement is center to center and never spell it out. Measuring inside edge to inside edge reads short; outside edge to outside edge reads long. Either way you are off by roughly the diameter of one hole.
That error is large enough to make you buy the wrong bracket and small enough that you will trust the number you wrote down. If your measurement does not land near a standard step, re-check this before anything else.
Typical patterns by screen size (orientative, not a specification)
This table is not a lookup for your model. Its only job is to tell you whether the number you measured is plausible or whether you have probably mis-measured. Manufacturers are free to use any pattern in the standard at any size, so the only binding figure is the one in your model's specification.
| Screen size (class) | Patterns to check your measurement against | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 32 in | 75x75, 100x100, 200x100, 200x200 | Small sets may use the tighter monitor-family patterns, and some have no VESA holes at all. |
| 32 to 43 in | 100x100, 200x100, 200x200, 300x200 | Several different patterns are in play at this size, and a second, tighter rectangle of holes may be present, so identify the right one. |
| 43 to 55 in | 200x200, 300x200, 300x300, 400x200, 400x300 | Non-square patterns turn up at this size, so note the order of your two numbers carefully. |
| 55 to 65 in | 300x300, 400x200, 400x300, 400x400 | Check the mount's load rating against your set's stated weight, separately from the pattern. |
| 65 to 75 in | 400x400, 600x400 | Curved or very thin backs appear at this size, so check whether the mount's spacers are needed. |
| 75 in and above | 600x400 and larger, in 100 mm steps | Large-format sets can go well beyond consumer bracket ranges. Verify against the model's own specification. |
Verify by measuring, or against the manufacturer's published specification for your exact model number. Treat this table as a plausibility check only.
Where the number is written down, if you would rather not measure
All of these need the full model number first. It is on a sticker on the back of the TV, and usually also under a Settings menu named About This TV, Support, or similar.
- The manufacturer's product or support page for that exact model. Look under Specifications, in a section usually called Dimensions, Accessories or VESA. Samsung and LG both publish per-model mounting details in their support libraries.
- The user manual, in the wall-mounting section. Manufacturers publish these as free PDFs by model number, including for discontinued sets, which is often the fastest route for a TV old enough that the box is long gone.
- The wall mount's own compatibility list. Mount makers publish which patterns each bracket accepts. Match your measured pattern against that list rather than trusting a 'fits 55-inch TVs' claim printed on the carton.
- The trailing characters of the model number matter. Regional variants of the same TV can differ in chassis and, occasionally, in mounting provision. Use the complete string, not the marketing name.
- Third-party VESA finder tools and retailer listings are convenient but can be out of date. Do not let one be your only source; confirm against the manufacturer or your own measurement.
When the back of your TV doesn't cooperate
Every guide assumes four clean threaded holes in a neat rectangle. Plenty of televisions do not offer that. Here are the four situations that break the standard advice, and what each one actually leaves you with.
The pattern is real but no mount lists it
Some televisions ship with spacing that does not appear on any bracket's compatibility list, often a rectangle where one dimension is standard and the other is not. This turns up on budget brands, on very large panels, and on sets built on a chassis designed for a different market.
The usual route is a VESA adapter plate: a rigid plate that bolts to your TV's pattern on one face and presents a standard pattern on the other, where one exists for your spacing. Buy one rated for both your pattern and your TV's weight, and read the warning below before you do. Some universal mounts use slotted rather than drilled arms and accept spacing that falls between the standard steps; check the exact range the mount's manufacturer declares before counting on it.
There are only two threaded holes
Two holes is not a VESA pattern, and no amount of measuring will make it one. It appears on some very small sets and on displays designed to hang from a proprietary bracket rather than a standard interface.
If the manufacturer sells an interface bar or bracket for that model, that is your route. If it does not, treat the TV as not wall-mountable by standard means. Hanging a panel from two fasteners concentrates the entire load, plus all the rotational force, on two points that were never specified to carry it, and there is no way to inspect from the outside what those threads are anchored into.
