Fit a wall-mounted monitor arm to a timber stud wall

Mount a monitor arm securely, checking what is behind the wall and using detectors before drilling for a safe fix.

MA-01Clear the desk and gather your toolsMove the monitor, keyboard and any cables out of the way so you have a clear working area. Lay a dust sheet under the wall to catch drilling debris. Check the monitor arm box for all parts and screws before you start.

1 each · Dust sheet

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1 each · Monitor arm kit

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MA-02Work out whether the studs are timber or metalRun a stud detector or a small magnet across the wall to find the upright studs, and check whether it tracks a line of screw heads roughly every 400mm or 600mm. Knock gently between studs — a hollow sound is the plasterboard, a duller thud is the stud itself. If you drill a small pilot hole into the stud, timber dust means a timber stud and fine grey swarf means a metal one. Metal studs are common in flats, new builds, and anything refitted since the 1990s.

1 each · Stud detector

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MA-03Check for cables and pipes before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere in a wall, not just in the usual safe zones, so a detector helps but does not guarantee safety — it can miss deep cables, metal conduit, or wiring behind metal-backed plasterboard, and a metal stud frame confuses cheap detectors further. Find your stopcock, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns before you start. If you have any doubt about what is behind the wall, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

MA-04Mark the mounting height and positionSit at your desk and mark eye level on the wall with a pencil — this is usually 1100mm to 1200mm from the floor for a seated position. Hold the arm's wall plate against the wall at this height and mark the screw hole positions with a pencil.

1 each · Pencil

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1 each · Tape measure

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MA-05Find the exact centre of the studUse the detector again to confirm the centre of the stud at your marked height, then check with a couple of small pilot holes either side to be sure. Adjust the wall plate left or right slightly if needed so both fixing holes land in the centre of a stud, not the edge. A screw near the edge of a timber stud can split the wood or miss it entirely.

MA-06Drill the pilot hole and choose the right fixingFor a timber stud, drill a 3mm pilot hole about 40mm deep into the centre of the stud, then fix with a wood screw long enough to bite at least 30mm into the timber. If the stud turns out to be metal, do not use a plastic wall plug or an ordinary wood screw — both strip straight through 0.5mm steel. Use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing or a toggle-type hollow-wall anchor instead, but remember a metal stud will not hold a monitor arm that pulls away from the wall as you use it; fit a timber noggin between the studs or fix through to solid backing first.

1 each · Pilot drill bit 3mm

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1 pack · Wood screws 6mm x 60mm

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1 pack · Self-drilling metal stud fixings

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1 each · Timber noggin 38mm x 63mm x 400mm

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MA-07Fix the wall plateHold the wall plate against the wall and drive the screws through into the pilot holes, checking with a spirit level as you go. Tighten fully but stop as soon as the plate sits flush and firm against the wall — overtightening into timber can strip the fixing.

1 each · Spirit level

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MA-08Attach the arm and fit the monitorBolt the arm onto the wall plate following the kit's instructions, then attach the monitor bracket to the back of your screen using the VESA screws supplied. Lift the monitor onto the arm and secure the locking mechanism or screws so it cannot slip off.

MA-09Route and secure the cablesRun the power and data cables along the arm using the clips or channel provided, leaving enough slack for the arm to move fully in both directions. Tidy any excess cable with a cable tie or clip so nothing snags when the arm swings.

1 pack · Cable clips

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MA-10Test the movement and tidy upMove the arm through its full range to check the fixing holds firm and nothing rubs or catches. Wipe down the wall and desk, and vacuum up any drilling dust from the floor and skirting.

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