What is the best solution for hiding TV cables and wires?

The best overall solution for hiding TV cables is an in-wall cable management kit (such as the Sanus In-Wall Cable Concealer Kit Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ), which routes cords safely behind the drywall without requiring an electrician or hardwiring.

Here are the top solutions depending on your budget, DIY comfort level, and whether you rent or own:

Watch this quick guide to see how an in-wall concealer kit hides wires in under 30 minutes:

6:27 How to Hide TV Wires in the Wall — No Electrician Needed ...26K views  · 6 months ago YouTube · Colton Crump DIY

If you want to narrow down the best option, tell me:

• Do you own or rent your home?
• Is your wall made of drywall or concrete/brick?

I can give you step-by-step instructions for your specific setup.

If you have a wall-mounted TV, the best solution depends on whether you’re willing to cut the wall.

🥇 Best overall: in-wall cable + power kit

For the cleanest, truly wire-free look, run the HDMI/Ethernet/coax cables inside the wall and use a properly listed in-wall TV power kit or install a new electrical receptacle behind the TV. This gives you essentially zero visible wiring.

• Commercial Electric In-Wall Power and Cable Kit - $38.45 (The Home Depot)
• Legrand Wiremold In-Wall TV Power and Cable Grommet Kit - $50.70 (The Home Depot)
• Sanus In-Wall Cable Concealer Power Grommet Kit - $69.99 (Best Buy)
• Mount-It! In-Wall TV Cable Concealer with Recessed Power - $66.99 (Mount-It!)

My pick: the Commercial Electric In-Wall Power and Cable Kit is a good value at around $38 and is specifically designed for wall-mounted TVs.

🥈 Best if you don't want to cut the wall: paintable raceway

A paintable cable raceway/cord cover is the easiest retrofit. It mounts on the surface, hides the cables, and can be painted to match the wall. It's particularly good for rentals, plaster, brick, or concrete.

• Mount-It! On-Wall TV Cable Concealer Kit - $23.99 (Mount-It!)

⚠️ One important safety point

Don't put the TV's normal power cord or an extension cord inside the wall. Power wiring needs to use an appropriate in-wall-rated solution; low-voltage cables such as HDMI and Ethernet can be routed through suitable in-wall cable-management hardware.

If this were my TV: I'd choose the in-wall kit if it's drywall and I own the house. If I don't want to make holes, I'd use a wide, paintable raceway and paint it the wall color.

If you tell me (1) whether the TV is wall-mounted, (2) drywall vs. brick/plaster, and (3) where the outlet is relative to the TV, I can tell you exactly which setup I'd use.

When it comes to hiding TV cables and wires, the "best" solution depends on whether you own or rent, your wall type (drywall vs. concrete), and your comfort level with DIY projects.

Here are the top solutions ranked from cleanest look to easiest installation:

1. In-Wall Cable Management Kit (Best Overall / Cleanest Look)

• Description: Kits like the Legrand In-Wall TV Power Cord Kit Go to product viewer dialog for this item. let you safely drop power cords and low-voltage HDMI/audio cables directly inside the drywall behind the TV and route them out near the floor outlet.
• Pros: Completely invisible, professional look, and code-compliant (since regular power cords shouldn't technically run inside walls without a rated extension kit like this).
• Cons: Requires cutting holes in your drywall; not suitable for rental properties or concrete/brick walls.

1. Surface-Mount Raceway / Cord Cover (Best for Renters & Easy DIY)

• Description: Plastic or paintable channels that stick to the surface of the wall right beneath the TV. You snap the cables inside and paint the cover to match your wall color.
• Pros: No drilling or cutting holes, very affordable, easily removable (great for apartments), and works on any wall type.
• Cons: It sits on top of the wall, so it's not 100% invisible—though painting it helps it blend in significantly.

