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12 בJuly 2026How to Choose the Right Plug for Wall-Mounting a TV
Plenty of people buy a television with the plugs meant for a concrete wall, then discover on the day that their wall is made of something else entirely. Block, Ytong, plasterboard — each material needs a different solution, and the wrong plug is how a television ends up on the floor. This guide takes you through identifying the wall and choosing the right plug for it.
Step 1: identify the type of wall
Before you drill, work out what the wall is made of. There are three main methods.
The knock test
Rap the wall with a closed fist or a knuckle. Solid concrete sounds dull and dense. A hollow wall — hollow block or plasterboard — sounds hollow and rings. Ytong (aerated block) sounds slightly weak but still solid.
The drill test
Drill a small 5 to 6 mm hole and pay attention to three things: how hard the drilling is, what the dust looks like, and where you feel resistance.
| Wall type | Drilling effort | Dust colour | What the drilling feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | Hard, resistant | Dark grey | Uniform all the way down |
| Hollow block | Medium | Grey to orange-grey | Resistance, then void, then resistance |
| Ytong (AAC) | Very easy | White | Smooth and even, like butter |
| Plasterboard | Very easy | Fine white | Very thin, then straight into air |
How do you tell a hollow block from a double-layer plasterboard wall?
Both sound hollow and feel similar under the drill. The difference is the thickness of the skin. In a plasterboard wall the board is only about 12.5 mm thick before you reach the cavity. In a hollow concrete block the outer skin is at least 25 mm. You can measure the distance to the cavity by putting a strip of tape on the drill bit as a depth marker.
The visual check
If the wall is exposed, with no render or paint, you can identify it directly. If it is rendered, look in the next room, inside a cupboard, or at the edges of the wall next to a door frame — the material is often visible there.
Step 2: how much does your television weigh?
Before choosing a plug you need the total weight to be carried. The figure that governs is the television plus the wall bracket together.
| Television size | Typical weight | Plus wall bracket | Total to design for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 43 in | 7 to 12 kg | 2 to 4 kg | about 16 kg |
| 43 to 65 in | 12 to 25 kg | 3 to 5 kg | about 30 kg |
| 65 to 85 in | 25 to 45 kg | 5 to 8 kg | about 53 kg |
| Over 85 in | 45 to 80 kg | 8 to 15 kg | about 95 kg |
Safety factor
Choose plugs that will hold four to five times the actual weight of the television. For a 30 kg set, each fixing point should hold at least 60 kg, so that four plugs together hold 240 kg — eight times the weight. Dynamic forces, from vibration or from someone leaning on the screen, can double the load.
Step 3: the right plug for each type of wall
Concrete wall
The ideal wall for mounting a television. You can use:
- The plugs supplied with the television — usually adequate up to 55 in on sound concrete.
- A GX-L universal plug, 8 mm (about 200 kg) or 10 mm (about 400 kg) — reliable and recommended.
- A concrete screw — fast to install, excellent in concrete, and it needs no separate plug.
Recommended drilling depth: 50 to 60 mm in ordinary concrete. Check there is no reinforcement in the way — a detector is worth the two minutes.
Hollow concrete block wall
Very common in Israeli homes. Success depends on drilling into a solid web of the block, not into the cavity behind it.
- TN4S plug, 10 mm — holds about 150 kg. Suitable for almost any television size.
- TN4S plug, 8 mm — holds about 80 kg. Fine up to 55 in with four fixing points.
- BA-NY M6 plug — holds 110 to 150 kg, but installation is trickier and it needs a cavity behind the skin.
A tip for hollow block
Before driving the screw, push the plug in slowly and check that it grips the skin properly. If the plug drops inward, you have hit the cavity. Move 20 to 30 mm to the side and try again.
Ytong wall (aerated block, AAC)
A relatively soft material that needs longer plugs, so the load is spread over a bigger area. Short plugs pull out of this wall easily.
- Long GX-L universal plug, 10 mm — holds about 180 kg. This is the recommended choice.
- Long universal plug, 8 mm — holds about 100 kg. Suitable for small and medium sets.
Do not use the standard plugs from the box
The plugs that come with the television are intended for concrete only. In Ytong they will not develop enough grip and can pull straight out of the wall. Always use a plug designed for aerated block.
Plasterboard wall
The most awkward wall for a heavy television. The board itself is thin and has no real grip of its own — you either reach the metal stud behind it, if there is one, or use a plug designed for plasterboard.
- BA-NY plug, 8 mm — the common choice, holds 80 to 120 kg. Suitable for most televisions up to 65 in.
- BA-NY plug, 6 mm — small sets only, up to 43 in, or a double-layer plasterboard wall.
- Spring toggle anchor — better grip, but less convenient to install.
- Best of all: find the metal stud behind the board with a metal detector and fix directly into it. The grip is far stronger.
Large televisions on plasterboard — be careful
For sets over 65 in on plasterboard, get a professional to locate the metal studs and fix directly into them, or consider reinforcing the wall from behind before the installation. Do not rely on plasterboard anchors alone for a heavy television.
Quick selection table — plug by wall and television size
| Wall type | Up to 55 in (about 20 kg) | 55 to 75 in (about 40 kg) | Over 75 in (over 40 kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | Plug from the box, or TN4S 8 mm | TN4S 10 mm | TN4S 10 mm at four points |
| Hollow block | TN4S 8 mm | TN4S 10 mm | TN4S 10 mm at four points |
| Ytong | GX-L 8 mm long | GX-L 10 mm long | GX-L 10 mm at four points |
| Plasterboard | BA-NY 8 mm | BA-NY 8 mm plus metal stud | Metal stud only |
Before you start — the checklist
Ten minutes of preparation saves a great deal of trouble
- Identify the wall type: knock test plus a trial hole.
- Check the weight of the television plus the bracket.
- Choose a plug suited to the wall material and to that weight.
- Use a detector to find reinforcement, pipes and electrical cable.
- Drill at the correct diameter for the plug you chose.
- Clear the dust out of the hole before inserting the plug.
- Once the screw is in, check by hand that the fixing is completely solid before you hang anything.
- Do not lift the television on your own — ask for help.
Frequently asked questions
Are the plugs supplied with the television good enough?
Usually they suit a concrete wall only. For block, Ytong or plasterboard, use plugs made for that specific material.
What if I am not sure what the wall is made of?
Drill a small trial hole, 5 mm, and look at the dust, the effort and the feel. If you are still unsure, choose the plug for the softest material it could be. Better too strong than sorry.
How many fixing points do I need?
Most television brackets come with four fixing points to the wall. Up to 55 in, two points with strong plugs are sometimes enough, but four points are always better for spreading the load.
Do I need a spirit level before installing?
Yes. A spirit level, or a levelling app on your phone, is essential if the television is going to sit straight. Mark the drilling points at the right viewing height — the centre of the screen should be at eye level when you are seated, roughly 105 to 115 cm off the floor.