What is a VESA mount?

A VESA mount is a flat panel display mount that complies with any of several Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) standards for safely mounting computer monitors, televisions, all-in-one computers, tablets, or electronic signs to walls, ceilings, desktops, stands or carts.

VESA Standards

Each VESA standard—also called a VESA Mounting Interface Standard, or VESA MIS—specifies screw hole pattern dimensions, screw hole depths, screw sizes and mounting plate thicknesses for securing a flat panel display up to a certain weight to a metal mounting plate on a mounting arm, stand or bracket.

The most common VESA standards are

• VESA MIS-D, 75, C for mounting displays up to 17.5 lbs. (8 kg). This standard is used for smaller computer displays, and for tablet VESA adapters.
• VESA MIS-D, 100, C for mounting displays up to 30.8 lbs. (14 kg). This standard is used for larger computer displays and all-in-one computers.
• VESA MIS-E, C for mounting displays up to 50 lbs. (22.7 kg). This standard is used most frequently for large flat-screen For reference, most new 65” flat-panel HDTVs weigh 50 lbs. or less.

The detailed specifications for these standards:

There are several more VESA standards, from MIS-B, C for displays as light as 4 lbs., to MIS-F, C for displays as heavy as 250 lbs.:

 

The MIS-F standard includes multiple variations, with as many as 12 mounting screws depending on the weight of the display and whether the mount allows landscape-to-portrait rotation.

Some additional notes on VESA standards:

• In most cases, the screw hole mounting pattern—called the VESA pattern, VESA mounting interface or or, less frequently, the Flat Display Mounting Interface, (FDMI)—is located in the center of the back of any VESA-compatible (the ‘C’ in each of the standard names listed above stands for ‘centered’). There are also VESA standards that define mounting interfaces for the top, bottom, left and right edges of the back of a display, but few displays manufactured within the last 20 years include these mounting interfaces.
• When first drafted in 1997, each VESA standard also specified a minimum and maximum display size (diagonal screen size). But today, maximum weight is the more important limit to observe, particularly as displays have gotten lighter over the years.
• When it’s not being used to connect to the display to a VESA mount, the VESA mounting interface can be used to mount a mini-PC (e.g., a thin-client or zero-client PC) to the back of the display.

Types of VESA mounts

Wall mounts. These include everything from wall mounting brackets or cabinets for mounting a flat screen display tightly to a wall, to articulated wall arms with extension, pivot and swivel adjustments that let the user position the display for a range of viewing angles.

Desk mounts. Desk mounts replace the standard display stand with an adjustable mounting arm that clamps or fastens to an edge of the desktop or side of the desk. Desk mounts allow a wider range of height and position adjustments than the typical display stand, while taking up much less space on the desk.

Ceiling mounts. Popular for mounting televisions, ceiling mounts suspend the display from the ceiling, freeing up more valuable wall, desk and floor space. Often, VESA ceiling mounts offer 270- to- 360-degree rotation that enable the people to see the screen from anywhere in the room.

Mobile mounts. These can range from rolling display or TV stands to, to VESA stands attached to mobile workstations (also called computer carts or ‘workstations on wheels’).

Dual monitor mounts. Essentially a desk, wall or ceiling mount with two VESA-compatible mounting plates. Dual monitor mounts are increasingly popular in healthcare, financial and IT operations or administration.

VESA mount benefits

First and foremost, VESA mounts provide an assurance of safety when mounting a display to a wall, ceiling, arm or mobile stand. A display mounted in compliance with the appropriate VESA standard is less likely to fall off its mount and injure a user or somebody else nearby.

Today users may take this safety for granted. But not too long ago, displays were mounted on walls using shelves or hangers, or connected to monitor arms using clamps, mechanical grippers and other devices—all according to no consistent standard, leaving users in a constant state of suspense (no pun intended). VESA mounts brought those times to a merciful end.

Other benefits of VESA mounts include:

• Reclaimed desk or worksurface space. VESA wall mounts, ceiling mounts and desk mounts win back valuable desk and counterspace. Mounting a single monitor can win back two or three square feet of desk space; a dual monitor wall mount can reclaim up to six square feet of desk space compared to two large-screen monitors on desk stands.
• More and better viewing angles. Most VESA mounts include tilt and swivel adjustments; mounting arms provide add several feet of extension, 180 degrees of motion and full sit-to-stand height adjustment. Users can move the display to reduce glare and reflection, bring video instruction closer to the work at hand, accommodate multiple viewers and much more.
• Improved comfort and ergonomics. VESA mount height, tilt, swivel and position adjustments can help reduce eye, neck, shoulder and back strain.
• Easy upgrades and swapping Because so many displays are VESA compliant, users can replace displays as needed without replacing their mounts or move displays from one mount to another.

Common questions about VESA mounts

How do I know what size VESA mount size or spec my display requires?

The easiest way is to check the display’s user manual or online specifications. If neither is available, measure the horizontal and vertical distances between the centers of the mounting holes in millimeters (mm) and choose a VESA mount that supports those measurements, and the monitor’s weight.

My monitor is VESA-compatible—why can’t I find the mounting interface?

A couple of issues can contribute to this confusion:

• The backs of most flat-panel displays or television contain other screw holes that look a lot like VESA mounting holes, but aren’t. (They might be holes for screws that hold the back and front sides of the display together.)
• VESA mounting holes are sometimes concealed by part of the monitor stand, or by a panel designed to cover the mounting holes while not in use.

Check the display’s user manual for specific mounting instructions. If you can’t find the manual, disconnect the display base from the display, or look for a removable panel near the center of the back of the display.

Can a VESA mount be compatible with a curved or ultrawide display?

Absolutely, provided the display is VESA-compliant, and the VESA mount can support the weight of the display. That said, curved or ultrawide displays may be less suitable for mounting where space is at a premium.

Are Apple monitors or devices VESA-compatible?

Most Apple displays require a VESA adapter for mounting with a VESA mount. Some, like the Apple Studio Display or Pro Display XDR, offer optional VESA adapters. Other Mac displays require third-party VESA adapters or mounting kits, and there are still others for which no VESA mounting option exists. Visit apple.com for more information.

Are iPads and other tablets VESA-compatible?

No, but many tablet kiosks or tablet enclosures are. A VESA-compatible tablet kiosk enables mounting to any VESA mount—typically an MIS-D, 75, C mount—while protecting the tablet against incidental damage.