A common guideline for living rooms is to place the center of the screen at about seated eye level, roughly 42" from the floor. Because bigger TVs are taller, the bottom edge of the TV ends up lower as the screen size grows. The chart below shows the numbers for popular sizes.
| TV size | Screen height | Bottom edge from floor* | Top edge from floor* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32" | 15.7" | 34.2" | 49.8" |
| 40" | 19.6" | 32.2" | 51.8" |
| 43" | 21.1" | 31.5" | 52.5" |
| 50" | 24.5" | 29.7" | 54.3" |
| 55" | 27.0" | 28.5" | 55.5" |
| 60" | 29.4" | 27.3" | 56.7" |
| 65" | 31.9" | 26.1" | 57.9" |
| 70" | 34.3" | 24.8" | 59.2" |
| 75" | 36.8" | 23.6" | 60.4" |
| 77" | 37.8" | 23.1" | 60.9" |
| 83" | 40.7" | 21.7" | 62.3" |
| 85" | 41.7" | 21.2" | 62.8" |
| 98" | 48.0" | 18.0" | 66.0" |
| 100" | 49.0" | 17.5" | 66.5" |
*Approximate screen size for a 16:9 TV with the screen center at 42". The TV frame adds a little. Check your TV's exact dimensions.
Adjust for your room
- Taller sofas or bar stools: raise the center a few inches.
- Low floor seating or recliners: lower it slightly.
- Bedrooms: mount higher and tilt the screen down toward the bed.
- Above a console: leave at least a few inches between the console top and the TV's bottom edge (more if a soundbar sits there).
The tape test
Before drilling, outline the TV on the wall with painter's tape at your planned height. Sit in your usual seat for a few minutes. If you find yourself looking up, go lower.
What about above a fireplace?
Fireplace installs almost always put the TV higher than ideal. A tilting mount helps, and a pull-down mount solves it completely. Read our fireplace TV mounting guide.
Viewing distance
Height and distance work together. Our TV size chart includes recommended seating distances for each screen size.
Frequently asked questions
What is the right height to mount a TV?
For seated viewing, a common guideline is to put the center of the screen at about 42" from the floor, roughly seated eye level. Adjust for your sofa height and seating distance.
How high should a TV be mounted in a bedroom?
In bedrooms you often watch from a reclined position in bed, so mounting a little higher than in a living room, with a tilting mount angled down, is usually more comfortable.
Is it bad to mount a TV too high?
Mounting too high forces you to tilt your head back, which can cause neck strain over long viewing sessions. If the TV must go high, such as above a fireplace, use a tilting or pull-down mount.