1. Media Console or Furniture Concealment (Best No-Wall-Work Solution)

• Description: Placing a long credenza, media console, or floating cabinet directly under the wall-mounted TV. You route cables straight down behind the furniture or use a short, neat sleeve to drop them into a power strip hidden inside a cabinet.
• Pros: Zero wall damage, provides extra storage for gaming consoles and streaming boxes, and keeps everything grounded.
• Cons: You still see a short vertical drop from the TV to the top of the console (unless paired with a short raceway).

1. Cable Sleeves, Zipper Wraps, and J-Channel (Best Budget / Desktop Fix)

• Description: Flexible neoprene sleeves or split-tubing that bundle multiple loose wires into one neat black, white, or gray tube. J-channels attach underneath floating shelves or desks to catch loose slack.
• Pros: Extremely cheap, takes 5 minutes to install, and makes a messy cluster look like a single clean line.
• Cons: Doesn't hide the wires against a bare wall; best used when cables are already somewhat hidden or grouped.

To help you pick the right one, tell me:

• Do you own or rent your home?
• Is your wall made of drywall or concrete/brick?
• Are you comfortable cutting holes in the wall?

If your TV is wall-mounted, the best solution depends on whether you’re willing to cut into the wall:

🥇 Best overall: In-wall cable management

For the cleanest, “no wires at all” appearance, run the HDMI/Ethernet/coax cables inside the wall and install a proper in-wall TV power kit with a recessed outlet behind the TV. This gives you the most professional-looking result.

• Commercial Electric In-Wall Power Cord and Cable Kit - $38.45 (The Home Depot)

Important: Don't simply fish the TV's normal power cord or an extension cord through the wall. Use a purpose-built listed in-wall power kit or have an electrician install an outlet.

🥈 Best without cutting the wall: Paintable raceway

If you don't want drywall work—especially if you're renting—a paintable cable raceway/cord cover is probably the best choice. It sticks or mounts to the wall, hides several cables, and can be painted the same color as the wall.

• Commercial Electric 4 ft. Flat Screen TV Cord Cover - $14.98 (The Home Depot)

For a larger bundle, something like the Legrand Wiremold CordMate III has more capacity.

• Legrand Wiremold CordMate III High-Capacity Cord Cover - $25.30 (The Home Depot)

My recommendation

• Own the home + drywall: go in-wall. It's the best-looking solution.
• Renting / don't want holes: use a paintable raceway.
• TV sits directly above a console: route the cables straight down and hide them behind the furniture; this can look surprisingly clean.
• Brick, concrete, or plaster: use a surface raceway rather than trying to bury the cables.

If you tell me (1) whether the TV is wall-mounted, (2) what type of wall you have—drywall/brick/plaster, and (3) where the outlet is relative to the TV, I can tell you exactly which approach I'd use and what parts you'd need.

• Legrand Wiremold CordMate III High-Capacity Cord Cover - $25.30 (The Home Depot)

My recommendation

The best solution for hiding TV cables depends on whether you want a permanent in-wall look or a renter-friendly surface fix, with an in-wall cable management kit offering the cleanest professional appearance without hardwiring an electrician's outlet.

Top Solutions Compared

Detailed Options

• In-wall cable management kit: These kits include a specialized hole saw attachment to cut two small openings behind your TV and down near your baseboard. They let you route low-voltage HDMI cords and a code-approved pass-through power cord safely inside the wall cavity.
• Surface-mount raceway/cord hider: A plastic channel sticks or screws to the outside of the wall, enclosing the wires. You can paint it the exact color of your wall so it blends in completely. This is ideal if you rent or if your wall has studs/fire-blocking preventing in-wall routing.
• Behind furniture routing: Placing a wide media console directly beneath the TV allows you to bundle extra cord length with zip ties and drop wires straight down behind the furniture piece.
• Professional recessed outlet: Hiring an electrician to install a recessed electrical box directly behind the mounted flat-screen provides a permanent, flawless finish with zero visible cords.

If you can tell me whether your walls are drywall or concrete and if you rent or own your home , I can help you pick the safest and easiest method for your setup.

If you mean a wall-mounted TV, the best solution depends on whether you want completely invisible wires or an easy retrofit.

