Thinking about purchasing an outdoor TV? Let’s talk outdoor TVs, enclosures, antennas, mounts and more.
Mount an Outdoor TV in the Patio
My outdoor TV dreams started when we moved to our country home last August, one of the perks was a pool with this 1980’s fabulous pool gazebo/outdoor patio. My outdoor TV would be out on the patio, perfect for watching hours of mindless TV while the kids swam.
That said, one of the cool features that sold us on the home was this pool gazebo. It’s long and narrow, overlooks the pool. It has an outdoor sink, as well as a half bath. I knew immediately that I had to have an outdoor tv for this area..
I have to say, it’s taken a few years to get our patio to a place that I love. Originally, I wrote this post in 2016. We’ve done so much work, but now I absolutely love our 1980’s pool gazebo now. We still have a ways to go – but I’ve setup my introvert space – complete with my outdoor TV. The television completes the space. If you are on the fence about installing a TV outside, hopefully this post will help.
5 Things to Know Before You Buy an Outdoor TV
Here are a few tips that I learned and for you to think about before installing your outdoor TV.
From what tv to buy to outdoor tv reception, to how outdoor tv stands and mounts – let’s look at all the different aspects of having a television outside.
#1 Buying a TV for Outside
First, let’s buy a TV. When I started this make my gazebo my introvert space project, I just googled “outdoor television” – and woah. I was in sticker shock by how much outdoor televisions cost. A 32-inch outdoor television from Amazon (which is the cheapest I could find) can run you about $1400.
Outdoor TV Weatherproof – Yes or No
Surely, a outdoor tv waterproof would not set me back over a grand. Or would it? I called my brother. He was a fabulous outdoor kitchen and patio area with a television. “Don’t waste your money, just buy a normal TV, just find a outdoor TV enclosure or a case.” His patio television was 3 years old and hadn’t had an issue. SOLD. I was saving my money.
So for me and my budget: the outdoor waterproof TV – was a no. So on to finding a normal indoor TV that would work.
Using an Indoor TV or Buying a Weatherproof TV
After much research, I’ve decided to stick to a standard LED television. From all that I am hearing – the standard televisions, if setup correctly will work fine for many years outside. Now a days, you can find a 32-inch television for around $250.
I scored a 32-inch smart LG TV for under $200 during a Memorial Day sale. While I’d love a larger tv outside, that patio is long more so than narrow and this was the best size for the area. Keep reading, as I’ll talk about why you will want to purchase a smart TV for best reception.
And if you are still contemplating on if you should spend the money on the more expensive television, here is my rationale:
Let’s say that your standard TV only lasts you a year outdoors. From what I am reading, most people are getting a good 3-4 years of use with a regular TV outside. But even if you replaced a tv every year, it would still be significantly cheaper than purchasing an outdoor tv.
#2 Getting TV Reception Outside
So once you have your tv for the patio, you now need to think about how you are actually going to watch television. That getting tv reception outside might sound tricky, but it’s actually quite simple and cost effective.
First, I should say that we got rid of cable. This has saved us several hundreds of dollars a year AND all of our streaming television subscriptions work on my outdoor TV!
Get a Cheap Outdoor Amazon TV
A smart TV will have apps built-in that will let you stream your favorite streaming networks, such as Netflix, Hulu or Amazon. Here is the smart TV I use as my outdoor TV.
It’s made by LG, you can use your smartphone as a remote (which is awesome so you aren’t losing your TV remote control outside!) Plus, it’s affordable!
Amazon Fire TV Stick
Even if you don’t buy a smart TV, as long as you have an HDMI port, you can use the Amazon Fire Stick. This will essentially make your not smart TV, smart. If you are looking for a more affordable TV reception option for streaming services – go with the stick.
While the LG TV I have is a smart TV featuring most all of the streaming services that I watch – I do have an Amazon Fire Stick because the user interface is awesome. Plus, I have access to Direct TV Now – which we use for live TV. Football season is here, and many of our games will be watched out on the patio.
Outdoor TV Digital Antenna
If you are wanting to watch network television, and don’t subscribe to a live TV steaming service like Direct TV Now – you will need to buy an outdoor TV digital antenna. This is the antenna we purchase. With an antenna, you can receive free digital broadcast High Definition TV signals.
These are cheap and believe me when your sports team is in the playoffs and you want to watch the game – you will thank me for telling you to purchase an antenna. This digital antenna has a reach of 25 miles. If you live outside of a major city, keep reading!
#3 Weatherproof Your Television with Outdoor TV Covers
Remember what my brother said about buying a tv? While he didn’t recommend the expensive all-weather television – he did say to buy an outdoor tv cover! You can weatherproof your television by purchasing a cover without having to buy a pricey waterproof tv.
These out tv coveres are not outrageous, but something you definitely want to invest in to protect your television from unwanted weather! Purchase an all-weather cover for your television. This will set you back around $40 but protect your television from unwanted moisture.
#4 Outdoor TV Mounts
Now that we have a TV, know how we are getting TV reception and an outdoor TV cover, let’s look at outdoor TV mounts. Good news, TV mounts have dropped drastically in price.
More good news, a typical wall telvision mount will work as your outdoor TV mount.
Gazebo TV Mounts
If you are looking for a gazebo tv mount that lets you see the outdoor tv from multiple angles – check out this option.
A swing tv mount will allow you to see the tv from whichever angle is best and works as a great gazebo tv mount! (And thanks to Amazon, you can score an TV mount for under $30!)
Hang TV From Ceiling TV Mount
If your patio, gazebo or outdoor space has an awkward angle or no wall, consider hanging the outdoor tv from the ceiling.
A ceiling TV mount is a great option that allows your TV to hang from the ceiling allowing you to not need a wall to mount your outdoor patio television.
Installing a Patio TV
Looking to install a TV outside? Learn about professional tv mount installation, save your time and have your television mounted by a professional.
#5 Outdoor TV Carts
Don’t have a place to hang a television outdoors? Or maybe you are just not wanting a bare TV hanging on your patio. No worries – we have you covered.
When doing my research – trying to find the best option for a patio TV – one option that I thought was smart was to just purchase a standard television, but rather than mount it, get an outdoor tv cart! While these are specifically made for outdoors, they will work.
Pricing on outdoor TV carts have dropped since we first posted this in 2016. You can now find a great outdoor tv cart for under $100.
The thought of these outdoor TV carts made me instantly flashback to my elementary school days when they would roll the tv cart into the room and all the kids would get giddy because – TV.
Final Thoughts on a Patio TVs
If I were you, just buy the standard TV, a good swing tv mount, an antenna or Fire TV and an all-weather cover for your television. This will get you reception, a good viewing angle and help the longevity of your television in outdoor climates.
HAPPY SUMMER NIGHTS in the hammock, Netflixing for hours and hours under the stars, while sipping on wine and shooing off mosquitos (unless you have one of these!)
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