Saeed Wazir is a South Africa-based journalist with over 15 years of IT experience and a love for reading and writing. He joined Pocket-Lint after writing tech articles for Dot Esports and Screen Rant and now covers the latest in TV, streaming, laptops, tablets, and PCs. When he's not looking for the latest gadgets, he's relaxing on the beach or exploring open-world games.
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I've tested countless new TVs with the latest features over the years and the idea of where to put them usually comes down to wall-mounting or TV stands. I'm aware that ceiling mounts exist, but they've never seemed like a practical or logical solution for my needs.
I'm not the only person who thinks so, and the number of ceiling-mounted TVs I've seen in people's homes over the years is insignificant compared to the other mounting types. Ceiling mounting might be worth it in certain scenarios for some high-end models, but here are four reasons why I'll never mount my TV to the ceiling.
Complicated installation
It isn't easy or cheap
Ceiling mounting is far more labor-intensive and complicated than wall-mounting. Firstly, you need a ceiling strong enough to support your TV's massive weight, which immediately makes it unviable for people with apartments or open-plan homes. Then you'll need to secure the mount to the ceiling and run the cables.
The more cables you have, the more challenging it gets. At the very least, you'll need to run the power cable through the ceiling and maybe add a wall socket up there to make your life more convenient. If you've got other devices, you might need to run HDMI cables to them via the ceiling. All of this requires labor and tools, and you'll probably need to hire professionals rather than risking damage to your TV or ceiling.
Harder maintenance
Good luck reaching those ports
I take it for granted that I can reach all my TV's ports, easily swap cables and add devices as I see fit. Things aren't as simple with ceiling mounting because adding a new device can mean needing a ladder to access the port, then running the cable through the ceiling. Simply swapping an HDMI cable between ports can be a chore because it will be out of reach.
What should be easy and take a few seconds, can end up being a difficult task as the ports are out of reach.
The same goes for adding simple peripherals, like streaming sticks or SSDs, to your TV. What should be an easy job that takes a few seconds, can end up being a difficult task as the ports are out of reach. These issues can be mitigated with a motorized ceiling mount, but that comes at a higher initial cost and a more complex installation.
Awkward viewing angles
Don't strain your neck
Most of the ceiling-mounted TVs I've seen are quite high up and require me to crane my neck backwards to view the screen. I don't mind doing this occasionally, but there's no way it could ever become my default viewing experience.
This extends to viewing angles. We can usually enjoy movies and shows from a side angle if the TV's at eye level. Things change when you factor in a drastic height increase, which can make the TV unwatchable from certain angles. Some ceiling mounts offer adjustable tilt and swivel to try to get around this. They can help in certain scenarios, but won't offer the same versatility as a TV at eye level.
The awkward viewing angles can sometimes translate to worse perceived image quality.
The awkward viewing angles can sometimes translate to worse perceived image quality, depending on the TV. Certain TVs have narrower optimum viewing angles than others and the colors and contrast won't look as good if you're watching them from the side or underneath.
Positioning issues
Limited flexibility
This point isn't as big a deal as the others, but is still valid. Ceiling mounting restricts your flexibility to rearrange your room, and you'll need to decide where you want your sofas and coffee tables before the installation.
The height and placement of the TV can also obstruct views of windows and other objects, or it can be a hazard that people can knock their heads depending on its placement. However, these positioning issues can be minimized if you plan ahead and place the TV in the optimum location in the room.
Is it ever viable to ceiling mount a TV?
Depends on where you put it
I'd never ceiling mount a TV in my home, but still think it's a viable option in business or professional environments. Ceiling-mounted TVs often look amazing in places like in bars or gyms where they provide entertainment while being out of reach of customers. Suspended displays are the norm in airports and fast-food outlets, where their job is to display information to as many people as possible.
The truth is that commercial applications differ from home use for various reasons. Companies can factor in the installation costs into their business expenditure and won't typically add or remove devices from the TV once it's installed. The environments aren't about everyday comfort, and not having the best picture quality or viewing angles isn't as important as displaying critical onscreen information.