The threads are hidden behind a cover or the stand bracket
Two harmless versions of the same scare. Many TVs ship with small plastic caps or a cosmetic panel over the mounting holes, which unclip or release with a single screw. The manual's mounting section says which. Others have the pedestal's own bracket bolted straight over the VESA holes, so the pattern is not visible until the stand comes off.
Remove the stand, keep its screws in a labeled bag, and measure. Do not assume the pedestal screws will work with your wall mount: the required length is set by the thickness of the mount's plate, not by the TV.
If a cover does not release under light, even pressure, stop. Forcing rear plastic cracks housings and can damage what sits immediately behind them.
There are no threads at all
Older televisions, some very small sets, and a few designs built entirely around their pedestal have no mounting interface. There is no legitimate DIY fix for this. The back of a TV is thin plastic with the panel, the power board and the mainboard directly behind it, and nothing on the outside tells you where drilling would be survivable.
Straps, clamp frames and 'universal' cradles that grip the chassis do exist, but they transfer load into a housing that was never designed to carry it, and they rely on friction against plastic. For a set old enough to have no VESA holes, a stand or a piece of furniture is the honest answer.
An adapter plate is not free capacity
It is an easy detail to overlook: the plate adds its own mass to the load on the mount arm. Steel plates for large patterns are not light. The plate's own specification sheet gives its weight, and that figure belongs in the total you compare against the bracket's rating.
It also pushes the TV further from the wall. Every mount's stated capacity assumes the display bolts flat against the mount's own interface, not against a plate and a set of spacers. Adding depth lengthens the lever arm the bracket is rated against and shifts the center of gravity outward, which is exactly the direction that loads a wall fixing worst.
Treat the published capacity as a ceiling you no longer reach. Add the plate's weight to the TV's weight, and if the total lands anywhere near the rating, move up to a heavier-duty mount instead of hoping the margin absorbs it.
Situation, workable solution, and where the limit sits
| What you're facing | The usual route | Where the limit is |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern doesn't match the mount | Universal mount with slotted arms, or a VESA adapter plate rated for your pattern | Recheck the mount's rating against TV weight plus plate weight, not TV weight alone |
| Only two threaded holes | An interface bar or bracket sold by the manufacturer for that specific model | If no official part exists, do not improvise a four-point mount from two threads |
| Threads behind a plastic cover | Covers normally unclip or release with one screw; the manual's mounting section confirms | If it resists light pressure, stop. Do not remove the full rear housing to reach the holes |
| Stand bracket occupies the holes | Remove the pedestal bracket and keep its screws bagged and labeled | Do not reuse pedestal screws in the wall mount; thread and length are set by the mount |
| Curved or recessed back | Use the spacers or standoffs supplied with the mount to fill the gap | Spacers add depth and leverage. Use only ones supplied with or specified for that mount |
| No threaded holes at all | No safe DIY path. Use a stand, or get a professional assessment | Never drill new holes into the back of a television |
Pattern compatibility and load capacity are independent. A mount can accept your holes and still be the wrong mount for your TV.
Signs it isn't going to fit
- Your measurement is not within a few millimeters of a standard step, and re-measuring center to center does not change it.
- Only two of the four holes accept a thread; the others are unthreaded molding or blind.
- The threaded holes sit near the edge of the rear housing rather than in a rectangle around the center. That often signals a proprietary interface rather than FDMI.
- The plate bolts up, but the curve of the TV's back makes the plate contact the housing before the screws seat. This calls for the mount's own spacers, never for longer screws.
- The pattern matches but the TV's weight exceeds the bracket's rating.
- The ports or the cable recess sit directly behind the mount plate, leaving nowhere for a plug once the TV is on the wall.
Getting it right the first time
The pattern is a measurement, not a guess. Take it center to center, write it horizontal first, and confirm it against the manufacturer's published specification for your exact model number before you buy anything.
If the number comes out non-standard, that is information rather than a dead end. It moves you into adapter-plate territory, where the bracket's advertised capacity stops being the number that matters and the combined weight becomes the one that does.
Once the pattern is settled, the screw thread and length are a separate decision, and getting those wrong can damage the TV in ways an incorrect pattern never will. The wall itself is a third question again, and the anchors that hold a mount in drywall are not the ones that hold it in masonry.
