The Roku Express is one of the best deals in streaming. For well under $30, you get a capable device that handles 4K video without any drama. It’s small, it runs cool, and it just works. The only problem is figuring out where to put it.
Unlike a Roku Stick, which plugs directly into the HDMI port and disappears behind the TV, the Express is a small box that needs to sit somewhere and be connected to both the HDMI port and a power source. That leaves you with cables going in two directions and a little black box that tends to slide around, tip over, or hang awkwardly from the back of the television.
There’s also a second issue specific to the Roku Express: it uses an IR remote, not Bluetooth. That means the remote requires a direct line of sight to the device. You can’t hide the Express behind the TV or inside a cabinet — it has to be visible from where you’re sitting. That rules out a lot of otherwise convenient placement options.
Here are the mounting solutions that actually work.
What Comes in the Box
Roku does include one mounting option with the Express: an adhesive strip that sticks to the side of the device and lets you tape it to a surface. It works in a pinch, but it has real limitations. The placement options are awkward, the adhesive isn’t always reliable long-term, and if you ever need to remove or reposition it, you’re dealing with a sticky mess. Most people end up with the Roku sitting crooked on a console, dangling from an HDMI cable, or stuck somewhere that technically works but looks sloppy. There are better options.
TotalMount for Roku Express
The TotalMount for Roku Express is the purpose-built solution for this exact problem. It’s a custom cradle that holds the Express and attaches to the back of your television using a special adhesive designed to bond to TV enclosures. The device mounts at the top, side, or bottom of the TV — TotalMount recommends the top, since that gives the IR remote the best chance of bouncing a signal around the room.
This approach solves all the main problems at once. The Express is positioned facing outward so the IR remote works normally. The HDMI cable goes directly from the device into the TV’s port without needing any extra length. And the whole setup is out of the way rather than sitting on your console or shelf.
TotalMount has been making Roku mounts for years and the build quality is solid. If you have a wall-mounted TV, this is the cleanest solution available — no extra shelf, no cables running across the wall, nothing on the floor.
eLhook Stick-On Shelf
For setups where the TV sits on a console or entertainment center rather than wall-mounted, an Acrylic Wall Shelf is a great option. It’s a slim plastic shelf that attaches to any flat vertical surface using adhesive strips or screws.
The shelf is four inches long, which is big enough for the Roku Express and even has room for the remote when it’s not in use. There’s a cable management hole molded into the shelf so you can route the HDMI and power cables through cleanly instead of having them drape over the edge. The adhesive strips are temporary and leave no residue when removed, so this is a good pick if you’re renting or just don’t want to put anything permanent on your walls.
You can stick the shelf to the side of a TV console, the wall next to the TV, or even the side of a bookcase. The main thing to keep in mind is that the Roku Express still needs line of sight to your remote, so don’t tuck it somewhere it’ll be blocked.
Roku Express 4K
If you have the Roku Express 4K rather than the standard Express HD, the TotalMount above won’t fit — the 4K model is physically larger. The Mount for Roku Express 4K works the same way — mounts to the back of the TV using special adhesive and positions the device for reliable IR remote reception. Same clean result, right model.
The acrylic shelf works with both the standard Express and the 4K version since it’s just a flat surface, not a custom cradle.
