How High to Mount a TV
Mount your TV to the wall with confidence.
The height of your TV can make or break your viewing experience. Choosing the right mounting height for your TV can prevent neck and eye strain while also adding to the aesthetics of your room. Keep reading to learn how high to mount a TV on a wall for the perfect viewing angle.
Important Considerations
There are a few different things that may influence how high you choose to mount your TV, such as the distance from your TV or the height of your sofa. Before you decide on the perfect placement, consider these factors below:
Viewing Distance
The distance between your sofa and the wall where you want to put a TV has a big impact on the ideal TV height for your space. The goal is to hang the TV at a comfortable height so that you don't have to lift or strain your head more than 35 degrees.
Spacious living rooms can afford to have the TV higher up on the wall because the sofa can be placed farther away, which creates a greater field of vision to comfortably view the TV. In contrast, small and narrow living rooms benefit from the TV being mounted lower on the wall with the center of the TV being at eye level (when seated). This is because the distance between the TV and the sofa is significantly smaller, and if the TV is mounted too high you have to strain upwards to view it.
Tilt Angle
If your TV mount allows you to tilt the TV screen at a downward angle, you can get away with mounting it higher up on the wall without causing neck strain. This can be helpful in smaller living rooms where you’re not able to set your sofa far enough away for comfortable viewing.
Sofa Height
Consider the height of your sofa or other seating while determining how high to mount your TV. First, measure from the floor to the top of the sofa seat to determine the seat height of the sofa. Then, add approximately 38" – 48" to account for the average human torso length (this is just an estimate). If you really want to tailor your TV-watching experience, you can take your exact measurements when seated or have a friend help you.
A Typical Scenario: Standard sofas are typically 18" tall from floor to seat height, so 18" plus 38" – 48" would mean 56" – 66" total from the floor to the top of your head when sitting on the sofa. So, you would mount your TV on the wall with the center of the TV resting at 56" – 66" above the floor.
How High Should You Mount a TV?
As a rule of thumb, you want the center of the TV to be at eye level when you sit down to watch it. While this can vary depending on the distance from furnishings and other elements, here is a basic overview of how high a TV should be mounted depending on your room setup:
Above the Floor
The standard height of a TV from the floor is around 42" from the floor to the center level of the TV. This placement works well for average-sized TV screens that are around 55" – 65". If your TV screen is much smaller or larger than that, you may want to adjust the placement slightly higher or lower so that it remains both functional and visually appealing.
Above a TV Stand
Usually, you want at least 3" – 4" of space between the top of the TV stand and the bottom edge of the TV screen. This way, your view of the screen won't be obstructed by any items on the top of the TV stand, like speakers or media accessories.
Above a Fireplace
If you can, we recommend allowing for up to 12" of space between the top of a fireplace and the bottom of a wall-mounted TV to protect the TV from potential heat damage. If this brings your TV placement high enough to cause neck strain, consider choosing a mount that allows you to tilt the screen downwards. This won't be as much of an issue if your space is big enough to set your seating farther away from the TV.
In a Bedroom
In general, you want a bedroom TV to be mounted 50" above the floor to the center point of the TV screen. However, this depends on the height of your bed, what the most comfortable viewing angle is, and whether you prefer lying down or sitting up while watching TV. When determining how high to mount a TV in a bedroom, you can actually get away with hanging it up higher than in other areas because it's actually more comfortable to look upwards when you're already reclined or lying down in bed.
Tip!
Once you determine how high to mount your TV, come back to our guide on How to Mount a TV for helpful installation and measurement tips, or check out How to Hide TV Wires From Sight to ensure a clean and clutter-free viewing space.