Check these before you buy
- Measure the pattern yourself center to center, and cross-check it against the manufacturer's specification for the full model number, including any regional suffix.
- Find the TV's weight in its specification sheet and compare it against the mount's load rating, with a genuine margin rather than a marginal pass.
- If an adapter plate is involved, add the plate's weight to the TV's weight before comparing against the mount's rating, and expect the extra depth to reduce the effective margin further.
- Check the mount's compatibility list for your exact pattern rather than relying on a screen-size range printed on the box.
- Confirm the mount ships with the screws, washers and spacers for your TV, and settle the screw thread and length as a separate question from the pattern.
- Check that your ports and cable recess will still be reachable once the TV sits against the mount plate.
- Confirm what your wall is made of and whether the fixings supplied are appropriate for it, since that is a separate question from anything on the TV.
Signs it will not fit
- The measurement does not land near a standard step even after re-measuring center to center.
- Only two of the four holes are actually threaded.
- Threaded holes sit near the edge of the housing rather than in a rectangle around the center, suggesting a proprietary interface.
- The TV's back is curved enough that the mount plate touches the housing before the screws can seat.
- The pattern fits but the TV's weight exceeds the mount's rating.
- Ports or the cable recess would be blocked by the mount plate.
- There are no threaded mounting holes anywhere on the back panel.
A visual match does not guarantee compatibility. Check the exact reference printed on your TV or on the original part before ordering anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a mount with a bigger VESA pattern than my TV?+
Sometimes, but not by stretching anything. Many mounts are rated for a range of patterns because their arms are slotted or their plate carries several sets of holes, and those will accept your smaller pattern directly. What you cannot do is bridge a gap the mount was not designed for. If the mount only offers one fixed pattern and yours is smaller, you need an adapter plate, and that changes the weight calculation.
My TV has eight holes in two rectangles. Which one is the VESA pattern?+
Potentially both. Some televisions genuinely publish two supported patterns so they fit a wider range of brackets. Measure each rectangle center to center and check which one your mount lists. If only one of the two matches a standard step, that is your pattern and the other set likely serves a stand, a soundbar bracket or a cable cover.
Is the VESA size the same thing as the screw size?+
No, and the two are easy to conflate. The VESA pattern is the distance between hole centers, in millimeters, such as 400x300. The screw specification is the thread and length, typically an M-series metric thread. A TV and mount can share a pattern perfectly and still need a screw you do not have. Settle the pattern first, then the screw.
My TV has no mounting holes at all. Can I drill my own?+
No. The back of a television is thin plastic with the panel, the power board and the mainboard directly behind it, and nothing visible from outside indicates where a hole would be safe. Beyond the immediate risk of destroying the TV, self-drilled holes have no rated anchorage, so there is no way to know what load they would hold. If the manufacturer offers no mounting provision, use a stand.
Does the VESA pattern tell me how much weight the mount can hold?+
Not directly. The FDMI standard associates its hole families with load ranges, so a larger pattern generally appears on heavier displays, but the figure that matters is the specific bracket's published capacity compared against your TV's actual weight. Check the two separately. A mount can accept your pattern and still be under-rated for your set.
The stand bracket is covering the holes. Do I have to remove the whole stand?+
Yes, and that is normal rather than a problem. On many televisions the pedestal's bracket bolts directly over the VESA holes, so the pattern is not even visible until it comes off. Remove it, bag and label the screws, and measure. Do not plan on reusing those screws for the wall mount, because the correct length depends on the thickness of the mount plate.
Sources
- Official source: VESA — Mounting Standard (Flat Display Mounting Interface) · 2026-07-20vesa.org
- Official source: VESA — Flat Display Mounting Interface (FDMI) Overview (PDF) · 2026-07-20www.vesa.org
- Official source: Samsung Support — Things to consider before mounting your Samsung TV on a wall · 2026-07-20www.samsung.com
- Official source: LG Support — [LG TV] TV Wall Mounting Steps · 2026-07-20www.lg.com
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