What is VESA?

As most people embark on the search to find the right VESA mount for their TV, they typically run into a long list of questions about what VESA actually is. Well, we’re here to shed some light on that. Though most would assume weight and size to be the main specifications to keep in mind when selecting a TV wall mount, VESA is arguably a more important specification any buyer wants to be educated on. Without the right VESA match, compatibility is going to be a no-go so it’s very important to get right.

VESA stands for ‘Video Electronics Standards Association’, which is an organization comprised of over 300 companies who came together to set some agreed upon standards for consumer electronics. In terms of what this means for TVs and TV wall mounts, it refers to the size and/or pattern of the four mounting holes on the back of a TV screen. By knowing what your TV’s VESA size is, you know what mount is going to fit the screen. If you don’t know your VESA size and decide to purchase anyway, you risk the headache that comes with realizing that you’ve bought something that doesn’t fit. Fortunately, all major TV manufacturers follow a series of standardized screw-hole positions, ensuring the highest compatibility with mounts. Thereby, VESA information should be readily available for anyone to look up or see.

If you don’t have a user manual or are not able to find your VESA size on the manufacturer’s website, there is another way. Here’s what you do. First, measure the horizontal distance between the right hole and the left holes – this will provide you with a number we will call “x”. Then, measure the vertical distance between the top and bottom holes – the number you have here we will call “y”. Please note that it is important to convert everything to millimeters as VESA specifications are always displayed in this format. The VESA rating for your TV is the horizontal distance followed by the vertical, otherwise known as “x by y”. For example, if a TV measured 500 mm across and 250 mm high, it would read as 500×250. If your VESA specification includes the letters ‘MIS’, don’t be alarmed. This is quite normal and actually represents the hole patterns. A VESA specification may be read under the terms ‘MIS-D’, ‘MIS-E’, or ‘MIS-F’.

After you’ve found your VESA specification, NOW you can start your search for a TV wall mount. Thankfully, the vast majority of TV wall mounts will accommodate more than one VESA size so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one accommodating to your screen!