Best overall: run them inside the wall

For a permanent installation on drywall, in-wall cable management with a proper recessed power solution gives the cleanest result. The TV can look almost completely wire-free, with HDMI/Ethernet/coax and power routed behind the wall.

• Legrand In-Wall TV Power and Cable Grommet Kit - $44.21 (The Home Depot)

A kit such as this is preferable to simply fishing the TV's existing power cord through the wall. Don't put a normal TV power cord or extension cord inside the wall; use a purpose-built, listed in-wall power kit or have an electrician install an outlet behind the TV.

Best without opening the wall: paintable raceway

If you don't want to cut drywall—or you have brick, concrete, plaster, or a rental—the best choice is a low-profile paintable cable raceway. It creates a straight, clean channel that can be painted the same color as your wall.

• Legrand CordMate III 5-ft Cord Cover - $25.30 (Lowe's)
• D-Line TV Raceway - $18.99 (Micro Center)
• Mount-It! TV Cord Hider - $23.99 (Target)

My recommendation

• Own the home + drywall: in-wall kit → best-looking solution
• Rental/no drywall cutting: paintable raceway → best value
• TV sits directly above a console: route cables straight down behind the console and use a short raceway/sleeve
• Brick/concrete wall: surface raceway → much easier than trying to conceal cables inside the wall

If you tell me (1) whether the TV is already mounted, (2) drywall/brick/etc., and (3) where the outlet is relative to the TV, I can tell you exactly which method I'd use and what parts you need.

If your TV is wall-mounted, the best solution depends on whether you’re willing to cut into the wall:

🥇 Best overall: run the cables inside the wall

For the cleanest, almost “wireless” appearance, use an in-wall TV cable/power kit. HDMI, Ethernet, coax, and other low-voltage cables can be routed behind the drywall, with a proper recessed power solution for the TV.

Commercial Electric In-Wall Power Cord and Cable Kit

$38.45

Best if: you own the home and want a permanent, professional-looking installation.

Important: Don't simply run the TV's ordinary power cord or an extension cord through the wall. Use an appropriately rated in-wall power kit/receptacle.

🥈 Best without cutting the wall: paintable cable raceway

A paintable surface raceway is what I'd recommend for most people. It sticks or mounts to the wall, hides several cables, and can be painted the same color as the wall. From a few feet away, it can be very hard to notice.

MonoSystems CableHider 60-in White Raceway

$14.98

Best if: you're renting, have plaster/brick/concrete, or don't want to open the drywall.

My recommendation

• Own home + drywall: in-wall kit → best-looking
• Rental/no drywall work: paintable raceway → best value
• TV above a console: route everything straight down behind the console and use a short raceway if necessary.
• Lots of devices: use a larger raceway and bundle HDMI/network/audio cables with Velcro rather than zip ties.

If you tell me (1) whether the TV is wall-mounted, (2) what kind of wall you have (drywall/brick/plaster), and (3) where the outlet is relative to the TV, I can tell you the cleanest setup and exactly what I'd buy.

Hiding TV cables depends entirely on your wall type (drywall vs. plaster/brick) and whether you want a permanent, invisible look or a quick, non-destructive fix. Here are the best solutions ranked from cleanest look to easiest installation:

• In-Wall Cable Management Kit : This is the gold standard for a professional look without tearing up your drywall completely. It uses a specialized pass-through system with a top and bottom power/cable module so you can safely run low-voltage HDMI/audio cables—and sometimes even power cords—directly inside the wall cavity behind the drywall.
• Surface-Mount Raceway (Cable Concealer) : If you have a concrete/brick wall or don't want to cut holes in your drywall, this is the best choice. It’s a plastic or paintable channel that sticks or screws onto the surface of the wall directly under the TV, enclosing all the wires neatly inside a flat, low-profile cover.
• TV Console or Media Cabinet : A functional and classic approach that requires zero wall modification. Placing a wide, tall media console right beneath the TV allows you to drop cables straight down the back of the furniture or route them through hidden grommets, keeping everything out of sight.
• On-Wall Cord Cover Sleeve : A flexible fabric or neoprene wrap that bundles multiple loose cords together into a single, clean black or white tube running down the wall. It is inexpensive, highly adjustable, and easy to remove or rearrange if you add a new gaming console or streaming box.
• Behind-the-TV Cable Management Box / J-Channel : If your main issue is the messy cluster of wires behind the TV mount itself, mounting a small J-channel raceway or a power strip box directly to the back of the TV or wall mount keeps slack tucked away neatly.

