Mounts

You've spent plenty of time and money selecting the perfect projector for your setting and application. Have you considered where you're going to place it and how? We'll make the next steps easy with some helpful tips for mounting your new projector.

When it comes to mounting a projector, there are several things you need to consider for an easy and successful installation:

How do you want to mount your projector?
Although projectors are the central point of a viewable image, it is not always ideal for the projector itself to be the central point of a room. As a result, many users will choose to mount the unit to a ceiling or to a wall to save space and to avoid blocking the image. Most projectors are mounted to a wall or a ceiling by inverting the projector and attaching the mount to the underside of the projector. Be careful, there are some projector models that cannot be inverted. This can be determined by examining the underside of your projector. If there are no threaded screw holes on the underside of the projector, it cannot be inverted. If the projector is very heavy and bulky, it may also be a non-invertible unit. In almost all other cases, the projector can be inverted. For this scenario, you may choose to purchase a ceiling mount that acts as a platform that the projector can sit upright on, or you may choose a mount that acts as a clamp.

What's behind your wall or ceiling?
Projectors can range in weight from 10 to 50 lbs or more. Thus, projectors need to be mounted to a load-bearing surface. To make sure that your investment is securely mounted, you need to first have a set of wall studs or a ceiling joist that will confidently support the weight of a projector. If you have metal studs, joists, trusses or ibeams, accessories are available on our site to accommodate for your application. Projectors can even be mounted to sloped or cathedral ceilings with an accessory. With the correct hardware, you can even mount a projector to brick, concrete, or cinderblock surfaces. These accessories can be somewhat hard to find, so please do not hesitate to call our customer service line if you have a unique mounting situation.

Ceiling Mount Basics:
Before purchasing a projector ceiling mount that inverts the projector, be sure to verify that it does have mounting holes on the underside of it. If you are unsure whether or not your projector can be mounted in an inverted fashion, please call in to our customer service team and have the make and model number of your projector ready. If you choose to mount the projector to a ceiling, you may either mount it flush to the ceiling or have it drop down any length. Most all of our mounts come ready to be mounted flush to a ceiling as is (low profile). However, if you want to drop the unit down off the ceiling a certain distance, a ceiling flange (ceiling plate) and extension pipe of some distance are required to properly position and secure the projector. We carry ceiling plates of many different shapes to accommodate for nearly all settings. For extensions, we carry both fixed length columns as well as adjustable length columns. Be sure to read the descriptions for each mount on our site, some come equipped with ceiling flanges and/or an extension column already. Also be sure to check above your ceiling surface for wood or metal joists, ibeams, or trusses. It is important to make sure that a potential mount will come with the appropriate hardware to meet your needs.

Wall Mount Basics:
For wall mounting a projector, there are just a very few possibilities that exist. The principle, however, is the same; you need a sturdy wall stud to securely mount your projector. Most wall mount units are designed to attach to only one stud, so it does not matter how far apart the studs are in your setting. Hardware accessory kits are available or sometimes included with the mount for metal studs, and also for solid concrete or cinder blocks. Check to make sure the wall mount you're purchasing includes the hardware you require, or make other provisions. Generally speaking, there are just a few ways to mount a projector to a wall stud. One of these methods involves purchasing one of our versatile mounts that can be mounted to a ceiling or to a wall (while pivoting 90 degrees). This would be the simplest solution, but it requires a projector that is invertible and can screw directly into the mount. We also carry other mounts that are just an arm that comes off the wall. Each of these arms requires a bracket that would allow the arm to attach to your projector. These brackets could be in the form of a platform (for upright installation) or they could be an inverted bracket that screws into the underside of the projector. If you are unsure which solution is best for you, please call our trained customer service team.

Tabletop Mounts:
Tabletop projector mounts can be also be found on our website. Much like the wall and ceiling mount, this application involves a few pieces. First, you would you need the actual stand that sits on the table. Second, you would need the bracket that connects the projector to the tabletop stand. These applications offer more flexibility in vertical and horizontal positioning of the projector and image, and can sometimes allow for multiple projector mounting.

Projector Lifts:
If you really want to enhance your home theater or office with style and technology, the ultimate projector mount is a lift. A projector lift will conceal and reveal your projector within a ceiling with the touch of a button on a remote or wall switch. Such products tend to take more time to manufacture and ship out because of the complexity of the technology, so if you have a definite deadline, let us know before ordering. As always, we advise you to give our trained staff a call to make sure that you order the appropriate product for your application.

Where is the ideal position for my projector?
Generally speaking, the closer a projector’s lens line up with eye level, the better. With that being said, every situation and every setting has different viewing points. Most times, projectors cannot be mounted at eye level because objects in the room (viewers, chairs, tables, etc.) would potentially block the image projection. This is the major reason for wall and ceiling mounting. It should be noted that there is usually not a significant degradation in image quality if the projector is mounted directly to a ceiling or floor. Modern projectors usually have a built-in “keystone eliminator” that digitally resizes images, which allows for an image to come from virtually any angle. That, in combination with all the typical features that come with our mounts (tilt/pitch, yaw, roll), and the correct projection screen material for your setting, allows for a bright and vibrant image from almost any projector location. Again, if you have in-depth questions about projector positioning, please contact our trained staff.

How do I know that a mount will fit my projector?
Once you know what kind of mount you want and where you're going to put it, the next step is to make sure that your projector and mount will be compatible. Every invertible projector has a hole pattern on its back to which a mount can be fastened with screws. Because manufacturers make a variety of mounting hole patterns on their projectors, adapter brackets are necessary to make sure mounts that are made to match most projectors will accommodate the particular patterns that are specific to each model. Many times, universal brackets are available and compatible with most invertible projectors because they feature adjustable arms that can fit a wide variety of mounting patterns. You can find out whether or not a universal bracket is compatible with your projector by giving us a call; if one is compatible, it is a better buy because it would likely fit a new projector down the road and it usually can be purchased for the same price as the model specific bracket.

Mount manufacturers offer lists of adapter brackets that are tested and guaranteed to fit specific projector models. We offer adapter bracket cross reference lists for each of the projector mounts we sell. All you have to do is look for your mount's List of Supported Projectors on our site, then find your projector's model number on the list with its adapter match. Again, if you do not find your projector on the list, give us a call.

How do I install my projector and mount?
Installing your projector and mount should be done with a minimum of two people regardless of the size of the projector. Lifting the projector into place, positioning it and then fastening to the mount it is a simple job, but it is important to have a friend available to help hold the projector while you work to attach it to the mount. We recommend securing your mount to it's fixture in the ceiling, wall or table, and then mounting your projector to the mount itself. Depending on your mount, cable management will be one of the final steps of the projector installation process. Many projector mounts do offer cable management systems to conceal unruly wires. If this is a major issue for your setting, please read the descriptions of each mount to determine whether or not cable management is included as a feature in that mount.

Also, be sure to read the mount and projector installation instructions that accompany your projector and mount, and be sure to get a friend to help.

Our Best Advice: Our best advice is to call us toll-free, (866) 506-6868 , anytime from Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time with questions. We have a great team of mounting specialists that are here to help you!