85-inch TV Mount Above a Fireplace — Rick's Install Guide
Mounting a 85-inch TV above a fireplace is a specific install — the Builder pre-fills the size + scenario and walks you through the rest. Mounting a TV above a fireplace is the install that calls me out the most often — and it's the one most $99 handymen quietly screw up.
What you need to know first
- For a 85-inch (~130 lb) in this scenario, the mount needs to be rated to at least 150 lb with a VESA 600×400 pattern.
- Wood-burning fireplaces push 140°F+ at TV height. Gas inserts run ~90°F. Most TVs are rated to 105°F.
- A pull-down mantle mount drops the TV to eye level when in use, then tucks it back above the mantle. Worth it for any wood-burning install.
- PowerBridge ($90) is a homeowner-legal way to route power from a nearby outlet up to TV height. No electrician needed if you have an existing outlet within 6 ft.
Quick answers
Will the heat damage my TV?
Gas inserts usually run cool enough (~90°F at TV height) for any modern TV. Wood-burning is the risky one — push 140°F+. A pull-down mantle mount or a hood deflector solves it.
Do I need a different mount?
Pull-down mantle mounts (Sanus, MantelMount) are purpose-built for above-fireplace. A standard tilting mount works fine if the mantle is ≥12" deep and the TV center sits at eye level when seated.
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Built by Rick Baron — 28 years of residential AV installs. Last verified 2026-05-28.