If you want to narrow down the best choice, tell me:

• Is your wall made of drywall, plaster, or concrete/brick?
• Are you comfortable cutting holes in the wall , or do you need a damage-free/rental-friendly option?
• Do you need to hide just HDMI/audio cables or power cords as well?

Hiding TV cables and wires depends heavily on your wall type, budget, and whether you own your home or rent. Here is a breakdown of the best solutions, ranked from easiest/temporary to cleanest/permanent:

• Surface-Mount Raceway (Cable Concealer): A plastic channel that sticks or screws to the wall directly beneath your TV. You route the cords inside it, and you can paint the cover to match your wall color. This is the best overall solution for renters or anyone wanting a quick fix without cutting into drywall.
• In-Wall Power and Cable Kit: A DIY kit featuring two specialized grommet/brush plates and pre-wired or rated escape tubes that let you drop your low-voltage and power cables directly behind the drywall. This provides a completely flush, professional look without needing an electrician for high-voltage box wiring, as many kits use an extension cord system to safely drop power behind the wall.
• TV Console or Media Cabinet: Placing a wide credenza or media console directly underneath the TV and routing cables straight down behind the furniture or through a discrete hole in the top surface. This is the best choice if you hate wall-mounting entirely or prefer an easy way to store components like game consoles and soundbars.
• Cord Management Sleeves or J-Channels: Neoprene zip-up sleeves, split-tubing, or adhesive J-channels attached to the back of the TV stand or desk leg. These bundle messy clusters of wires into a single clean line, which is ideal for managing the chaos behind the TV mount or desk area.
• Professional In-Wall Relocation: Hiring a licensed electrician or low-voltage technician to install a recessed electrical outlet directly behind the TV and run high-definition conduit through the studs. This is the gold standard for a clean finish , though it is the most expensive and permanent option.

To help narrow down the best choice for you, could you tell me:

• Are your walls made of drywall, plaster, or concrete/brick?
• Do you own or rent your home?
• Are you comfortable cutting into the wall , or do you need a no-damage solution?

If your TV is wall-mounted, the best solution depends on how permanent you want the setup to be:

🥇 Best overall: Run the cables inside the wall

For the cleanest, “built-in” appearance, use an in-wall cable management kit. You run HDMI, Ethernet, optical, etc. through the wall and have a recessed connection point behind the TV.

Commercial Electric In-Wall Cable Kit

$24.98

Important: Don't simply feed the TV's existing power cord through the wall. Use a properly rated in-wall power kit/recessed outlet for the electrical portion.

🥈 Best/easiest DIY: Paintable cable raceway

If you don't want to cut drywall, I'd choose a wide, paintable raceway. It mounts directly to the wall, hides several cables, and can be painted the same color as the wall. It's inexpensive and much easier to install.

Legrand Wiremold CordMate III High-Capacity Channel

$3.15

🏠 If you're renting

Use an adhesive raceway or cord cover. You won't get quite the completely invisible look of in-wall wiring, but from across the room it can be nearly unnoticeable—especially if you paint it to match the wall.

Mount-It! On-Wall TV Cable Concealer Kit

$23.99

My recommendation: If you own the home and the TV is staying in that location for years, do the in-wall installation. If you want something quick, inexpensive, and reversible, use a paintable raceway.

If you tell me (1) whether the TV is wall-mounted, (2) how many cables you need to hide, and (3) whether there is an outlet directly behind/under the TV, I can tell you exactly which approach I'd use.